President Trump’s decision to give a security clearance to son-in-law Jared Kushner drew objections from the CIA among others. Sen. Mark Warner, ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee called it an “abuse of power.”
Kushner has reportedly been denied access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), the most secret government information, according to the Washington Post.
Kushner’s lack of SCI access suggests that the CIA has not signed off on his receiving that level of intelligence, security experts said. He had struggled to obtain even his top-secret clearance, in part because of his contacts with certain foreign government officials, The Post previously reported.
But the law is clear, says Mark Zaid, national security attorney and Davie Priess, former CIA officer. The president can give a security clearance to anybody he wants.
Instead, Trump should be, and will be, held accountable by the Congress and ultimately the people for what is the good and proper use of his powers. Our political system provides remedies even for firm constitutional prerogatives of chief executives.
Congress should investigate the following question, they say.
,..now, there are numerous legitimate questions for Congress to pursue. Why couldn’t Kushner get favorable approval through a system that millions of others have gone through? Does he have specific counterintelligence vulnerabilities for foreign manipulation? Did the president actually overrule career advice given to him — and, if so, why? Demanding information with subpoenas or with power-of-the-purse tactics about the president’s decision-making — not his inherent underlying authority — is how oversight should work in this case.
To make the question slightly more specific: were the doubts about Kushner related to his friendship with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman? MBS reportedly told associates that he had Kushner “in his pocket.”
Source: Trump can give anyone he wants a security clearance — but Congress can ask why – The Washington Post
