Hillary Clinton’s presidential dreams were undermined by using a private email server with classified information.
Donald Trump has risked criminal charges by refusing to return top secret records to the government after leaving the White House.
And now, misplaced files with secret markings could give President Joe Biden a political headache.
The three situations are anything but equivalent. But taken together, they represent a remarkable period in which document management has been a recurring source of controversy at the highest levels of American politics.
For some, it’s a warning against clumsiness or hubris in dealing with official secrets. For others, it’s a reminder that the federal government has built an unwieldy — and perhaps unmanageable — system for storing and protecting classified information.
“Mistakes happen, and it’s so easy to pick up a stack of documents from your desk when you leave your office and you don’t realize there’s a classified document among those files,” said Mark Zaid, an attorney working for national works security issues. “You just haven’t heard about it, for whatever reason.”
Now Americans hear about it all the time. Political talk shows became clogged with talk about which papers were hidden in which box in which closet. Voters are trained in intelligence jargon such as TS/SCI, HUMINT, and damage assessments.
Clinton’s email server has been a dominant storyline in her presidential campaign, and the criminal investigation into Trump has dampened his hopes of returning to the White House. Republicans, who recently took control of the House of Representatives, are now poised to investigate Biden’s own filing practices as well, particularly after a second batch of classified material was found.
“The American people are well aware of the issues surrounding classified documents, in part because we’ve been talking about them for nearly eight years,” said Alex Conant, a Republican policy adviser.
It was then that a House Republican committee investigating the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, discovered that Clinton had used a personal email account while serving as Secretary of State. The revelation led to a federal investigation that resulted in no indictments, but 110 of 30,000 emails turned over to the government contained classified information.
Trump, who slammed Clinton for handling the emails, won the election and was quick to demonstrate complacency with secrets. He memorably discussed sensitive intelligence with the Russian ambassador to the United States, leading to concerns that he may have compromised a source who helped thwart terrorist plots.
After contesting the results of his election defeat, Trump haphazardly left office, bringing with him boxes of government documents to his Florida vacation spot, Mar-a-Lago. Some of them were turned over to the National Archives, which is responsible for the President’s records, but he refused to release others.
Eventually, fearing that national security secrets would be compromised, the Justice Department obtained a search warrant and found other top-secret documents at the resort.
A special counsel has been appointed to determine whether criminal charges should be filed in the case, or a separate investigation into Trump’s attempts to hold on to power on January 6, 2021, when a mob of his supporters attacked the US Capitol.
Larry Pfeiffer, a former intelligence official, said the situation with Trump’s documents was very different from what he encountered while working in government.
During the time Pfeiffer was chief of staff at the CIA, classified files had turned up in the wrong place in the president’s libraries a number of times, he said.
“It just happens,” said Pfeiffer, now director of the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy and International Security at George Mason University. “Mistakes are made and things are found.”
He said that appears more likely to be the case with the documents with secret markings found in an office Biden used at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement after the end of his tenure as vice president.
Biden’s personal attorneys discovered the documents and contacted the White House Counsel’s office, and the National Archives picked up the records the next day.
The situation appears like “an average, run-of-the-mill error” that is “handled by the book and by the textbook,” Pfeiffer said.
However, he said it would be prudent for the government to review its practices for managing documents during the transition between administrations. It’s been six years since Biden left the vice president’s office, which means secret records have long been in the wrong place.
“It’s not a good thing, no matter how someone plays it,” he said.
In addition to the files found at the Penn Biden Center, other classified material was identified at another location, a person familiar with the matter said Wednesday. When and where the documents were found was unclear. The person was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and requested anonymity.
Attorney General Merrick Garland asked a US attorney to review the matter after the initial discovery, and House Republicans said they would also investigate.
Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the new chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, on Tuesday sent a letter to the White House saying his panel acknowledged Biden’s “failure to return vice presidential records — including senior ones — will examine secret documents.”
“The Committee is concerned that President Biden has compromised sources and methods through his own misuse of classified documents,” Comer wrote.
Biden said this week he was surprised to learn of the documents, which were discovered in November but whose existence only became public this week. He said he didn’t know what type of information they contained and he said his team “did what they should have done” when they were found.
Miller, a former Justice Department spokesman who worked for Biden’s National Security Council last year, said it was unlikely such an episode would have made the news without the simultaneous Trump probe.
“The Penn Biden Center would have turned this stuff in, it would have gone into the archives, and that would have been the end,” he said.
