Senate Democrats demanded Monday that President Trump declassify the information he provided Congress to justify the U.S. military operation in Iraq that killed Iranian Quds Force Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
“It is critical that national security matters of such import be shared with the American people in a timely manner,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey wrote to Trump. “An entirely classified notification is simply not appropriate in a democratic society, and there appears to be no legitimate justification for classifying this notification.”
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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that information must remain classified to protect sources and methods still in use to protect U.S. military and diplomats.
Trump provided Senate and House leaders and staff with a classified memo outlining the reasons he took military action last week.
Soleimani was a terrorist deemed responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. service personnel. Trump and Pompeo said imminent threats to American citizens prompted their decision to kill him.
But Democrats said Trump should have asked for their permission for the drone strike, as well as another attack that killed dozens of Iraqi military officials.
The Trump administration has since deployed 3,500 additional troops in preparation for a potential escalation of aggression.
