Lawyer: Trump’s Attacks On Media May Threaten National Security
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Excerpted from a longer piece by Carrie Cordero for Lawfare
Often on Lawfare, we think and write about the tensions between government’s responsibility to protect national security and the media’s role in informing the public about sensitive national security and foreign policy matters.
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Much of this work exists at the intersection of national security and press freedom. This intersection is generally understood to be in conflict or, at the very lea
Makes an excellent point, which prompted a same policy point when I read about Trump having lobbied Senators, on behalf of Russia, to oppose to the sanctions bill. It seems to me that Trump ought to be registering as a foreign agent pursuant to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, as did Flynn, and I suppose Trump, Jr. as well.
https://www.fara.gov
Read more: https://www.hklaw.com/politicallawblog/what-is-the-foreign-agents-registration-act-fara-06-01-2016/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Agents_Registration_Act
One common point in all oaths of office from President down to state Special Districts is protecting the Constitution. The first amendment is arguably the most known provision of the Constitution. Walk down the street and ask anyone what the Constitution does and I’m betting that protecting free speech is far and away the most mentioned provision. Free Speech has become synonymous with a free press and has become so engrained in the American character that it has been extended far past Congress as spelled out in the Constitution to individuals.
Trump is not simply an individual he is the Chief Executive of the county whose role is to execute the laws of the land. The Constitution is THE law of the land.
Trump misses no opportunity and in fact creates opportunity with his tweets to undermine free speech and free press. He is actively sabotaging the very depths of the aspect of the American character that most sets us apart from the rest of the world. We are supposed to be the beacon of freedom.
To me “national security” doesn’t capture what’s at stake. It is far more personal — give me freedom or give me death.