Senate Democrats’ new report on the CIA’s secret detention and enhanced interrogation program outlines several highly disturbing allegations — both about the nature of the harsh techniques used by U.S. officials and the agency misleading both Congress and the White House.

To the extent that national security permits, voters have a right to know what is being done in their name, especially if it is improper. That’s part of government transparency. But there seems to be incongruity and even political opportunism in President Obama’s selective commitment to disclosing the inner workings of the federal government to its employer, the public.