White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that President Donald Trump is revoking the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan, who served during the Obama administration and has been a vocal critic of Trump.
Sanders accused Brennan of “erratic conduct and behavior,” including using his “access to highly sensitive information” to make “outrageous allegations” and “wild outbursts” about the administration.
Brennan is outspoken in his disagreement with the President, most recently criticizing Trump’s characterization of former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman as a “dog.”
It’s astounding how often you fail to live up to minimum standards of decency, civility, & probity. Seems like you will never understand what it means to be president, nor what it takes to be a good, decent, & honest person. So disheartening, so dangerous for our Nation. https://t.co/eI9HaCec1m
— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) August 14, 2018
Per CNN, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats was not consulted about the revocation.
Sanders then listed a group of former officials with security clearance—all who happen to be political opponents of the President’s—whose current status is now under review.
That list includes former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA Director Michael Hayden, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, former National Security Advisor Susan Rice, former deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, former FBI Agent Peter Strzok, former FBI lawyer Lisa Page and former Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce Ohr.
Sanders first threatened the security clearance of Brennan and some of the “under review” list in late July, accusing them of making “baseless charges” with “zero evidence.”
Watch below:
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) August 15, 2018
I knew that Trump would find some petty, vindictive thing to do to make him feel better this morning.
as if Trump could erase the facts and truth that this man knows and can tell…
how stupid, petty and obvious - Trump is so insecure in his own knowledge and abilities, that he cannot stand it when someone who clearly has knowledge, experience, and qualifications challenges him. He has to strike back.
My lord, our country is being run by a third grader…
It’s not only Brennan. It’s a hit list of Democrats. Ms Sarah sat at the podium and dodged and weaved and lied. Trump hid behind her skirts. Deplorable…whatevers.
Trump can kiss his own security clearance goodbye in a relatively short time.
And yet, the son-in-law – who tried to sneak into the Russian embassy in the trunk of a car to use an encrypted line to the Kremlin – still retains his…