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'Trump's claims of no collusion are hogwash': ex-CIA chief John Brennan hits back 'Trump's claims of no collusion are hogwash': ex-CIA chief John Brennan hits back
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump revoked the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan’s on Wednesday afternoon – at first citing “erratic conduct and behavior” but later making a connection with the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and allegations of Trump campaign links to Moscow.
Donald Trump revoked the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan’s on Wednesday afternoon – at first citing “erratic conduct and behavior” but later making a connection between the action and the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and allegations of Trump campaign links to Moscow.
Brennan, who has served four US presidents and was the director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Obama administration, has been a vocal critic of Trump.Brennan, who has served four US presidents and was the director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Obama administration, has been a vocal critic of Trump.
The decision initially provoked outrage from commentators accusing the president of an unprecedented use of his position to retaliate against an outspoken former top official. The decision provoked outrage from commentators who accused Trump of an unprecedented use of his position to retaliate against an outspoken former top official.
But the controversy deepened further overnight after Trump gave a short, apparently impromptu, interview to the Wall Street Journal in the Oval Office in which he cited Brennan as among those he held responsible for the investigation. And the controversy deepened further overnight after Trump gave a short, apparently impromptu, interview to the Wall Street Journal in the Oval Office in which he cited Brennan as among those he held responsible for the Mueller investigation.
“I call it the rigged witch hunt, (it) is a sham,” Mr. Trump said of the investigation being led by special counsel Robert Mueller. “And these people led it!” He added: “So I think it’s something that had to be done.” “I call it the rigged witch hunt. [It] is a sham,” Trump said of the investigation being led by special counsel Robert Mueller. “And these people led it!”
Trump added: “So I think it’s something that had to be done.”
The shock announcement, delivered at an afternoon briefing by White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, came as closing arguments were wrapping up in the trial of former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort and as the White House was still engulfed in allegations against the president by former aide Omarosa Manigault Newman. These included the claim thatan audio tape exists of Trump using “the N-word”. The shock announcement, delivered at an afternoon briefing by White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, came as closing arguments were delivered in the trial of former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort and as the White House was still engulfed in allegations against the president by former aide Omarosa Manigault Newman. These included the claim thatan audio tape exists of Trump using the N-word.
Reading a prepared statement from Trump in the White House briefing room, the press secretary, Sarah Sanders railed against Brennan. She claimed “he has leveraged his status as a former high-ranking official with access to highly sensitive info to make a series of unfounded and outrageous allegations, wild outbursts on internet and television about this administration”. Reading a prepared statement from Trump in the White House briefing room, Sanders railed against Brennan. She claimed “he has leveraged his status as a former high-ranking official with access to highly sensitive info to make a series of unfounded and outrageous allegations, wild outbursts on internet and television about this administration”.
Sanders also said Brennan’s “lying and recent conduct, characterized by increasingly frenzied commentary, is wholly inconsistent with access to the nation’s most closely held secrets”.Sanders also said Brennan’s “lying and recent conduct, characterized by increasingly frenzied commentary, is wholly inconsistent with access to the nation’s most closely held secrets”.
Brennan called the move “an abuse of power” in an interview with MSNBC, He later hit back further with an opinion article in the New York Times claiming that Trump’s repeated denials that his campaign colluded with the Russians in any way are “hogwash”. Brennan called the move “an abuse of power” in an interview with MSNBC. He later hit back further in an article in the New York Times, in which he called Trump’s repeated denials of campaign collusion with Russians “hogwash”.
“The president revoked my security clearance to try to silence anyone who would dare challenge him,” he wrote. Brennan wrote: “The president revoked my security clearance to try to silence anyone who would dare challenge him.”
“Mr. Trump’s claims of no collusion are, in a word, hogwash. He went on: “Mr Trump’s claims of no collusion are, in a word, hogwash.
“The only questions that remain are whether the collusion that took place constituted criminally liable conspiracy, whether obstruction of justice occurred to cover up any collusion or conspiracy, and how many members of “Trump Incorporated” attempted to defraud the government by laundering and concealing the movement of money into their pockets ” Brennan wrote. “The only questions that remain are whether the collusion that took place constituted criminally liable conspiracy, whether obstruction of justice occurred to cover up any collusion or conspiracy, and how many members of ‘Trump Incorporated’ attempted to defraud the government by laundering and concealing the movement of money into their pockets.”
On Twitter, Brennan responded by saying: “This action is part of a broader effort by Mr Trump to suppress freedom of speech and punish critics. It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out. My principles are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent.” On Twitter, Brennan said: “This action is part of a broader effort by Mr Trump to suppress freedom of speech and punish critics. It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out. My principles are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent.”
