There is a growing firestorm over US President Donald Trump’s decision to revoke former CIA director John Brennan’s security clearance. Now, there are plans to cancel the clearances for other officials. The White House has drafted additional documents revoking the security clearances of current and former officials, and Trump is ready to sign them, according to The Washington Post, which cited senior administration officials.
Brennan, a fierce critic of the president, has been firing back at Trump. “The fact that he’s using a security clearance of a former CIA director as a pawn in his public relations strategy I think is just so reflective of somebody who, quite frankly, I don’t want to use this term maybe, but he’s drunk on power,” Brennan said, CBS reported.
Brennan made the remark as more than 70 former intelligence officials spoke out against the president’s decision to revoke Brennan’s clearance, CBS News reported. Brennan said the move was retaliation for criticism of the president’s policies and character, like a tweet from July, when Brennan called Trump’s performance at a press conference with Russian leader Vladimir Putin “nothing short of treasonous.”
“I think this is just another example of Mr. Trump trying to frighten and intimidate others, but I can tell you … these are not the type of people who are going to be bullied or intimidated by someone of the likes of Mr. Trump,” Brennan said.
Early on Saturday, Trump fired back at Brennan in a tweet, saying, “He has become nothing less than a loudmouth, partisan, political hack who cannot be trusted with the secrets to our country!”
Speaking to reporters while leaving the White House on Friday, Trump was asked if a current Department of Justice official should lose his clearance, as some conservatives are suggesting. “I think Bruce Ohr is a disgrace. I suspect I’ll be taking it away very quickly,” Trump said.
In protest, 15 former top intelligence officials from both Democratic and Republican administrations went on the record with their displeasure at the president’s actions, saying Trump’s motives have “everything to do with an attempt to stifle free speech.”
They were joined by 60 lower-ranking former CIA officers who also signed a letter supporting Brennan and warning that Trump is threatening the security of the country.
