[bb88]

It looks like it was approved only for CIA use with permissible use. Even though it was installed, did not mean it was suitable for all communications.

Here's the important relevant quote:

    "It is permissible to use to communicate and coordinate
     for work purposes. Provided that any decisions that are 
     made are also recorded through formal channels. So 
     those were procedures that were implemented. My staff 
     implemented those processes," Ratcliffe said.

    "My communications, to be clear, in a Signal message 
     group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not 
     include classified information," he added.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/cia-director-john-ratcliffe-defen...

[sorcerer-mar]

It's reasonable /u/chasil doesn't know this, but obviously there's no chance that Ratcliffe doesn't know this. Really makes one think!

"My communications weren't classified" — my is doing some work there.

[bb88]

The classified community is one built on trust -- fundamentally that you won't leak information to others, perceived enemies or otherwise. This extends to elected or appointed officials and federal judges ruling on classified matters.

But honestly most of the people in the group will be loyal to the US regardless of leader's political affiliation.

But what they do ask is that classified information remain secret -- particularly if you're in harms way.

[somenameforme]

There's also the temporal issue. Communications are classified, or not, after their creation. So we might add:

'My communications weren't classified at the time I made them.'

[bb88]

That's a distinction without a difference.

If you're in that intelligence community, you know exactly what is classified and what is not. I could imagine some information being so secretive it's not written down -- but instead passed verbally in person.

If a CIA agent has intelligence on an Israeli operation, it's classified, regardless of whether it was written down or not.