General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy the Gaetz et al SCIF stunt is a VERY serious national security problem
Mieke Eoyang ✔ @MiekeEoyang, 10:47 AM - Oct 23, 2019
A few words on why Gaetz stunt to storm the SCIF to disrupt Laura Cooper's deposition is a VERY serious national security problem. Note, I worked in that SCIF for HPSCI and handled cybersecurity issues while there.
Aside from disrupting the testimony of a DoD official shedding light on the President's attempts to extort a sham investigation into the child of his most feared political rival by withholding military aid that Congress gave to resist a Russian invasion.
Storming the SCIF without respecting the security protocols that require people to leave their electronic devices *outside* the space, is actually compromising our national security.
First, the SCIF itself is a secure facility designed to prevent electronic eavesdropping so members of Congress can receive highly classified information about how the nation collects information on its adversaries, and on *very* sensitive intelligence operations.
Foreign adversaries are constantly trying to figure out what goes on inside those rooms to figure out what the US knows about them, to out US high-level sources in their governments, to know what the US government knows and use it against us.
The facilities are carefully designed and controlled to ensure that electronic signals, surveillance methods, or other listening devices do not compromise the information discussed in these rooms. I will not, for obvious reasons, go into details.
Bringing electronic devices into a SCIF, and this SCIF in particular is *very* problematic, especially when done by members of Congress. Because Members of Congress (and their electronic devices) are high-value targets for compromise by foreign intelligence services.
Members of Congress have access to a wide range of sensitive information, including, in the case of these members, conversations with the President of the United States. They travel internationally, receive emails from the public, and meet with foreign dignitaries.
As politicians, they're also highly sensitive to revelations of derogatory information, which means that foreign adversaries are very interested in collecting same.
They also tend to be lax in their security protocols. This means they may not know they have been compromised. For example, their phones can be turned into listening devices without their knowledge.
This is why outside HPSCI there is a security guard and a series of cabinets for people to leave (and lock) their electronic devices while they are inside the room. Failure to follow this protocol can violate the security of the entire SCIF.
After an incident like this happens, countermeasures have to be taken to ensure the SCIF is not compromised. It is a time-consuming, technical process, which again, I will not discuss.
But in "storming the SCIF" without observing the security protocols, Rep. Gaetz et al, endangered our national security & demonstrated they care more about a political stunt than protecting intelligence information. I cannot emphasize enough how serious this is.
To ensure that the information was secure, the members should give over their electronic devices for scanning to ensure no malware was on them, and that they have not compromised the SCIF. If they don't want to give them up, they should have checked them before entering.
So, to recap: To disrupt testimony from a DOD official on how the President endangered national security for both the US and Ukraine by withholding military aid, the President's allies further endangered national security by storming the SCIF with their electronic devices.
Link to tweet
ramen
(790 posts)I am stunned
dalton99a
(81,515 posts)atreides1
(16,079 posts)These people are protecting themselves. My theory is that the remaining Republicans in the House have either been compromised by the Russians(face it the Russians are better at compromising, then the US has ever been), or the money going into their campaigns has been from foreign sources and they've been aware of it for some time now...and Trump has the books that shows who received what and which foreign entity they received it from!!!
shanti
(21,675 posts)Follow the money!
renate
(13,776 posts)Which seems so unlikely. He's always making them look like sycophants and their party look corrupt and lawless.
But yeah. You must be right. I mean, I absolutely adore Elizabeth Warren, but I wouldn't hang my own ass out to dry for her. I wouldn't hang my own ass out to dry for anyone, even family, if they'd done something criminal. There must be more than a weird admiration for him going on here.
2naSalit
(86,646 posts)fleur-de-lisa
(14,627 posts)Initech
(100,080 posts)Or concoct some half-assed conspiracy theory that's 100% bullshit. These guys are drunk with power and they will let everyone know it.
Bayard
(22,099 posts)But don't they lock the doors?
LuvNewcastle
(16,846 posts)Were there guards at the doors and were they pushed aside? I don't see how they could have such a sensitive meeting without precautions being taken, such as locking the doors.
RobertDevereaux
(1,857 posts)Backseat Driver
(4,393 posts)Qutzupalotl
(14,317 posts)Why that matters: it allows foreign governments who might have compromised the phone or be receiving the video feed to PINPOINT THE LOCATION OF WITNESSES IN THE ROOM.
If, as I suspect, Russia was behind the brain injuries of diplomats in Cuba, they could use this info and capability to target Cooper and anyone else who testifies to send a message. They might even be able to target Democratic leaders in the room. (On edit: the diplomats in Cuba were in their living quarters and not in a SCIF; nevertheless, not much is known about the capabilities of the suspected weapon.)
I hope the Democrats can rearrange the room somehow to at least move the witness.
crickets
(25,981 posts)as it is, you can see at least one person with a phone on, obviously taking vids as he goes by.
