Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Announcing Legislation To Combat The Trump Administration’s Gross Mishandling Of Classified Information And Protect American National Security

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor to decry the Trump administration’s pattern of gross negligence and disregard for American national security after the Washington Post reported that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz used his personal Gmail account for official government communications, and announced new legislation alongside Senators Kim and Schiff to address the issue. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Yesterday, the Washington Post reported that the National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, used his personal Gmail account for official government communications.

So, it’s clear: the controversy about Signal was clearly not an isolated incident. It was a pattern of gross negligence.

It’s clear that the Trump administration can’t be trusted on their own to protect America’s intelligence.

So later today, I’ll be introducing legislation with Senators Kim and Schiff to shore up our national security and make sure the Trump administration knows how to handle classified information.

Under any other president, these stunning breaches would have resulted in swift accountability.

It’s shocking that over a week later, Donald Trump has held nobody – nobody – accountable. No firings, no corrections. Nothing. Just a bunch of statements saying lessons learned.

The Donald Trump of 2017, I believe, would not have hesitated to hold someone accountable by now. That he’s not done so now makes it seem more and more like he’s just out of touch with what America needs, with America’s safety, with average American families.

Well, America cannot afford any lessons learned when it comes to our national security.

We cannot afford it. And I hope that this legislation will do some good. You'll hear more about it later.

###