By Carol Lucas
Is there anyone who is foolish enough to refute the idea that, fundamentally, the most important job of a President is to protect the nation from attack by its adversaries? I cannot imagine that denial, especially in the halls of Congress, and even more importantly, by any of those within that same legislative body who have served in the military. No one should be more attuned to the ramifications of highly sensitive material falling into the wrong hands than the latter.
At this point in time, former President Donald Trump has been indicted on charges that he “purposely retained classified documents” upon leaving the Presidency. Furthermore, he refused to return these when asked to do so until a subpoena was finally issued and his home was searched. Even then, it was discovered that these papers were strewn about or were indiscriminately stashed in places of easy access by just about anyone, and that the President, himself, was tape recorded saying he had these documents, claiming they were his. While all of this is old news, the whole notion needs further scrutiny, but from another perspective.
I am not here to argue what is secret, confidential, or classified. This is way above my pay grade, and I rely upon those in decision-making capacities to know well enough what qualifies and what doesn’t. The citizenry, on the whole, has to accept this as well.
It struck me a few days ago that we have heard little or nothing regarding this issue from those veterans who are in the House of Representatives and the Senate. My thoughts went something like this: Good heavens, they above all others should be enraged. After all, many put their lives on the line and have a greater sense of what this kind of betrayal could bring about.
Pew Research Center provides the following data, effective December of 2022: incoming to the House of Representatives were 80 veterans, or 18.4% of the total membership. This number was up from 75 in the outgoing Congressional group. Of the incoming figure, three quarters were Republican. In the Senate the number incoming stayed the same at 17, with 10 of those being Republican. These figures cover all branches of the military, regular armed forces as well as Reserves and the National Guard.
Finding members in Congress who are willing to condemn Trump’s actions regarding military secrets has been a mixed bag. There are those who, come hell, high water or a hint of espionage will back Trump to the bitter end. Then there are those whose “guilty” opinion is equally adamant, their complaint being, “What’s taking Jack Smith so long?”
Those two camps are a given, and I admit to belonging to the latter. Despite this, I still wondered about those veterans in Congress who had faced war directly, as well as those who know they are on call should their country need them for battle. What has to be going through their minds when they sit alone with their private thoughts?
If I could put them all in one room, I might ask the following questions: “Have you read the forty-plus pages of the indictment, that of the United States vs. Donald J. Trump and Waltine Nauta? Have you viewed photos of the strewn documents that may hold information that puts our troops or our undercover agents at risk? Have you considered the number of visitors to Mar-a-Lago, some foreign entities, who may well wish to get their hands upon these and perhaps did?
Can you, as someone in the military, sworn to protect our country, simply look the other way or worse yet, support the man whose wanton disregard for the job of protecting us comes close to treason? I would direct that last question to our own Senator, Lindsey Graham, who spent six and a half years in the Air Force, and was supposedly a close friend of veteran John McCain, captured in Vietnam. What answers might I receive?
Of course I will never know. I have tried to find documentation regarding those who have spoken one way or the other, and it is sparse. Dan Crenshaw from Texas perhaps comes closest to putting his real feelings out there. He is the Navy Seal who lost an eye in battle. Remaining mute or coming forth with non-answers seems to be the most common response. Many choose to fall back on, “Let’s wait and see what happens.”
Do I think for one moment that Congressional veterans should not have the right to their own political opinion? Of course not! But it absolutely baffles me that those individuals who may have already engaged in battle, or may be called to do so, would not see this as the ultimate betrayal of all they have stood up for. Can it be that politics triumphs over national security? I simply refuse to accept that.
Coincidentally, a young Massachusetts National guardsman, Jack Teixeira, has been accused of sharing highly classified information online with a group of his gaming buddies. The charge is “willful retention and transmission of classified information relating to the national defense.” The charge goes on to say, “he knew he was violating U.S. law and endangering national security.” Sounds very familiar.
So suddenly the chess board is full, with many plays to be executed. What will be the fate of Jack Teixeira, the 21 year old who played fast and loose with security information? What will happen to Walt Nauta, the Navy veteran from Guam who landed in the White House kitchen as a culinary specialist and later became valet to the former President, moving boxes as directed? And finally, what will happen to the President himself? Does lady justice really sport a blindfold in every case? Is it true the “no one is above the law?” Or is that just a well-worn idiom?
Carol Lucas is a retired high school teacher and a Lady’s Island resident. She is the author of the recently published “A Breath Away: One Woman’s Journey Through Widowhood.”
