Dakota Rudesill

(he/his)
Director of Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifies during a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on March 26, 2025, in Washington. Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

How is classified information typically shared and can officials declassify secrets whenever they want? A national security expert explains

Government officials with classified information clearance typically have a range of secure ways they can view or discuss classified information.
Former President Donald Trump walks out of a Manhattan courthouse after he was found guilty in his hush money trial on May 30, 2024. Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images

Trump’s criminal conviction won’t stop him from getting security clearance as president − but Biden can still control his access for now

Under normal circumstances, Trump’s criminal record and other aspects of his life, including financial history, would disqualify him from getting access to classified information.
Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to reporters on June 9, 2023, in Washington about the investigation of Trump’s retention of classified records. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File

Why Trump’s prosecution for keeping secret documents is lawful, constitutional, precedented, nonpartisan and merited

A former national security staffer, now a scholar of secrecy law, says criticisms of Trump’s federal indictment for hoarding classified documents are unfounded.

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