In my opinion it would be a disaster if you could receive compensation for future policy input, act on that input in office, and be immune simply because you were not in office when you received it.
Just prove he did or did not do it instead of whatever this nonsense take is.
Those newspapers did not sign a legally binding SF312 CLASSIFIED INFORMATION NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT of which every single person who holds a clearance must sign.
The very first sentence is:
Other parts being
This contract is binding FOR LIFE unless waived by an official.
https://www.gsa.gov/reference/forms/classified-information-nondisclosure-agreement-1