database that would have known about -- that would have been able to authorize moving that material over there. the white house council being involved seems very unusual. i can't recall a time in my time at the white house where council was making decisions about what should or shouldn't be in that database. >> when you say higher up, you mean the president would have to have asked for it. >> yes. he may not have said, oh, please go put that in that highly sensitive enclave we have in the intel programs, but he may have said, hey, this thing needs to be buttoned down. go do that. go button it down however you need to do it. i could see that being possible. >> now that you know or that the whistle-blower alleges that it was transferred to this other computer network, is that to your mind a cover-up? >> i'm probably not the most qualified guy from a legal perspective to make that judgment call.