FOREIGN POLICY/IMPEACHMENT/INTELLIGENCE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/UKRAINE: “The Ukraine-linked impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump could prove a golden opportunity for foreign intelligence agencies seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in America’s security apparatus. Hostile spy services now have vivid confirmation of what was long suspected: that Trump is willing to use outsiders to pursue his foreign policy goals; that his aides frequently use non-official tech platforms to communicate; and that he has angered and alienated much of the U.S. bureaucracy. Trump himself has long been seen by intelligence veterans as an espionage risk. But now, as the impeachment inquiry exposes the actions of the people around him, they too, are more likely to become intelligence targets. The impeachment fight also is sure to deepen America’s partisan polarization – a special gift to Russia and other actors that peddle disinformation to tear at social fabrics and influence elections.”
-Nahal Toosi, “Trump’s impeachment woes offer openings for foreign spies,” Politico, November 5, 2019 12:00 pm