The executive order issued by President Trump on March 25, 2021, directs the immediate declassification of materials related to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The order applies only to documents that were not subject to court orders or other legal restrictions on disclosure. It does not require the release of any materials that must be protected from disclosure under applicable law.
The president’s decision to declassify certain materials related to Crossfire Hurricane is a significant development in the ongoing investigation into Russian interference and the Trump administration’s efforts to obscure its activities during that period. The release of these documents could provide valuable insights into the FBI’s handling of the matter, as well as any potential misconduct or abuse by government officials.
However, it is important to note that the order does not guarantee the immediate release of these materials to the public. The Attorney General will be tasked with making declassified materials available to the public within a reasonable amount of time, but this process could take several weeks or even months to complete.
Overall, President Trump’s executive order represents an effort by the administration to increase transparency and accountability in government decision-making, particularly related to matters of national security. However, it remains to be seen whether these efforts will ultimately lead to meaningful reform or simply serve as a distraction from the real issues facing the country at this time.
Read the full text of the order at the whitehouse.gov website.