General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: President Obama Indicts Sixth Whistleblower Under the Espionage Act [View all]fasttense
(17,301 posts)All you need is a reason that does not say because it will embarrass the government. There is always some little thing you can hang your hat on to claim a document needs classification.
Frequently the courts don't even address if a document was classified correctly. The prosecutor need only prove that the document or information was classified at the time, and that the person knew it was classified. The contents of the disclosure are not usually discussed, except in high profile cases.
Actually classifying information is one of the best ways to hide illegal activity. Only the originating agency need review the document for declassification. So outside eyes rarely look over classified information. Many agencies are so understaffed that they merely re-stamp the document as classified because it is easier than doing a thorough review of it.
When Clinton got into office he forced agencies to declassify many, many documents that were needlessly classified. There was a great purge of classified documents. Some of the stuff that was declassified under Clinton would make you laugh. It was so ridiculous to think people had classified them.
The classification system is not a smooth functioning, well managed system. It is filled with problems and loop holes. Just think Valerie Plame Wilson and all the convoluted excuses the bushes used to claim outing her was not revealing classified info.