Amorosa's Recording: Legal Or Not?

In August 2018, Omarosa Manigault Newman, a former aide to then-US President Donald Trump, released a secret recording of her conversation with Trump's Chief of Staff, John Kelly, in which he fired her. The recording was made in the White House Situation Room, prompting concerns about a security breach. While some experts warned that the move was potentially illegal, others noted that there was no real obvious criminal liability. This incident sparked discussions about the ethics and legality of recording conversations in sensitive government locations.

Omarosa Manigault Newman recorded John Kelly firing her in the White House Situation Room

Omarosa Manigault Newman, a former aide in the White House, recorded Chief of Staff John Kelly firing her in the White House Situation Room in December 2017. She played the recording on NBC's Meet the Press in August 2018.

Newman, who was assistant to the President and director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison during the Trump administration, was fired by Kelly for "money and integrity issues" and the "inappropriate use of company vehicles".

The recording caused controversy as it was made in the highly-secret White House Situation Room, which is used for secure communications between the president and his advisers. Some observers, including national security experts, have claimed that Newman committed a security breach and potentially acted illegally.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said:

> "The very idea a staff member would sneak a recording device into the White House Situation Room shows a blatant disregard for our national security. Then to brag about it on national television further proves the lack of character and integrity of this disgruntled former White House employee."

However, Bradley Moss, a national security lawyer in Washington, noted that there was "no real obvious criminal liability" in Newman's actions, as the conversation took place in a secured series of connected rooms, rather than a single room. Moss also stated that the violation would likely be enough to deny Newman a security clearance in the future.

Newman claimed she made and released the recordings to "protect" herself. She went on to publish a book, Unhinged, in which she labels Trump a "racist, misogynist and bigot".

Newman released the recording on NBC's Meet the Press

On 12 August 2018, Omarosa Manigault Newman, former White House aide, released a secret recording of her conversation with John Kelly, White House Chief of Staff, on NBC's Meet the Press. In the recording, Kelly is heard firing Newman, citing "significant integrity issues" and "serious integrity violations" as the reasons for her dismissal. The recording took place in the White House Situation Room, a highly secure forum, which some observers, including national security experts, believed to be a security breach.

Newman defended her actions by stating that she made and released the recordings to "protect" herself. She also called on the White House to release her employee file to substantiate the "integrity violations" Kelly had mentioned.

The White House, on the other hand, denounced Newman's actions, with White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders calling it a "blatant disregard for our national security." The recording sparked concerns about security risks, with some commentators suggesting that foreign entities could have accessed Newman's recording device.

Newman's release of the secret recording was part of her promotional tour for her book, Unhinged, which detailed her experiences working in the Trump administration. She had previously gained fame as a contestant on the first season of NBC's reality TV show The Apprentice.

The incident raised questions about the legality of recording conversations in the Situation Room. While some experts suggested it could be a potential security risk, others noted that there was "no real obvious criminal liability" as the Situation Room is a secured series of connected rooms where staffers are required to lock away their cell phones and other insecure electronic devices.

The recording was a security breach, but not a crime

In August 2018, Omarosa Manigault Newman, a former aide to then-US President Donald Trump, released a secret recording of her conversation with White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, in which he fired her. The recording was made in the White House Situation Room, a highly secure location, and was aired on NBC's "Meet the Press". This act was considered a significant security breach, with some experts warning that it could have been illegal.

While bringing a recording device into the Situation Room was a serious security breach, it is not clear that Manigault Newman broke the law. This is because Washington, DC, is a "one-party consent" jurisdiction for recordings, meaning that as long as one person in a conversation consents to it being recorded (in this case, Manigault Newman herself), it is legal. However, some national security experts have warned that the act could be illegal, and it certainly represents a security risk.

The White House certainly considered it a breach of security, with Press Secretary Sarah Sanders saying, "The very idea a staff member would sneak a recording device into the White House Situation Room shows a blatant disregard for our national security." Other observers, such as Laura Rosenberger, the director of the Alliance for Security Democracy, agreed that it was a "huge" security violation. There were concerns that if Manigault Newman's device was hacked, all of her conversations, not just the ones she chose to record, could be accessible to foreign entities.

