Did Cruz Reveal Classified Information In Last Night's Debate?

I'm curious about this.

While Rubio and Cruz were debating each other's records on national security and surveillance, Cruz got into some details about what the bulk data program covers.

"What he knows is that the old program covered 20 percent to 30 percent of phone numbers to search for terrorists," Cruz said, referring to Rubio. "The new program covers nearly 100 percent. That gives us greater ability to stop acts of terrorism, and he knows that that's the case."

...

"Let me be very careful when answering this, because I don't think national television in front of 15 million people is the place to discuss classified information," Rubio [responded]. "So let me just be very clear. There is nothing that we are allowed to do under this bill that we could not do before."

I don't know what this means, or how parts of a law (describing its reach and the number of citizens affected) could be classified. But it is an interesting side-question.

Staffers for Richard Burr, head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, are looking into whether Cruz disclosed classified information. "Cruz shouldn't have said that," one said.

posted by Ace at 12:24 PM

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