Identification and Punishment for Mishandling Top Secret Information
The handling and use of any information are critical to avoid legal and political implications that arise as a result of exposure of such information to unlawful use. Federal statutes are explicit that those tasked with handling classified information should not have any unauthorized access or disclosure. The law spells the implications that arise in a case of these violations (ODNI 2). However, it is important for us to understand what is meant by top secret information, how to identify mishandled information, and the legal implications or punishments for those involved once proven that indeed they disclosed such information. The essence of this report essay is to discuss …show more content…
When such officials fail to keep top secret information in proper safes or leave them unsecured in their offices, homes and on their servers, they can be said to have mishandled the information. In 2008, an investigative report prepared by the Justice Department inspector general indicted the former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez of mishandling top secret information related to the U.S. counterterrorism program. The report noted that such violations can be detrimental to national security (Ryan 1). Accordingly, the report states that despite knowing the top secrecy nature of the program, Gonzalez failed to keep the documents related to the program in secure safes. He also kept them unsecured in his briefcase at his home. Recently, the Democratic Party candidate and former Secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, has been accused of using her personal server to communicate top-secret information. Federal officials and employees are expected to secure classified information in the most secure way and avoid mishandling it for national security reasons (Tucker 1). Again, they need to consider the legal and criminal responsibilities that they may have to face if sufficient evidence is gathered and brought before a court. Any individual, official, or organization mishandling …show more content…
Accordingly, Executive order 13526 of the federal code makes it unlawful to send or store classified information on any electronic device, including emails (ODNI 25). For instance, Bryan Nishimura, a Navy reservist from California, was given a two years’ probation and fined about $ 7,000 in 2015 after he made a guilty plea for mishandling classified information by removing and downloading it on his electronic device. However, federal agencies like the FBI did not have any evidence that Nishimura planned or intended to distribute the classified material. Again, Lyle White, a petty officer, made a guilty plea for the possession of classified information stored on an unsafe hard drive. The officer received a suspended sixty-day sentence and a fine of $ 1,000 for his plea. White was categorical that he took the information to help him train, and had no intentions of communicating or sharing it with anyone (Lucas 1). These cases provide the essential background to criminal and legal responsibilities that can as a result of mishandling top secret information. The federal statutes, state that mishandling of classified information attracts a prison sentence, a fine or both (White
The handling and use of any information are critical to avoid legal and political implications that arise as a result of exposure of such information to unlawful use. Federal statutes are explicit that those tasked with handling classified information should not have any unauthorized access or disclosure. The law spells the implications that arise in a case of these violations (ODNI 2). However, it is important for us to understand what is meant by top secret information, how to identify mishandled information, and the legal implications or punishments for those involved once proven that indeed they disclosed such information. The essence of this report essay is to discuss …show more content…
When such officials fail to keep top secret information in proper safes or leave them unsecured in their offices, homes and on their servers, they can be said to have mishandled the information. In 2008, an investigative report prepared by the Justice Department inspector general indicted the former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez of mishandling top secret information related to the U.S. counterterrorism program. The report noted that such violations can be detrimental to national security (Ryan 1). Accordingly, the report states that despite knowing the top secrecy nature of the program, Gonzalez failed to keep the documents related to the program in secure safes. He also kept them unsecured in his briefcase at his home. Recently, the Democratic Party candidate and former Secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, has been accused of using her personal server to communicate top-secret information. Federal officials and employees are expected to secure classified information in the most secure way and avoid mishandling it for national security reasons (Tucker 1). Again, they need to consider the legal and criminal responsibilities that they may have to face if sufficient evidence is gathered and brought before a court. Any individual, official, or organization mishandling …show more content…
Accordingly, Executive order 13526 of the federal code makes it unlawful to send or store classified information on any electronic device, including emails (ODNI 25). For instance, Bryan Nishimura, a Navy reservist from California, was given a two years’ probation and fined about $ 7,000 in 2015 after he made a guilty plea for mishandling classified information by removing and downloading it on his electronic device. However, federal agencies like the FBI did not have any evidence that Nishimura planned or intended to distribute the classified material. Again, Lyle White, a petty officer, made a guilty plea for the possession of classified information stored on an unsafe hard drive. The officer received a suspended sixty-day sentence and a fine of $ 1,000 for his plea. White was categorical that he took the information to help him train, and had no intentions of communicating or sharing it with anyone (Lucas 1). These cases provide the essential background to criminal and legal responsibilities that can as a result of mishandling top secret information. The federal statutes, state that mishandling of classified information attracts a prison sentence, a fine or both (White