Multiple sources claim that John Kelly was so disturbed at the facts surrounding Jared Kushner’s security clearance that he wrote a memo in protest. That is a lot more significant than it sounds. Kelly was placing a marker that a bright line of National Security was crossed, against his efforts to prevent it, by the pResident on behalf of his son-in-law.
It is time to call that marker. We have been told it exists, and it is there for a reason. It gives notice that hugely important protocols and protections were breached. It tells us where, when, and by whom.
The House of Representatives needs to talk to John Kelly immediately to find out the truth behind this story.
If such a memo exists, it will utterly destroy any and all justification for Jared Kushner to hold any security clearances. It will turn the focus on his lies, omissions, and more lies he used to gain his clearance and put the microscope on how he is abusing it for personal ends that are potentially destroying the very security they are supposed to protect.
John Kelly is not a liberal ally. He may not want to admit his actions and reasons to a Democratic House. But if he wants to protect the country he has no other choice.
Kelly has stood on principle throughout. He cannot lie about this memo without destroying its very purpose and efficacy in protecting either the United States or himself. If he is asked under oath, I am confident he would not go to prison for that pack of wretched scumbags. If that memo exists, he has to admit to it.
So call him to Congress, if only to ask that one question: Did he write a memo in protest against Jared Kushner receiving a security clearance over the objections of our national security, defense, and intelligence agencies?
There is a risk that the answer is “No.”
But the reporting on this issue seems solid.
If the answer is “Yes,” I can’t imagine anyone in the press or Congress letting up until Jared and Ivanka are run out of town.
There are huge collateral gains to be had in the war of public opinion as well.
Showing that Democrats can handle talking to Kelly with respect and toughness will send ripples through any and all tRump appointees regarding being called in front of Congress.
It can sideline “executive privilege” when it comes to ascertaining the truth to statements made by administration officials; as in they should not get to exert it against Congress if their goal is to determine whether or not a known action or inaction has been portrayed truthfully.
It can also cut into a lot of the unqualified support for this administration from military-type individuals. A lot of their support in the early days of the administration was maintained by tRump bringing in “his Generals.” He faced a lot of questions at the time for his massive and unorthodox changes in the State Department and international affairs in general. Over time, he has driven out many of the military leaders who had given his administration an appearance of hewing to a responsible security footing, mostly with an air of disagreement over managerial strategies. Exposing this break over the very fundamentals of national security between tRump and his spawn vs. John Kelly would force a re-evaluation of the very premise of tRump ever taking our national security seriously, and that conversation would be taking place in the most right-leaning, military-minded parts of our country.
And that conversation is way overdue.