"WALLACE: But I do want to ask you, because you didn't answer
my direction question. Did the president or any other top official declassify
any of the information that appeared in these articles?
PLOUFFE: No, the president and his national security team --
first of all, these are the folks who waged just a relentless and effective
effort against al Qaeda and its leadership. We decimated most of the top
leadership including bin Laden. This national security information is so
critical for the president and his administration to make the right decision.
Nobody takes it more seriously than the president of the United States.
WALLACE: Forgive me, sir. It's a yes or no. Did the
president declassify any of this information?
PLOUFFE: No, of course, he didn't. Of course, he didn't.
WALLACE: He did not?
PLOUFFE: No." FNS Transcript
The president and his designated henchmen have the legal authority to do this but did they do it? pl
