Trump Revoked Brennan’s Clearance Weeks Ago, Doc Says. Sanders Said It Was ‘Today’

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders conducts a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House August 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. Sanders continued to field questions from reporters about fired White House official Omarosa Manigault Newman's new book and her accusations against President Donald Trump.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 15: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders calls on reporters during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House August 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. Sande... WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 15: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders calls on reporters during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House August 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. Sanders continued to field questions from reporters about fired White House official Omarosa Manigault Newman's new book and her accusations against President Donald Trump. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS

Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday announced President Donald Trump’s decision to revoke former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance, but neglected to say that decision had apparently been made three weeks ago, according to a document distributed to members of the media after Wednesday’s press briefing.

Sanders announced the security clearance revocation without any mention that it seemingly wasn’t breaking news, nor any explanation for why it had apparently been kept a secret.

“Today, in fulfilling that responsibility [to protect the nation’s classified information], I have decided to revoke the security clearance of John Brennan,” Sanders read, quoting a statement from Trump.

But the statement was dated July 26, according to a document distributed to members of the media.

Sanders first mentioned that Trump was looking into revoking the security clearances of several critics of his — all of whom were former intelligence and national security officials — on July 23.

Why did Sanders maintain that Trump ordered Brennan’s clearance revoked on Wednesday? Was the July 26 date a mistake? Or, was it perhaps because she’d have some difficult questions to deal with today otherwise, on whether the President has used racial slurs, or how she could have screwed up statistics she cited regarding African American employment during the Obama administration.

Sanders didn’t respond to TPM’s request for comment about the Trump statement. But the White House seems to have realized it made an error.

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  1. Yeah, just kept it in their pocket for a rainy day when they needed to “change the narrative” from God Trump Sucks Why Does He Suck So Much Sarah to God Trump Sucks About a Different Thing Today Why Does He Suck So Much Sarah. Winning! This must be some of that shiny new Bill Shine savvy we’ve read about.

  2. Avatar for pshah pshah says:

    Did he revoke it in the Situation Room or was it already occupied by a Tupperware party?

    Me and some of the boys have it reserved next week for a massive game of Dungeons and Dragons.

  3. By the pricking of my thumbs, something feckless this way comes.

  4. Avatar for smiley smiley says:

    The White House has now issued a second statement that doesn’t include this date.

    I swear my daughter’s Girl Scout troop is run with more professionalism than the trump White House. It’s amatuer hour all day, every day.

  5. “Why did Sanders maintain the illusion that Trump ordered Brennan’s clearance revoked today?”

    Because she’s a fake Christian spreading fake statements for a fake president from a fake party of fake patriots enabled by fake Americans in a fake election?

    Just a guess…

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