So a reminder for folks as to how the process works.
In order to have access to classified information, you have to have two things, 1) a clearance, and 2) a need to know.
Clearances are the result of background checks and come in different levels, the lowest level being the fastest and quickest records check and only allowing access (with need to know) to the information that poses minimal risk to national security. The higher levels of background investigations usually include deeper dives into your family, friends, travel history, etc and can include polygraph testing. That type of clearance could grant access to top secret information, etc, again, if you have a need to know.
I suspect that the mayor of NYC has little need to know of most anything except if there is a known threat to his city. I also suspect that if Mandani gives away classified information, he would be facing federal charges.
So I am not overly concerned he has completed a background investigation. I doubt seriously he will be getting briefings on ops in the middle east or other government secrets.
Well said!
True statement. I can guarantee you that the various anti-terrorist Task Forces, NYC, State, Federal, all have JWICS. Many justifications for need-to-know.
The mayor and much of his staff will have routine daily access in the Top Secret realm to all sorts of intelligence. Just like Hillary! when she was First Lady, Senator, and Sec State. Her and her staff all had access to TS+ and more. Her problem was her staff stripped the classified headers off documents, then scanned and emailed it over her PRIVATE network to her un-secure devices.
As Ayers said, "Guilty as sin, free as a bird".
I'm reminded of a book by a Secret Service agent back in the very early Xlinton era, published after his later retirement. He wrote about what a problem it was to interview all the appointed WH staffers from Bill. They almost all reported drug use. I wish I could recall the name of that book.
One fella reported smoking pot 3-5 times a week and claimed it was "experimental". For a decade or more. The Interviewer asked him what were the results of his experiments?
Then we found out from Bubba's brother that we had elected a President 'who had a nose like a Hoover' for cocaine.
Presidents and elected officials automatically get clearances because they need access to classified information to make decisions.
Rumors abounded in the mid-90s that Xlinton didn't get full briefings because his staff could not be trusted. Stoners and Leftists.
We joked that classified information had hang times for leaks in that White House:
Confidential: Immediate disclosure
Secret: 36 hours
Secret/NOFORN: 48 hours
Top Secret: 72-96 hours
Top Secret/Compartmented: 3-5 days
Nothing has changed in almost 40 years. Congress and now government civilian implants leak everything they can. Anyone remember Alger Hiss?
I think a reasonable compromise would be to make EVERY elected and appointed representative, and EVERY judge to undergo routine and random urinalysis tests. If they fail, they are fired. After all, that's what everyone in uniform and Federal Civil Service are subjected to. As a condition of employment.
Yes and Mamdani has zero need to know.
Like giving more ammo to a mugger.