While Manigault Newman's actions may not have been illegal, they certainly had consequences for her. National security lawyer Bradley Moss noted that the violation would likely be enough to deny her a security clearance if she ever wanted to work for the federal government again. Indeed, in March 2020, a judge ordered Manigault Newman to pay $61,585 to the US Treasury for an unrelated violation of the Ethics in Government Act.

In conclusion, while the recording of John Kelly by Omarosa Manigault Newman may not have been a crime, it was certainly a security breach with potentially serious implications for national security and Manigault Newman's own future career prospects.

Newman said she made the recording to protect myself

Omarosa Manigault Newman, a former White House aide, released secret recordings of her conversations with Donald Trump and his chief of staff, John Kelly. Newman says she secretly recorded Kelly firing her in the White House Situation Room in December 2017, and she played the recording on NBC's Meet The Press.

Newman has stated that she made the recording to "protect myself". She was fired from her position as assistant to the President and director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison, with Kelly citing "money and integrity issues" as well as the "inappropriate use of company vehicles".

In the recording, Kelly says:

> "We're going to talk to you about leaving the White House...It's come to my attention over the last few months that there's been some pretty, in my opinion, significant integrity issues... You committed some pretty serious integrity violations."

Newman considered Kelly's words to be a "threat" and "downright criminal". She told Meet The Press:

> "It's very obvious a threat...The chief of staff of the United States under the direction of the president of the United States threatening me on damage to my reputation and things getting ugly. That's downright criminal."

Newman's recording and release of the conversation have been deemed a security breach and a potential national security risk by some observers and experts. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders stated that:

> "The very idea a staff member would sneak a recording device into the White House Situation Room shows a blatant disregard for our national security."

However, Bradley Moss, a national security lawyer in Washington, noted that there was "no real obvious criminal liability" in making the recording in the Situation Room. While it may not have been a criminal act, it was certainly a violation and likely enough to deny Newman a security clearance in the future.

Newman's actions and the contents of the recording have sparked controversy and raised questions about security culture within the Trump administration.

The White House called the recording a blatant disregard for national security

In August 2018, Omarosa Manigault Newman, a former White House aide, released secret recordings of her conversations with Donald Trump and his chief of staff, John Kelly. The recordings were made as Kelly fired her in the White House Situation Room in December 2017.

The White House called the recording a "blatant disregard for national security". This statement is significant and warrants further examination. Firstly, the Situation Room is a highly secure location, used for the most sensitive communications between the President and their advisers. It is a place where all staff must lock away their cell phones and other electronic devices. By bringing a recording device into this secure environment, Manigault Newman potentially exposed confidential discussions to foreign adversaries. This act demonstrates a disregard for established security protocols and increases the risk of sensitive information being compromised.

Moreover, the White House's statement reflects the seriousness of the breach. By describing it as a "blatant disregard", the White House is implying that Manigault Newman's actions were intentional and not merely a mistake or oversight. This implication is reinforced by the reference to "national security", indicating that her actions had implications for the safety and well-being of the entire nation.

The statement also highlights the potential consequences of Manigault Newman's actions. By breaching security protocols, she may have compromised the integrity of sensitive information and put national security at risk. This could have far-reaching implications for the country's ability to safeguard its interests and protect its citizens.

Furthermore, the White House's response underscores the importance of maintaining a secure environment for conducting government business. The Situation Room is intended to be a place where the President and their advisers can discuss critical issues without fear of their conversations being recorded or shared inappropriately. Manigault Newman's actions undermined the integrity of this secure environment, potentially hindering the government's ability to make critical decisions and respond to national security threats effectively.

In conclusion, the White House's statement that the recording showed a "blatant disregard for national security" highlights the severity and potential impact of Manigault Newman's actions. By breaching security protocols in a highly sensitive location, she may have compromised confidential information and put national security at risk. This incident underscores the critical importance of maintaining secure communication channels within the highest levels of government.

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