Brennan: If the reports are true, Trump may have violated protocol if he “spontaneously” shared classified intel https://t.co/DBxuaUtGu2 — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 23, 2017

Former CIA Director John Brennan said that President Trump broke two intelligence protocols when he “spontaneously” shared classified information with the Russians.

Brennan was taking questions from the House Intelligence Committee today, and ranking Democrat Adam Schiff asked him about how Russia is actively trying to undermine the American political process. Brennan told Schiff that even though people like himself and the president are legally authorized to share classified information with foreign figures, it doesn’t change the sensitivity of the information.

Brennan eventually moved on to discuss the Washington Post‘s findings, and he said Trump “would have basically violated two protocols” if the details were true.

Those two protocols are: one is that such intelligence – classified intelligence – is not shared with visiting foreign ministers or local ambassadors. It’s shared through intelligence channels because it needs to be handled the right way and it needs to make sure that it is not exposed. he didn’t do that, again, if the press charges are accurate. Second, before sharing any classified intelligence with foreign partners, it needs to go back to the originating agency to make sure that the language in it is not even just providing the substance going to reveal sources and methods and compromise the future collection capability.

Brennan said that based on what the report suggested, the president did not go through the proper channels in order to clear the information for release. Since the initial article came out, it has been reported that Trump’s disclosure might have endangered the life of an Israeli spy who was gathering information on ISIS.

[Image via screengrab]

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