Today in the Morning Jolt, I wrote, “Classified documents are not supposed to leave government buildings, period.” That’s not quite accurate, as the classified information has to get to and from one secure site to another. So it’s more accurate to say, “classified documents are not supposed to leave government buildings without authorization and without proper precautions.”

Our old friend Ari Fleischer, the former White House press secretary, writes in:

Classified documents do leave government buildings.
I, and others, had access to them on Air Force One and in numerous hotels during presidential overnights.
The set up at the hotels, particularly in foreign countries, was elaborate and in essence a SCIF was built, protected by Marines. NSC staff especially used the protected area that was set up.
In all cases, there is a strict procedure for how it’s done, where it’s done, and what can be done. I knew never to leave the building with classified information on me. Following the rules wherever we were was simply part of the culture.