But if this laptop and any copies of the data have national security info, like top secret and SAP info, then those agencies cannot hold possession of the laptop or the info because they do not have the full security clearances that would be legal for them to do that.
Sure they can. They just have to have someone work on it with a clearance. NYPD has such people because of their terrorism task force
Bbaaawwaaahhhh...stop it....yer killing me.
As was stated in an earlier reply to your post, NYPD has many who hold security clearances. And these devices are evidence in a crime the NYPD and DA take very very seriously. Sexual abuse of a minor and possibly possession and distribution of child porn. For the Feebs to demand handover of these devices would require a court order, and even that would be appealed. Remember even though DeBlasio is a Red the Manhattan DA has almost a century old reputation of not allowing politics to interfere with criminal prosecution. In the last 80 years Manhattan DA’s office has had only four bosses, Tom Dewey, Frank Hogan, Bob Morgenthau and Cy Vance Jr.
As yet no custody hearing has been scheduled in Federal Court and I doubt Obama and Lynch will go the FISA route.