Here’s a case in point, one that will take on increasing salience as the 2020 election churns forward: Trump’s abuse of the classification process. How Trump could abuse this power toward reelectionMurphy suggested a hypothetical, in which the intelligence community documents another extensive Russian effort to sabotage the 2020 election to help reelect Trump — which intelligence officials themselves have warned is happening. If the GAO does establish a pattern of abuse, this would equip lawmakers to exert pressure on Trump to refrain from such future abuses. Republicans will use their prestige as lawmakers to justify Trump’s future abuse of this power. This will constrain them, but it will also relieve them of the horrifying obligation to share with the public information that would be politically damaging to Trump — and to them, as well.

Source: Washington Post February 07, 2020 15:13 UTC