Upfront, I’m underwhelmed by the whole Rob Porter thing. But the biggest nothingburger is the issue of Rob Porter being allowed to continue to work with classified information while retaining an interim security clearance. The bottom line is that the Executive Office of the President has the ability to waive certain administrative regulations and the idea that Porter was a security risk seems rather ludicrous in view of the circumstances.

But the subject came up in the White House press briefing today. This was the set up: “Why are high level aids allowed to work with classified information without a permanent security clearance?”

Sanders was badgered on the issue and finally let them know what she was really thinking:

MIC 🎤 DROP: @PressSec On Leaking classified info: “If you guys have any real concerns about leaking look around this room, you guys are the ones that publish classified information and put our national security at risk”! pic.twitter.com/gJsMbul6ie

— GITMO KAG2020 🇺🇸 (@President1Trump) February 12, 2018

Exactly right.

Ultimately the White House gets to choose who works there. Not the FBI. And the sudden concern of the media, in particular the White House press corps, over publishing damaging leaks of national security information is charming in its utter duplicity.

But this is not about Porter. And it isn’t about security clearances. It is about trying to force John Kelly out of his job. All Porter and the security clearances are is a club to beat Kelly and the administration with.