Judge Napolitano Fears Trump’s Declassification Order Because It Will Reveal Confidential Sources

Nick Givas

Fox News judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano said he’s fearful of President Donald Trump’s order to declassify certain intelligence documents, because it will reveal confidential sources and information.

Napolitano said Trump and the American people have a right to be frustrated by the federal government’s lack of transparency, but cautioned against releasing top-secret intelligence information.

“I fear that revealing these documents is going to reveal confidential sources and the way the intelligence community works,” Napolitano said on “Fox & Friends” Tuesday.

Trump ordered the declassification of several documents related to the Russia election probe Monday, including 21 pages of surveillance warrant applications and text messages from former FBI agent Peter Strzok and his lover Lisa Page.

“I’ve been a critic of the intelligence community. But I also respect — a lot of them risk their lives to get this information for us. And that cannot be made public without damage and harm to them,” he added. “It might be a little bit too much transparency, we’ll find out.”

Despite being a vocal critic of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, Napolitano said it would be counterproductive to reveal secret information and claimed it could do damage to the country’s intelligence apparatus.

“I’ve been a harsh critic of FISA. It purports to change the constitutional standard. But, if you’re going to expose what went to FISA in this case, then FISA will no longer be secret and will no longer be helpful,” he said.

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