White House: Media puts national security at risk by publishing classified info

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders accused reporters of putting national security at risk by publishing classified information. Revelations that former staff secretary Rob Porter received an interim security clearance despite an FBI investigation that turned up allegations of past spousal abuse has led to questions about who at the White House is handling sensitive information. But Sanders suggested the media is feigning its concern about the handling of top secret information within the White House, while at the same time putting national security at risk by publishing leaked information from intelligence sources.

“We're taking every step we can to protect classified information,” Sanders said. “Frankly, if you guys have such concern about leaking classified information, there's plenty of it that has leaked out of the Hill, out of other communities, well beyond the White House walls. If you guys have real concerns about leaking out classified information, look around this room. You’re the ones that publish classified information and put national security at risk. That doesn't come from this White House.”