Link to tweet
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,349 posts)"After an incident like this happens, countermeasures have to be taken to ensure the SCIF is not compromised. It is a time-consuming, technical process, which again, I will not discuss. "
LuvNewcastle
(16,846 posts)The GOP doesn't want bombshells coming out of these meetings before they're able to do their deed.
True Blue American
(17,986 posts)How quick they rushed Trump out of the room after that self glorifying stunt? Not one question and he was 50minutes late. They must have had an awful time dragging him out, making him presentable, calm enough to make a speech.
moondust
(19,991 posts)Lock them up to prevent further hooliganism and security breaches.
apnu
(8,758 posts)If so, they can be punished by the House. Dear Nancy Pelosi, its time to bring the claws out. Don't be nice.
tritsofme
(17,379 posts)Im not sure the toolbox is very deep.
apnu
(8,758 posts)But there's the Sergent-in-Arms, plus revocation of security clearances if they have any.
But censure is a powerful, if public and often symbolic tool. There are ramifications with voters, fundraising, and partnerships on the Hill.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)unfortunately, expulsion from the House requires a 2/3 vote
usaf-vet
(6,189 posts)tritsofme
(17,379 posts)usaf-vet
(6,189 posts)MFM008
(19,815 posts)Needs to drop the blade on these bastards.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)And that this stunt proves it, but I've been informed here that that's just "barking orders" and not to be done. So, by all means, don't jump to the conclusion that Republican's don't care about national security, and if you think that these House members should face some consequences for their actions, well that's wrong, too! So just cut it out, everybody.
RVN VET71
(2,692 posts)the GOP and its sad excuse for an orange haired leader would be calling for 2nd amendment solutions.
But as the situation was not reversed, I expect Fox and other platforms of right wing nuttery will simply pooh pooh the security breach and grin about how these fools got over on the Libs and how the Libs are such snowflakes, blah, blah, blah.
As an very left-leaning Independent believer in non-violence, I'd settle for putting the lot of them, including Gohmert and Gaetz -- oh, for sure Gohmert and Gaetz -- in public stocks and placing a "public urination permitted here, donations accepted" sign over each of their sad, traitorous, miserable heads.
(Oh God, we are so screwed as a nation! The division between the left and right gets wider and more formidable daily. Trump worsened it, but the GOP has been working to keep it deep and un-bridgeable since Carter lost to Reagan.)
bdamomma
(63,868 posts)can round up these thugs.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)which is why Gaetz tried his shenanigans
bdamomma
(63,868 posts)to her brother that passed away. It just never stops.
demmiblue
(36,864 posts)crickets
(25,981 posts)struggle4progress
(118,294 posts)of behavior expected for House members, and these matters should be referred to the Ethics Committee for its recommendation
Lars39
(26,109 posts)and examined.
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)Polly Hennessey
(6,799 posts)Where was security? If we continue to be afraid of these idiots, they will win.
Initech
(100,080 posts)Like Patriots fans thinking they are entitled to a Super Bowl win. This stunt reminds us of what they are after.
SCVDem
(5,103 posts)Would be authorized.
Same as Area 51.
To even take a picture of a classified area is a crime. Worse when you know better.
They have violated our highest security and cost taxpayers money to rescue the chamber.
Censure at least. Better, jail
demmiblue
(36,864 posts)srose58089
(214 posts)If true another article of impeachment
renate
(13,776 posts)And it looks like they're just realizing that they're criminals too:
Republican lawmakers led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on Wednesday stormed into the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) in the House of Representatives to disrupt the closed-door impeachment inquiry hearings taking place.
Many of these GOP lawmakers subsequently sent out tweets informing followers that they were offering updates from within the SCIF, which means that they very likely broke security protocols by bringing unsecured phones with cameras into what is supposed to be a secure location.
After apparently realizing that theyve opened themselves up to potentially being denied future security clearances, many of these lawmakers posted followup tweets letting people know that it was their staffers outside of the SCIF who were tweeting.
All tweets sent out when Im in the SCIF are being transmitted to staff for publication, wrote Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ).
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/10/gop-lawmakers-scramble-to-backtrack-after-realizing-their-scif-stunt-broke-security-protocols/
What asshats. Asshats who try to throw their staff under the bus, apparently. But how would their staffers have received anything if the representatives hadn't taken their cell phones in?
George II
(67,782 posts)Kid Berwyn
(14,909 posts)Death ruled suicide. Odd, seeing how the FSU Freshman had a bright future to look forward to.
Kid Berwyn
(14,909 posts)Should be brought up around election time, but until then, it bears repeating:
TRAITORS put themselves ahead of their country.
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)calimary
(81,308 posts)At least keep the other motorists and pedestrians 🚶 n the road around him safe from Representative Reprehensible.
We also saw your mugshot, Matt. On Rachel Maddows show. No wonder you stand with the Orange Menace. Orange is your color too (as in the well-dressed prison inmate).