I once had a security clearance and was also custodian of Confidential and Secret Classified documents at a local defense contractor involved in the design and manufacturing of U.S. military electronic systems. My classified documents were padlocked inside a secured file cabinet located inside my office space. The term "custodian" (a word meaning keeper, guardian, steward and protector) was used to define those responsible for a classified document container. Upon removal of a classified document from its secured container, it was my responsibility not to leave a classified document unattended. In other words, a removed classified document was always within my view at all times. I and others took the responsibility of handling classified documents very, very seriously. Mishandling of a classified document could lead to termination. Fear was instilled in me not to mishandle classified documents otherwise I knew I could spend time in prison or worse. The thought of taking a classified document home was never a consideration. I cant imagine a fellow employee emailing a classified document to their home.

Classified documents can describe in detail the operational performance of U.S. military equipment. Why would anyone risk providing the enemy information with regards to the operational capability of our advanced military systems? Or risk providing the enemy with many other sensitive classified issues? An extensive review by the FBI of a company employee is performed to determine the character of a person being considered handling of classified documents. Handling classified documents is not a casual activity, so anyone handling classified documents has to know the rules. U.S. Code - Section 798 Disclosure of Classified Information starts off with "Whoever knowingly and willfully communicates, furnishes, transmits, or otherwise makes available to an unauthorized person, or publishes, or uses in any manner prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States and the violation of..." knows they are entering the world of big legal problems upon violation of the handling classified documents.

Can anyone explain (1) why a presidential candidate that once employed an unsecured home computer server with classified documents and (2) and so happens to be running for the Presidency of the U.S. is not serving time in the slammer? I know I'd be pounding big rocks into little rocks if I had done the same. Is the government essentially telling those with security clearances that it's OK to be less attentive to our national secrets? And perhaps it's OK to sell a few secrets here and there to make a few bucks during these lean times? Or have we simply stepped into an alternate universe of new rules opposite to those of the past?