that they're somehow sharing security secrets with the world is just false. >> no, the security clearance that most of these officials have, at least the former directors and deputy directors, and i don't know all of them still do, but to the extent they do, it is to ease the conversations that they may have with current officers. if they're brought in to review a case or review a file, to help the current leadership think through something. one of the really hard problems. it makes it easier to do that. instead of the current director having to use discretionary authority to allow them to seek classified information without a clearance, which is harder. i want to go back to something david said, which i think has been underexplored in this in the last couple days. people don't understand just how apolitical the intelligence community is. i worked side-by-side with many of the authors and signatories of yesterday's letter, of the leaders, and today's letter of a wide array of people from across the cia, from every directorate. i have to tell you, i never knew