Miller said the situation was a reminder that “the government is classifying far too many documents.”
“There’s no good process to release them,” he said. “And when you create that structure, you have unnecessarily expanded the universe of classified documents that could be inadvertently mishandled.”
It’s not a new problem, and it’s a concern even shared by Biden’s top intelligence adviser, Avril Haines. In a letter to senators last year, Haines said there were “flaws in the current classification system” and called it “a fundamentally important issue that we need to address.”
However, Miller said, “No one has come up with a good answer to this problem.”
What is the base word of controversial?
The adjective disputed comes from the Latin controversus "disputed" formed from the prefix contra- "against" plus versus, from vertere “to turn.” The Latin suffix -ialis, equivalent to the English suffixes -ial and -al, means “relating to or marked by”.
What is the root word for discussion? It comes from the Latin word discustus, meaning “beaten apart,” “shattered,” or “scattered.” Discussus derives from the Latin verb discutere, formed from the prefix dis – meaning “apart” and “cuter”, a form of the verb quatere, “to shake” or “to hit”.
What is the prefix for controversial? The adjective disputed comes from the Latin controversus “disputed”, formed from the prefix contra- “against” plus versus, from vertere “to turn”. The Latin suffix âialis, corresponding to the English suffixes âial and âal, means “regarding or characterized by”.
What type of word is controversy?
A debate, discussion of opposing opinions; Dispute.
What is Controversial Vocabulary? Definitions of controversy. a controversial speech act; a dispute in which there are strong differences of opinion. Synonyms: argue, argue, argue, contest, dissent, dispute, overturn.
What does controversy mean in literature?
Noun. con·âtro·âver·âsy Ëkän-trÉ-ËvÉr-sÄ plural controversies : a discussion particularly characterized by the expression of opposing views : dispute. : quarrel entry 1 sense 2, quarrel.
What is controversy and example? Britannica Dictionary definition of CONTROVERSY. : argument involving many people who strongly disagree about something : strong disagreement about something among a large group of people. [noncount] The decision aroused/created much controversy among the students. The new film is a controversial subject.
Does controversy mean argument? A controversy is an argument or argument in which people express strong opposing views. When a popular TV show kills a popular character, there’s bound to be a lot of controversy. Controversy means an argument (often public) with strong disagreements, but the issue can be as unimportant as a new movie.
Is controversy a adjective?
Controversial is the adjective form of the noun controversy, which is a prolonged dispute, debate, or state of dispute, especially one that unfolds in public and involves a clear difference of opinion. Things commonly labeled as controversial include issues, actions, and people (especially for what they say and do).
What is the adverb of controversy? Adverb. /ËkÉntrÉËvÉËÊÉli/ /ËkÉËntrÉËvÉËrÊÉli/ âin a way that causes much angry public discussion and disagreement.
Can controversy be a verb?
(transitive) To dispute or argue with reason. (intransitive) To be involved or involved in controversy.
Is controversy a noun or a verb? noun, plural controversies. a prolonged public dispute, debate, or argument; Disputation about a matter of opinion.
How do you use controversy in a sentence? example sentences
- The decision caused a lot of controversy among the students.
- The new film is controversial.
- There is controversy surrounding the team’s decision to swap the star pitcher.
- The controversy is over whether or not he should be fired.
- Controversy erupted over the new law.
Is controversy an issue?
What are controversial issues? Controversial issues are issues that evoke strong feelings and divide communities. Such problems can occur anytime and anywhere. They vary from local to global – from minarets to climate change.
Can a controversy be good? First, controversy makes it more interesting to talk about. It’s pretty boring when everyone has exactly the same opinion, so a little argument keeps the discussion stimulating. The different sides can express their views and the debate can stimulate conversation.
Why is controversy an issue? A controversial issue is one that presents a challenge and stimulates debate; it does not imply a general or fixed point of view. Almost any topic can become controversial when people hold different beliefs, views, or values.
Is controversy a debate?
What does dispute mean? A controversy is a prolonged dispute, debate, or state of dispute, especially one that unfolds in public and involves a clear difference of opinion.
Are controversy and debate the same? Controversy is a state of prolonged public argument or debate, usually regarding conflicting opinions or viewpoints. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a compound of controversus – “turned in an opposite direction”.
What is an example of a controversy? The decision aroused/created much controversy among the students. The new film is a controversial subject. There is controversy surrounding the team’s decision to swap the star pitcher. The controversy is over whether or not he should be fired.
