Gov. John Kasich joins Ohio Democrats in condemning Trump's reported intelligence breach to Russia
WASHINGTON -- Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Tuesday joined Democrats in Ohio to condemn President Donald Trump's intelligence revelations to Russian officials, saying "it shouldn't have happened."
Kasich, a Republican who ran for president against Trump, issued a statement that said if the incident earlier this month happened as The Washington Post reported, "it is the ultimate breach of behavior to the intelligence community."
"It could jeopardize the lives of intelligence agents, damage our relationship with our allies and undermine our ability to gather information from third parties that will enable us to keep America secure," Kasich said in a statement posted on Twitter.
Governor John Kasich Statement on the sharing of sensitive intelligence with Russia:
The Washington Post reported Monday that Trump revealed "highly classified" information to Russia's ambassador and foreign minister last week during a White House meeting.
The terrorism-related material he disclosed came from an ally who didn't give the United States permission to share it with Russia. Trump's decision to do so endangers future intelligence cooperation with other nations, the Post story said.
Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian foreign minister and ambassador
President Donald Trump revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador in a White House meeting last week, according to current and former U.S. officials, who said that Trump's disclosures jeopardized a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State.
Trump said he wanted to share information on terrorism and airline flight safety with Russia for "humanitarian reasons" and because he wants it to accelerate efforts to fight terrorism.
Trump's national security advisor, H. R. McMaster, on Tuesday told reporters "what the president shared was totally appropriate" and said he "in no way compromised any sources of methods" of intelligence gathering.
As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining....
...to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.
Apart from Kasich, Ohio Republicans were reluctant to criticize Trump.
Holmes-area GOP Rep. Bob Gibbs told constituents in a Tuesday afternoon telephone town-hall meeting that "we don't know what happened" and it's not clear Trump did anything wrong.
"I don't know where the Washington Post got its information, it was anonymous," said Gibbs. "We'll see where that goes."
The state's Democrats said the incident was another example of Trump's bad judgement. Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur released a statement that said she's "deeply concerned" about Trump's decision "to conduct the affairs of our nation in such a compromising manner.
"The American people deserve a President who does not behave cavalierly and carelessly on liberty's watch," said Kaptur.
Enough. We must have an independent investigation. The American people deserve no less. https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/864604139229261825 …
Columbus-area Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty said she's signing a discharge petition to force a vote on a measure that would create an independent commission to investigate Trump's ties to Russia.
"From President Trump's irrational firing of former FBI Director Comey, to divulging classified information to the very Russian officials involved in an ongoing FBI investigation--not to mention the many conflicting reports and misinformation coming out of the White House over the past week--Americans are demanding answers," said a statement from Beatty.
Niles Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan called Trump's conduct "breathtakingly reckless." He echoed others' concerns it's inexcusable to risk intelligence sources and methods by revealing them to Russia.
This article first appeared on Cleveland.com on May 17, 2017.