Ah... then how did Sen. Patrick Leahy lose his security clearance due to intel leaks?
He resigned because of the bad press.
“...
The topic of security clearance for elected officials has long been a complex one. Members of congress – even those in sensitive committee positions – do not receive or obtain security clearances in the same way that a member of the public would go about obtaining a security clearance based on job or military requirement.
Through the process of election and selection to a seat in the House of Representatives or Senate comes with it a certain public seal of access to information of a sensitive nature. (Few voters likely think about this when they vote, but it’s a key reason trustworthiness often plays a major role in politicking). Both the House and Senate do have security offices and staff – with the responsibility for overseeing access to classified information, among other things.
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https://news.clearancejobs.com/2012/05/16/do-members-of-congress-have-security-clearances/
https://www.govloop.com/community/blog/do-members-of-congress-have-security-clearances/
“.................
House members, beginning with the 104th Congress, do have to take a secrecy oath. Members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence – the committee with oversight over intelligence agencies including the CIA and NSA – have a separate oath, commensurate with their unique access to sensitive information. Again, these oaths take the way of a public pledge, vice the arduous security-clearance process, complete with SF86, undertaken by the average
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They do, do a pinky swear!
These guys aren’t about to let themselves have a normal security clearance investigation occur. Any illegal activity has to be reported. No professional politician will put himself/herself at that risk!