Congresswoman Sherrill announces legislation to protect sensitive national security information from compromised individuals
GUARD Act Would Safeguard Classified Information
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) – a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and member of the Armed Services Committee – announced she is introducing the Guarding the United States Against Reckless Disclosures (GUARD) Act, which will protect our national security and classified information from potentially compromised individuals.
In recent months, serious national security charges against former President Donald Trump have underscored the need to take additional steps to protect access to classified information, Sherrill said.
“In public service there’s nothing more important than upholding the oath of office and protecting our national security,” Sherrill said. “As a Navy veteran and former prosecutor, I have zero tolerance for any betrayal of the public trust, especially when it comes to classified information and our national security. That’s why I’m extremely concerned about recent charges against Donald Trump and his continued desire to access sensitive classified information, despite reckless actions, and serious criminal charges. Nobody is entitled or legally obligated to classified briefings – certainly not Trump, even if he is the Republican nominee for president. This legislation is urgent and should be considered by both parties as a necessary step to protect intelligence and ensure sensitive information doesn’t get into the wrong hands.”
The legislation was also endorsed by VoteVets, an organization that prioritizes America’s defense, national security, and veterans, Sherrill said.
The GUARD Act would prohibit access to classified information to individuals charged or convicted of a covered criminal offense, including: obstructing an official proceeding, unlawful retention of national defense information, the unlawful disclosure or improper handling of classified information, acting as a foreign agent, or compromising the national security of the United States, Sherrill said.
Former President Donald Trump is indicted on 91 criminal charges, including 2 felony counts of obstructing an official proceeding for the violent January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol and 32 felony counts of unlawful retention of national defense information for storing classified documents in his Mar-a-lago home. Trump is also reported to have shared classified information about U.S. nuclear submarines with a foreign billionaire and member of Mar-a-Lago. While in office, Trump disclosed sensitive Israeli intelligence information to the Russians, and classified information about the locations of nuclear submarines to the Philippines, Sherrill said.