He added in an MSNBC interview: “This is not going to deter me at all. I am still going to speak out.” He described it as an effort “to cow individuals inside and outside the US government” and compared it to behavior from “foreign tyrants and despots”.
Sanders had in July floated removing Brennan’s clearance along with a number of other Obama administration officials. At the time, the House speaker, Paul Ryan, laughed off the threat, telling reporters of Trump: “I think he’s trolling people, honestly.” A spokesperson for Ryan declined to comment on Wednesday.Sanders had in July floated removing Brennan’s clearance along with a number of other Obama administration officials. At the time, the House speaker, Paul Ryan, laughed off the threat, telling reporters of Trump: “I think he’s trolling people, honestly.” A spokesperson for Ryan declined to comment on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Sanders repeated a long list of others from whom the White House was considering revoking security clearances. They were:On Wednesday, Sanders repeated a long list of others from whom the White House was considering revoking security clearances. They were:
• James Comey, former FBI director• James Comey, former FBI director
• James Clapper, former director of national intelligence• James Clapper, former director of national intelligence
• Sally Yates, former acting attorney general• Sally Yates, former acting attorney general
• Michael Hayden, former director of national intelligence• Michael Hayden, former director of national intelligence
• Susan Rice, former national security adviser• Susan Rice, former national security adviser
• Andrew McCabe, former deputy FBI director• Andrew McCabe, former deputy FBI director
• Peter Strzok, former FBI agent• Peter Strzok, former FBI agent
• Lisa Page, former FBI attorney• Lisa Page, former FBI attorney
• Bruce Ohr, former associate deputy attorney general• Bruce Ohr, former associate deputy attorney general
All but Ohr, who is still serving in the federal government, have criticized Trump.All but Ohr, who is still serving in the federal government, have criticized Trump.
Most recently, Brennan condemned Trump’s characterization of Manigault Newman as “that dog”.Most recently, Brennan condemned Trump’s characterization of Manigault Newman as “that dog”.
Brennan said: “It’s astounding how often you fail to live up to minimum standards of decency, civility and probity. Seems like you will never understand what it means to be president, nor what it takes to be a good, decent and honest person. So disheartening, so dangerous for our nation.”Brennan said: “It’s astounding how often you fail to live up to minimum standards of decency, civility and probity. Seems like you will never understand what it means to be president, nor what it takes to be a good, decent and honest person. So disheartening, so dangerous for our nation.”
Hayden shrugged off the announcement that his clearance was under review. In a statement to CNN, he said “with regard to the implied threat today that I could lose my clearance, that will have no impact on what I think, say or write”. Hayden shrugged off the announcement that his clearance was under review. In a statement to CNN, he said: “With regard to the implied threat today that I could lose my clearance, that will have no impact on what I think, say or write.”
On Twitter, the Virginia senator Mark Warner, who is the top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, said: “This might be a convenient way to distract attention, say from a damaging news story or two. But politicizing the way we guard our nation’s secrets just to punish the president’s critics is a dangerous precedent.”On Twitter, the Virginia senator Mark Warner, who is the top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, said: “This might be a convenient way to distract attention, say from a damaging news story or two. But politicizing the way we guard our nation’s secrets just to punish the president’s critics is a dangerous precedent.”
John McLaughlin, the former deputy director of the CIA under George W Bush, called the decision “ridiculous” and said in an interview with MSNBC that it indicated “an authoritarian attitude in [Trump’s] governing style”.John McLaughlin, the former deputy director of the CIA under George W Bush, called the decision “ridiculous” and said in an interview with MSNBC that it indicated “an authoritarian attitude in [Trump’s] governing style”.
However, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky hailed the decision. Paul, who had long pushed for Trump to revoke Brennan’s clearance, said: “I applaud President Trump for his revoking of John Brennan’s security clearance. However, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky hailed the decision. Paul, who had long pushed for Trump to revoke Brennan’s clearance, said: “His behavior in government and out of it demonstrate why he should not be allowed near classified information. He participated in a shredding of constitutional rights, lied to Congress, and has been monetizing and making partisan political use of his clearance since his departure.”
“His behavior in government and out of it demonstrate why he should not be allowed near classified information. He participated in a shredding of constitutional rights, lied to Congress, and has been monetizing and making partisan political use of his clearance since his departure.”
John BrennanJohn Brennan
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
US politicsUS politics
Trump administrationTrump administration
Trump-Russia investigationTrump-Russia investigation
CIA Russia
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