President Donald Trump’s administration is upset about sensitive national security information being leaked to the Washington Post, according to people who leaked the information to several news outlets.
Yesterday, the Post reported Trump was warned by national security advisers to not congratulate Vladimir Putin on his election win this week, which many believe was politically corrupt. According to the Post, Trump was given notes that said “DO NOT CONGRATULATE” before the call.
Now, the White House is livid that someone with knowledge of that would have spoken to the media.
Trump’s chief of staff himself is reportedly angry.
White House chief of staff John Kelly is furious about the quick leak of a warning to President Trump to not congratulate his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for his re-election, a White House official said https://t.co/6wzUh39Qe2 pic.twitter.com/xjeNqOAqwK
— CNN (@CNN) March 21, 2018
According to Axios, the leak has left Trump and staff “rattled” because it could have only come from a small group of people.
“The speed and sensitivity of the leak prompted immediate finger-pointing within the administration, as aides reeled from a leak that could only have come from a small group of people, each of whom is trusted with sensitive national secrets.”
Another official called the leak an illegal, fireable offense.
Senior WH official on Putin call notes: “If this story is accurate, that means someone leaked the President’s briefing papers. Leaking such information is a fireable offense and likely illegal.”
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) March 21, 2018
See previously: Trump administration’s anti-leak memo immediately leaks, Sean Spicer’s leak search of his staffers’ phones was immediately leaked
H/T Splinter
