Security clearance info on Jared Kushner, John Bolton and Michael Flynn sought by House panel

David Jackson
Updated
The White House, South Lawn
The White House, South Lawn

WASHINGTON – Asserting the investigative authority they claimed when Democrats took control of the U.S. House, a congressional committee demanded Wednesday that the White House provide information on "breaches" within its security clearance process.

"The nation's most highly guarded secrets were provided to officials who should not have had access to them," said a letter to the White House from Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., chairman of House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Cummings said the committee is seeking information on current and former aides to President Donald Trump, including senior adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Others listed include current National Security Adviser John Bolton; former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his interactions with Russia; and Rob Porter, the former White House staff secretary who resigned amid allegations of domestic abuse.

The White House and Trump's transition team "appear to have disregarded established procedures for safeguarding classified information," Cummings said in a letter to White House Counsel Pat Cipollone.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 4, 2019.
Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 4, 2019.

The White House has not responded to Cummings' announcement.

In his letter, Cummings cited news reports that more than 130 political appointees were working with only interim security clearances well over a year into the administration.

Then-White House Chief of Staff John Kelly had vowed to improve the security clearance process shortly after he took the job in summer 2017.

Cummings pointed out that Congress passed a law in 2018 requiring the White House to submit a report.

"The investigation also will seek to determine why the White House is currently defying federal law by failing to provide to Congress information about its security clearance process," Cummings wrote.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Security clearance info on Jared Kushner, John Bolton and Michael Flynn sought by House panel