Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

Here is Ann Coulter's latest column.

Would President Donald Trump be able to obtain security clearance today if he were not the president? Can he tell our nation’s secrets to anyone he chooses? Can his access to all our nation’s secrets be revoked? Who determines which of our nation’s secrets are classified? Here are the answers according to ClearanceJobs.com:

“Election to the nation’s highest office is the ultimate conferral of trust upon an American citizen by the body politic. Moreover, classification policy largely stems from executive orders, which originate from the president’s pen. He or she makes the rules for classification and the treatment of classified material. As commander-in-chief, all military secrets and secret-keepers serve at the whim of the president. If a president so chooses, he or she can more or less learn everything there is to know about anything there is to know. . . . If a president wants to declassify something, he or she can more or less declassify it by fiat. . . . The lives of our undercover intelligence officers abroad often hang in the balance, and a well-kept secret is the difference between an officer coming home and going to a gulag. Likewise, spy operations can take years, if not decades, to put into action.”

The State Department requires those applying for security clearance to complete an SF-86 Questionnaire, to undergo an extensive background check of their personal and professional history, including a criminal history check and the examination of applicants’ financial records and foreign contacts. It must be determined that the applicant have a history that indicates loyalty to the United States; has strength of character, trustworthiness, honesty, reliability, discretion, and sound judgment; is free from conflicting allegiances and potential for coercion and demonstrates “a willingness and ability to abide by regulations governing the use, handling, and protection of classified information.”

Would Mr. Trump be able to obtain top-secret security clearance if he were not the president and needed to apply for clearance with the State Department?

Call Congress to demand that the secretary of state, the director of national intelligence or the congressional intelligence committees have access to the transcripts of the Trump-Putin summit meeting. The president and members of Congress work for us.

PATRICIA DOODY

Swissvale

This is an illegally brought Rigged Witch Hunt run by people who are totally corrupt and/or conflicted. It was started and paid for by Crooked Hillary and the Democrats. Phony Dossier, FISA disgrace and so many lying and dishonest people already fired. 17 Angry Dems? Stay tuned!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2018

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Recent letters suggesting that The Star is making up news, as opposed to just reporting on it, are absurd. To be called a liberal outlet because of supposed attacks against President Donald Trump and Kansas Secretary of State Kobach is ridiculous. These men are wholly responsible for the reporting about them.

For Kobach to travel around making bad laws for small communities (and receive a $10,000 retainer), plus other questionable actions on the taxpayers’ dime, is certainly news.

I suggest some readers try a new approach: Check the real (non-alternative) facts to try and stay informed. It could help to unite instead of divide us. Liberal outlet, no; real factual information, yes.

Let’s all disseminate the facts as reported and use common sense to come to reasonable conclusions. Cries of “fake news” are a distraction from what’s really going on. Don’t forget: The president has told us we can’t trust what we see and hear.

Be vigilant, people—please.

Peter E. Krull

Kansas City

When I decided to go to Ohio for Troy Balderson, he was down in early voting 64 to 36. That was not good. After my speech on Saturday night, there was a big turn for the better. Now Troy wins a great victory during a very tough time of the year for voting. He will win BIG in Nov.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2018

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