Richard Painter

“You could be in a situation where, if the president wants her on his trips, and he’s in Air Force One, and he is on the phone, and she’s sitting in the cabin there because she’s doing something else, even if she doesn’t give advice on how to handle Iran and he’s on the phone talking about the next strike on Iran, right then and there she needs a security clearance.”

Richard Painter · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20

Painter elaborated on a hypothetical scenario requiring Harp to have security clearance.

“I’m not entirely clear what has been going on here with Natalie Harp,”

Richard Painter · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20

Painter expressed uncertainty about the situation involving Harp's security clearance.

“My sense of most of what she’s doing has nothing to do with classified information.”

Richard Painter · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20

Painter noted Harp's duties likely do not involve classified information.

“If she is accompanying the president on his trips in Air Force One, in a proximity where she can overhear conversations that could include classified information, she needs to have the security clearance.”

Richard Painter · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20

Painter explained when Harp would need security clearance during Air Force One trips.