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Ex-WH Official: Trump Risked Security Breach With Russians in Oval Office

This handout photo released by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shows President Donald Trump meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, May 10, 2017. (Russian Foreign Ministry via AP)

By Bill Hoffmann | Thursday, 11 May 2017 12:15 PM EDT

President Donald Trump risked a serious security breach by allowing members of the Russian media to snoop around the Oval Office on Wednesday, a former deputy assistant to President Barack Obama and national security adviser to Vice President Joe Biden says.

Colin Kahl, who now teaches security studies at Georgetown University, said on Twitter:

Allowing Russ gov photographer in Oval, while barring US press, a PR coup for Kremlin...& possible security risk. https://t.co/5UJUjT8lsw
— Colin Kahl (@ColinKahl) May 11, 2017

Deadly serious Q: Was it a good idea to let a Russian gov photographer & all their equipment into the Oval Office? https://t.co/6WA4NxHxID
— Colin Kahl (@ColinKahl) May 10, 2017

I was in the Oval daily. Had to leave phone/camera outside. Apparently that doesn't apply to Russ Gov in this WH. https://t.co/nQsFBECIVm
— Colin Kahl (@ColinKahl) May 10, 2017

"Lavrov...mocking the United States while being welcomed in the Oval Office by the president himself." https://t.co/gi5TX6YXdz
— Colin Kahl (@ColinKahl) May 11, 2017

Trump to Lavrov & Kislyak: "...so then I said to Comey, 'no, no, you're the puppet!'" pic.twitter.com/vN1MFnjeII
— Colin Kahl (@ColinKahl) May 10, 2017

The tweets came as Trump — hours after firing FBI director James Comey as he probed possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to influence the 2016 presidential race — hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office.

In another controversial move, Trump barred American journalists from covering the event but allowed the Russian media, including photographers, to be at the meeting. Photos of the event were published by the Russian news agency TASS.

Answering Kahl's Twitter blasts about whether it was wise to allow Russia such intimate access to the White House, David Cohen, a former CIA deputy chief and under secretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, replied with his own tweet: