National Archives: All Administrations Since Reagan Mishandled Classified Docs.

Newly declassified testimony from a House Intelligence Committee hearing with National Archives’ staff reveals that mishandling of classified documents by recent presidents has been the norm, not the exception. William Bosanko, the agency’s chief operating officer, disclosed that every administration from Reagan forward has had classified information found in unclassified boxes. Director Mark A. Bradley also provided some perspective on the frequency with which classified documents end up where they shouldn’t. Since about 2010, they have received over 80 calls from different libraries where mostly Members of Congress have taken papers and deposited them in libraries for collections, their own papers. All of those calls concerned the discovery of classified information by the librarians receiving those materials.

Former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, and current President Joe Biden have all come under the microscope for alleged or confirmed mishandling of classified documents from their time in the White House. The recent outsized interest in classified documents began with a conflict between the National Archives and Trump over classified documents from the former president’s time in office. The agency ultimately referred the case to the Department of Justice, which executed a high-profile search warrant on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in August 2022.

In the case of documents found at the Penn Biden Center, House Democrats have drawn attention to the role of Biden’s executive assistant Kathy Chung. The longtime Biden aide told the House Oversight Committee she did not identify classified documents in the materials she handled while packing boxes at the end of his vice presidency.

It is crucial to handle classified documents with utmost care and caution. The National Archives and the National Security Council provide guidance on how to handle such documents. However, it is evident that even the most powerful people in the world can make mistakes. Let us take a look at some of the key takeaways from the declassified testimony:

Key Takeaways:

1. Mishandling of classified documents is not uncommon

According to the declassified testimony, every administration from Reagan forward has had classified information found in unclassified boxes. This highlights the need for better handling of classified documents.

2. Classified documents have ended up where they shouldn’t

Since about 2010, the National Archives has received over 80 calls from different libraries where mostly Members of Congress have taken papers and deposited them in libraries for collections, their own papers. All of those calls concerned the discovery of classified information by the librarians receiving those materials.

3. Even the most powerful people in the world can make mistakes

Former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, and current President Joe Biden have all come under the microscope for alleged or confirmed mishandling of classified documents from their time in the White House. It is crucial to handle classified documents with utmost care and caution.

Let us learn from these mistakes and ensure that classified documents are handled with the utmost care and caution.

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