On Monday, President Trump ordered that various documents and text messages related to the ongoing Russia investigation be declassified. Justifying this order, Trump cited “reasons of transparency.” Although increased government transparency is a laudable goal, Trump’s actions aren’t motivated by transparency and are instead an example of Trump playing games with classified information for personal gain. It’s a short-term bet that will have long-term consequences.
Trump ordered that the Justice Department and Office of the Director of National Intelligence begin the process of “immediate declassification” of certain parts of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act application, known as a FISA warrant, that allowed surveillance of former campaign aide, Carter Page. Trump also ordered the release of unredacted text messages “related to the Russia investigation” from James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Bruce Ohr, as well as Peter Strzok and Lisa Page.
