Former officials call the situation alarming
Norm Eisen, who previously served as the White House’s ethics czar, did not hold back in his reaction. He said it was shocking that an aide with potential access to some of the nation’s most sensitive secrets reportedly went without clearance for so long, calling it an outrageous way to handle national security. Eisen, who now co-founded the nonpartisan group Democracy Defenders Action, argued the situation reflects a broader pattern of incompetence within the administration, one he said prioritizes appeasing Trump over protecting the country’s interests and following established protocol.