Nghia Pho (photo, left), a software developer, went to work for the NSA in 2005.
Mr. Pho held security clearances, and received training in the handling of classified materials.
In a press release here, the Department of Justice said, “The privilege of working for the U.S. Intelligence Community requires strict adherence to laws governing the lawful secrecy of its work,” and emphasized the harm that can result from mishandling such materials.
A Huffington Post story (here) explains, “Pho, a Vietnamese immigrant who was working on his English, said he was falling behind his peers in promotions and wanted to try to catch up on work at home.”
So, between 2010 and 2015, he took classified documents home with him. He didn’t lose any, or share information. But when the bosses found out, the NSA and FBI blew multiple fuses.
They made an example of him. Mr. Pho, who “didn’t lie to federal law enforcement officials about what he had done and worked with them to remedy the situation,” got 5½ years in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Needless to say, he won’t ever work for the government again.
Compare and contrast: “When FBI agents raided Mar-a-Lago last year, their search turned up 48 folders with classified markings that were empty.” Trump kept classified documents “at a social club with more than 150 staffers, 500 members and a history of allowing suspicious foreign nationals to gain entrance.” He also “tried to conceal what he had done and prevented government agents from retrieving them.”
Republicans are demanding “equal justice.” Perhaps they should be careful what they wish for, if they don’t want to see Trump behind bars.