By Lynn R. Mitchell
From today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial:
Eight years ago, Jessica Lynn Quintana, a contractor at Los Alamos National Laboratory, pleaded guilty to removing classified information from the facility. According to a Department of Justice press release, “On July 27, 2006 . . . Quintana printed off pages of classified documents and downloaded other classified information to a computer thumb drive, before putting them in a backpack and taking them home. Quintana stored the pages and thumb drive at her residence, which was not an authorized location for the storage of classified information.”
Does any of that sound similar to Hillary Clinton’s email scandal? You bet it does. Among other consequences, Quintana lost her security clearance. On what grounds should Clinton keep hers?
With the ongoing investigation and denials from Clinton herself and those around her, the excuses and lack of accountability are alarming or, as the Times-Dispatch noted, “This is no light matter. A training document by the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive states that ‘information is classified as TOP SECRET if an unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to national security.’ ”
National security could be at risk, American citizens and others in sensitive positions could be at risk, and the unnecessary process that we are now going through because of this breach of protocol is mind-numbing especially considering Clinton was planning to run for president. Just.Follow.The.Rules.
The editorial concluded:
We can’t say whether Clinton broke any laws. But it’s clear by now that her imperious, self-serving indifference to the potential for electronic espionage betrayed a profound lack of judgment and an inexcusable disregard for national security. Here’s hoping it didn’t betray any secrets to America’s enemies in the process.
It’s very possible the security implications may be far larger than even the media realizes as the investigation continues. For the sake of the country, let’s hope not.
LynnRMitchell.com 