Can’t the President declassify it by executive order?
Some member found a 40yo law that if CINC lets 5 days pass without action after petitioned, it releases automagically.
The running threads seem to converge that it’s another hole the Dems are hoping our president will fall into. If he declassifies it, they announce “obstruction” and use that as the official excuse of the day for starting impeachment. Not worth the danger when the committee is willing to do it. If it’s true that they are.
Yes
The lawmakers calling for a the release of the document have pointed to an obscure House rule that permits the intelligence committee to release classified information deemed to be in the public interest.
Under that process, the committee must notify Trump, who would have five days to decide whether to object. If he does, the committee may refer the matter to the full House, which would then meet in a “closed” session, out of public view, to debate and vote on the request.
“Can’t the President declassify it by executive order?”
Trump doesn’t own it, yet - it’s owned by Congress (they developed it). But once the clock runs out, it would be released to the White House where they get 5 days to redact anything sensitive as there could be sensitive stuff that Congress doesn’t know of. Then after the memo is ‘cleaned up’ or after 5 days, whichever is first, it hits the streets.
We shall see what happens. I almost think that the shutdown is timed to push this memo to the back-burner...
Of course he can.