1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

Congress must investigate the executive branch mishandling and leaking classified information as reported in the Atlantic this week. This appears to have occurred over an extended period, raising serious concerns about additional lapses in safeguarding sensitive information. The use of unapproved devices, public communications networks, and unapproved tools by the Vice President and other officials must be scrutinized, especially through the lens of records retention violations. The casual and immediately easy use by all members of the thread made public indicates this is NOT new behavior. The needed investigation cannot treat this as an isolated incident. Improper handling, retention and transmission of classified materials represent a critical breach of protocols designed to protect intelligence sources, methods and national security equities. The clearly ongoing behavior puts American servicepeople and assets at risk. Regardless of the timeline or partisan affiliation, a rigorous and unbiased investigation is warranted to determine the full scope and severity of these reported violations and to hold all responsible parties accountable to the utmost standards in preserving the integrity of our nation's security.