Politico broke the story, whose lede is both indisputable and very much open to question: "Presidential son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner has had his security clearance downgraded — a move that will prevent him from viewing many of the sensitive documents to which he once had unfettered access."
So Kushner is now fettered, right? "He cannot see the [presidential daily brief], not a chance," a national-security-law expert told Politico, who added that White House officials will tell Kushner: "Here’s what … you no longer have any access to it, and any breach of that would be a serious security violation and a possible criminal issue." Said former State Department official Aaron David Miller to the NY Times: "[Kushner] doesn’t know what he doesn’t know, and now he cannot find out," because of his security downgrade.
And that's that. No ambiguity there, right? Kushner is as fettered as a fettered Kushner could be.
But, as with everything in Trumpworld, things do, in fact, get a bit murky. Politico adds that WH Chief of Staff John Kelly "took the rare step last week of issuing a public statement that Kushner would be able to continue his work in the White House unfettered" (italics mine). Kushner's lawyer then told the Times that "as General Kelly himself said, the new clearance policy will not affect Mr. Kushner’s ability to continue to do the very important work he has been assigned by the President" — virtually all of which would require access to the highest levels of secret documents. What's more, notes Politico, "the president has the ability to grant Kushner a permanent clearance," which means the fettered Kushner may not be fettered at all.
Hence the unfettered fettering of the once-unfettered Kushner is rather fettered in terms of unfettered clarity.
Why? Because this is Trumpworld, which was nepotistically corrupt and stupid enough to hire a gangly young know-nothing to achieve world peace, resolve all trade disputes, reform the criminal justice system and reinvent government. Yet the few actual professionals there are in this White House became a trifle concerned, as the Washington Post reports, that Kushner was "'naive and being tricked' in conversations with foreign officials, some of whom said they wanted to deal only with Kushner directly and not more experienced personnel." And why was that? Because the gangly young know-nothing is as sharp a businessman as he is a Metternichian diplomat. He overpaid for a Fifth Ave. property (located, appropriately, at "666"), and in 10 months must repay $1.2 billion of refinanced debt on it. Which is like extortionist catnip to certain foreign powers willing to, ahem, help.
So where does Jared Kushner stand as to security clearance? Who the hell knows — which is also the official White House position on every other matter of policy.
So I guess Kushner must be under double secret unprobation? You can’t write about these guys without Animal House impinging on your consciousness.
Posted by: Peter G | February 28, 2018 at 08:31 AM
Btw, a new Zen Koan for the modern age: if a presidential brief is never read by an illiterate president is it still a presidential brief.
Posted by: Peter G | February 28, 2018 at 08:38 AM
Is it my imagination, or has the news re: Trumpworld just been one big shitstorm after another since the GOPers got done patting themselves on the back about their Great Big Tax Cut for the Rich?
Amidst all the recent Good News (I've been checking out Fox News lately) about indictments, the travails of young Prince Jared, and the whiff of a Kelly/McMaster rebellion/coup, i noticed a short piece yesterday that suggested that folks interviewed by Mueller have said, OTR, that the team has asking about Trump's financial maneuverings in the 2015-17 time frame.
I can only speculate who these leakers could be, but I'd be willing to bet that one of them has the initials, Steve Bannon.
But I shouldn't mention betting. Just a month ago, i would have been willing to bet that The Don would make it to the 2020 election. Now, I think the next 6-8 months is going to be the craziest time in American political history. i think we'll learn things that'll make Watergate seem like a polite garden party.
Posted by: Ed Doerr | February 28, 2018 at 08:39 AM
He's going to miss out on one or two bullet points on a 3x5 index card, and some pictures.
Posted by: shsavage | February 28, 2018 at 09:08 AM
I'm sure he would read them if they came in the form of a 140 character tweet that ended in the word "SAD!"
Posted by: Anne J | February 28, 2018 at 09:23 AM
Rick Wilson has his own take on what a pickle this would put dear leader in if he were to personally unfetter his officially fettered son-in-law.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/roy-moore-consultants-new-project-a-conspiracy-theorizing-pro-trump-news-site
Posted by: Anne J | February 28, 2018 at 09:27 AM
Sorry wrong link:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-deep-state-takes-out-the-white-houses-dark-clown-prince
Posted by: Anne J | February 28, 2018 at 09:29 AM
Such is my impression as well. Every day we ask, what fresh stupid has befallen this silly crew. It's like watching The Tempest enacted by the characters from Gilligan's Island but rewritten by the writers of How To Get Away With Murder. A show which is distinguished by the fact that every character in it is a despicable human being.
Posted by: Peter G | February 28, 2018 at 10:12 AM
I think maybe Rick doesn't like Jared.
Posted by: Ed Doerr | February 28, 2018 at 10:19 AM
I sensed that too.
Posted by: Peter G | February 28, 2018 at 10:36 AM