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| Trump considering revoking security clearances of critical ex-officials | Trump considering revoking security clearances of critical ex-officials |
| (5 months later) | |
| Donald Trump is considering revoking the security clearance of several top Barack Obama-era intelligence officials who have been sharply critical of his presidency, the White House said on Monday. | Donald Trump is considering revoking the security clearance of several top Barack Obama-era intelligence officials who have been sharply critical of his presidency, the White House said on Monday. |
| Press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that former CIA director John Brennan, former FBI director James Comey and former national intelligence director James Clapper could be stripped of their status. | Press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that former CIA director John Brennan, former FBI director James Comey and former national intelligence director James Clapper could be stripped of their status. |
| Was the Putin summit a turning point for Trump? Republicans say 'nah' | |
| “They’ve politicised and in some cases monetised their public service and security clearances,” Sanders said during the daily briefing. “Making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia, or being influenced by Russia, against the president is extremely inappropriate and the fact that people with security clearances are making these baseless charges provides inappropriate legitimacy to accusations with zero evidence.” | “They’ve politicised and in some cases monetised their public service and security clearances,” Sanders said during the daily briefing. “Making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia, or being influenced by Russia, against the president is extremely inappropriate and the fact that people with security clearances are making these baseless charges provides inappropriate legitimacy to accusations with zero evidence.” |
| Brennan described Trump’s controversial Helsinki summit meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin last week as “nothing short of treasonous”. Comey, who was fired by Trump, has published a book in which he is fiercely critical of the president and has recently urged Americans to vote for the Democrats in the midterm elections in November. | Brennan described Trump’s controversial Helsinki summit meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin last week as “nothing short of treasonous”. Comey, who was fired by Trump, has published a book in which he is fiercely critical of the president and has recently urged Americans to vote for the Democrats in the midterm elections in November. |
| Sanders said Trump is also examining the cases of former National Security Agency director Michael Hayden, former national security adviser Susan Rice and former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, who was dismissed by the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, in March before the release of an inspector general report that criticised his conduct. | Sanders said Trump is also examining the cases of former National Security Agency director Michael Hayden, former national security adviser Susan Rice and former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, who was dismissed by the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, in March before the release of an inspector general report that criticised his conduct. |
| Melissa Schwartz, a spokesperson for McCabe, wrote on Twitter: “Andrew McCabe’s security clearance was deactivated when he was terminated, according to what we were told was FBI policy. You would think the White House would check with the FBI before trying to throw shiny objects to the press corps ...” | Melissa Schwartz, a spokesperson for McCabe, wrote on Twitter: “Andrew McCabe’s security clearance was deactivated when he was terminated, according to what we were told was FBI policy. You would think the White House would check with the FBI before trying to throw shiny objects to the press corps ...” |
| Clapper also dismissed the announcement. “It’s kind of a sad commentary where for political reasons this is a petty way of retribution, I suppose, for speaking out against the president which, I think on the part of all of us, are born out of genuine concerns about President Trump,” he told CNN. “The security clearance has nothing to do with how I or any others feel about the president and I don’t get briefings, I don’t have access to any classified information. It’s frankly more of a courtesy that former senior officials in the intelligence community are extended the courtesy of keeping a security clearance. I haven’t had occasion to use it.”Hayden also brushed it off, writing on Twitter: “I dont [sic] go back for classified briefings. Won’t have any effect on what I say or write.” | Clapper also dismissed the announcement. “It’s kind of a sad commentary where for political reasons this is a petty way of retribution, I suppose, for speaking out against the president which, I think on the part of all of us, are born out of genuine concerns about President Trump,” he told CNN. “The security clearance has nothing to do with how I or any others feel about the president and I don’t get briefings, I don’t have access to any classified information. It’s frankly more of a courtesy that former senior officials in the intelligence community are extended the courtesy of keeping a security clearance. I haven’t had occasion to use it.”Hayden also brushed it off, writing on Twitter: “I dont [sic] go back for classified briefings. Won’t have any effect on what I say or write.” |
| James Comey: 'You stare at children crying – what kind of people are we?’ | |
| Sanders’ comments came after Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky tweeted: “Is John Brennan monetizing his security clearance? Is John Brennan making millions of dollars divulging secrets to the mainstream media with his attacks on @realDonaldTrump?” | Sanders’ comments came after Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky tweeted: “Is John Brennan monetizing his security clearance? Is John Brennan making millions of dollars divulging secrets to the mainstream media with his attacks on @realDonaldTrump?” |
| Paul added later: “Just got out of WH meeting with @realDonaldTrump. I restated to him what I have said in public: John Brennan and others partisans should have their security clearances revoked … Public officials should not use their security clearances to leverage speaking fees or network talking head fees.” | Paul added later: “Just got out of WH meeting with @realDonaldTrump. I restated to him what I have said in public: John Brennan and others partisans should have their security clearances revoked … Public officials should not use their security clearances to leverage speaking fees or network talking head fees.” |
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