Top of the evening folks....
I have been following the news on the goings-on at the White House over the last couple of days. Specifically, we are learning more about the dismissal of a White House staffer. The dismissal took place in the White House Situation Room. Apparently, the staffer brought her cell phone into the Situation Room and recorded the conversation between her and White House Chief of Staff General John Kelly, USMC-Ret.
The purpose of the Situation Room is to be able to monitor and respond to worldwide events. There are representatives from various US intelligence services at work in there on a constant basis. Despite being military, I do not have the clearance to be in that room.
With respect to General Kelly, the room's purpose is likely not to have conversations about dismissal. It is to monitor and react to events as they happen. On an aside, the picture of former President Obama and his staff watching the takedown of Osama bin Laden was taken in that room. To dismiss an employee in there is misuse of the room. As well, it is likely that no one was paying attention. This was not a good move. I hope that General Kelly had the good sense to have someone with him when this conversation took place.
On the other hand, had General Kelly known that the woman had her phone with her and was recording the events in the room, that alone would have been grounds for immediate dismissal. By immediate, I mean "wow...you have your phone. This meeting is over. Go clean out your desk." It is a flagrant violation of WH security, and therefore national security. It may well be a felony. I am sure that the powers that be are checking that even now.
The woman who did this....good riddance, even if the reason is only after the fact. As for General Kelly, I would strongly urge him in the future to make sure that all HR matters always have a witness and never take place in that environment.
Have a good evening everyone.
R/SCG
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