What is a definition for controversy?
: a discussion particularly characterized by the expression of opposing views : dispute. The decision sparked controversy among students.
What does controversy mean in the dictionary? British Dictionary definitions for controversy controversy. / (ËkÉntrÉËvÉËsɪ, kÉnËtrÉvÉsɪ) / noun plural -sies. Quarrel, quarrel or debate, especially when it comes to a matter about which there are strong differences of opinion and which is particularly carried out in public or in the press.
What type of word is controversy?
A debate, discussion of opposing opinions; Dispute.
What does controversy mean in literature? Noun. con·âtro·âver·âsy Ëkän-trÉ-ËvÉr-sÄ plural controversies : a discussion particularly characterized by the expression of opposing views : dispute. : quarrel entry 1 sense 2, quarrel.
Can controversy be a verb? (transitive) To dispute or argue with reason. (intransitive) To be involved or involved in controversy.
What is an example of a controversial issue?
Abortion. The abortion debate has long been one of the most contentious issues in the United States. The focus is on a fundamental disagreement about the question of bodily autonomy as expressed in a person’s right to an abortion.
What would be controversial? When you describe something or someone as controversial, you mean that they are the subject of intense public debate, disagreement, or disapproval. Immigration is a controversial issue in many countries.
What are controversial issues in the US?
controversial issues
- abortion laws.
- animal rights.
- anti-vaccination movement.
- climate change skepticism.
- Gun control in the United States.
- Immigration reform in the United States.
- police brutality.
- Individual payers in healthcare.
What is the most controversial issue in the US? The abortion debate has long been one of the most contentious issues in the United States. The focus is on a fundamental disagreement about the question of bodily autonomy as expressed in a person’s right to an abortion.
What is a popular controversial topic?
The top 30 controversial abortion issues. confirmation action. Artificial intelligence. Atheism. Black lives matter.
What is a good controversial question? Animal testing should be banned. The death penalty is sometimes justified. Women should be paid less than men in some professions.
What is the most controversial topic in history?
There are controversial issues such as slavery and the Holocaust that are difficult to approach and not suitable for younger children. Migration and the treatment of newcomers allow children to explore ideas around personal identity.
What is the opposite of controversial ‘?
The opposite of causing controversy or public disagreement. undisputed. undisputed. pleasant. undisputed.
What is a word for not controversial? Synonyms: undisputedly unassailable. not open to challenges. undisputed, undisputed, undisputed. generally agreed; not debatable.
What’s the more polite way of saying something controversial? The author said…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………… may not be right, but what about the possibility that… … These are polite ways to offer a different or controversial point of view without openly disagreeing.
What is another term for controversial? debatable, debatable, doubtful, questionable, debatable, argumentative, debatable, contestable, debatable, debatable, debatable, doubtful, doubtful, doubtful, debatable, debatable, debatable, polemical, suspect, uncertain.
How do you define controversy?
Meaning of controversy in English. a lot of disagreement or argument about something, usually because it affects or is important to many people: There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the use of drugs in athletics.
What does controversial mean in simple words? : pertain to or provoke much discussion, disagreement or controversy : likely to lead to controversy. Abortion is a very controversial issue/issue/topic. a decision that remains controversial.
What makes something a controversy? Controversy is a state of prolonged public argument or debate, usually regarding conflicting opinions or viewpoints. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a compound of controversus – “turned in an opposite direction”.
What is an example of a controversy?
The decision aroused/created much controversy among the students. The new film is a controversial subject. There is controversy surrounding the team’s decision to swap the star pitcher. The controversy is over whether or not he should be fired.
What is considered a controversy? Controversial is the adjective form of the noun controversy, which is a prolonged dispute, debate, or state of dispute, especially one that unfolds in public and involves a clear difference of opinion. Things commonly labeled as controversial include issues, actions, and people (especially for what they say and do).
What is controversy in arguing?
A controversy is an argument or argument in which people express strong opposing views. When a popular TV show kills a popular character, there’s bound to be a lot of controversy. Controversy means an argument (often public) with strong disagreements, but the issue can be as unimportant as a new movie.
Why is it called a fight? It comes from the Latin contrÅversia, which is synonymous with contrÅvers(us), meaning “opposite” or “disputed”. “against” (as seen in words like opposite) and vertere, meaning “reverse” (as in word against).
What is the best meaning of controversy?
: a state of dispute or disagreement.
