1.
Asking journalists to denounce leaks because of their deleterious effects on the functioning of government is as hopeless as asking an airline to denounce jet fuel because of its impact on the environment.
Benjamin Wittes
2.
As a general matter, if the president wants to withdraw from a treaty, he simply gets to do that. And that's part of the powers of the office.
Benjamin Wittes
3.
Recommended additon to the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights: "A right to not have your data rise up and attack you."
Benjamin Wittes
4.
Comey really spent an enormous amount of energy in the period in which both he and Trump were in office trying to protect the FBI from political interference from the White House.
Benjamin Wittes
5.
Trump fired Jim Comey because the most dangerous thing in the world, if you are Donald Trump, is a person who tells the truth, is dogged, you can't control, and who is as committed as Comey is to the institutional independence of an organization that has the power to investigate you.
Benjamin Wittes
6.
There is nothing normal about removing the FBI director, as a general matter. It's an extraordinary measure. This is an office that is typically served for a term of years, 10 years, to be precise.
Benjamin Wittes
7.
When somebody promises to do something, you have to think about whether that's something that you would be willing to see happen because the powers are simply too vast.
Benjamin Wittes
8.
You know, you don't get to survive that long without making some compromises.
Benjamin Wittes
