(CNN) The likelihood that President Donald Trump personally owes unknown creditors hundreds of millions of dollars has raised concerns about how the President's financial entanglements could influence his national security decisions, former officials and experts say. The level of Trump's debt is "beyond comprehension in the national security world," said Mark Zaid, a lawyer who represents clients in security clearance cases. "Although a president does not require a security clearance by virtue of the position itself, the circumstances that exist are incredibly troubling. "While all cases are about demonstrating mitigation ... a debt of several hundred million dollars is beyond comprehension in the national security world," he said. But intelligence officials have long questioned what might explain Trump's leniency when it comes to Moscow and President Vladimir Putin.

Source: CNN September 29, 2020 02:15 UTC