LOST: US nuclear codes MISSING for MONTHS in ‘comedy of errors’, security official reveals via Express

LOST: US nuclear codes MISSING for MONTHS in ‘comedy of errors’, security official reveals

THE NUCLEAR launch codes went missing for up to four months in a “comedy of errors”, a former Pentagon official has confirmed.

Strict security protocol insists the authorisation codes remain close to the President at all times as a nuclear missile cannot be launched without the card.

However, General Hugh Shelton, who was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1997 to September 2001, has revealed that in 2000 former President Bill Clinton and his aides lost the all important codes.

Every month, Mr Shelton was required to check the nuclear card to ensure they were correct and replace the nuclear information every four months.

 

However, when the security official visited the White House to check the information he was told by a Presidential aide that Clinton was in an important meeting and could not be disturbed.

However, he was assured that the codes were in safe hands and so left the White House.

When Mr Shelton returned the following month he was once again met with the same excuse.

[…]

The process for checking the nuclear codes was immediately changed as a result of the incident.

Now an official from the Defence Department is required to physically see the card before leaving the White House, even if it means waiting for hours.