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.
The latest war between Trump and U.S. Security community when Trump threatens today to revoke security clearances of former U.S. Top officials who have criticized him
Monday, July 23, 2018
VietPress USA (July 23, 2018): Today on Monday, the White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced that President Donald Trump is exploring "mechanisms" to revoke security clearances for former U.S. officials who have criticized him for his handling of the Russia investigation and his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Sarah Sanders said the administration is reviewing to revoke clearances for former CIA director John Brennan, former FBI director James Comey, former national intelligence director James Clapper, former CIA director Michael Hayden, former national security adviser Susan Rice and former deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe.
The reason according to Sanders is that "They politicize and in some cases actually monetize their public service and their security clearances in making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia".
Security clearances can allow government officials to work with companies on classified defense programs and advise private contractors. They also can be something of a professional courtesy, allowing former national security officials to talk to their successors.
Having a security clearance does not entitle anyone to access classified information.
Former CIA Director John Brennan just compared Donald Trump to Bernie Madoff, the operator of the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history. Buzz60
In an interview, former FBI Director James Comey striked back against "Morally unfit" Donald Trump.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced late Friday that he fired McCabe effective immediately — barely 48 hours before his retirement benefits would have set in after 21 years of service with the FBI. In war of words with Trump, fired McCabe says he will no longer be silent.
Clapper, the former director of national intelligence, told CNN his clearance "has nothing to do with how I or any of us feel about the president. And I don't get the briefings. I don't have access to classified information."
Read this news from Yahoo News at:
VietPress USA News
Trump threatens to revoke security clearances of ex-U.S. intel chiefs who have criticized him
The White House on Monday announced that President Trump is exploring the possibility of revoking the security clearances of former Obama and Bush administration U.S. intelligence officials who have criticized him, including former CIA Director John Brennan, ex-FBI Director James Comey, former director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director Michael Hayden, former National Security Adviser Susan Rice and former acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe.
During a briefing with reporters, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said that the former officials “have politicized, and in some cases monetized” their security clearances, and have made “baseless accusations” about Trump and Russia “with zero evidence.”
The announcement came hours after Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said on Twitter that he planned to ask Trump to revoke Brennan’s security clearance at a meeting Monday.
Paul said he followed through on that request Monday afternoon.
Brennan, Clapper, Hayden and Rice have all been critical of Trump’s foreign policy, including the U.S. president’s embrace of Russian President Vladimir at a summit in Helsinki.
“It was nothing short of treasonous,” Brennan tweeted.
Former U.S. intelligence officials are known to keep their security clearances so current officials can consult them.
On Twitter, Hayden said he doesn’t go to the White House for classified briefings. If Trump did revoke his security clearance, Hayden said, it “won’t have any effect on what I say or write.”
Clapper called the threatened revocation of his security clearance a “sad commentary” on Trump’s White House.
“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 borne out of genuine concerns about President Trump,” Clapper said on CNN.
Trump has routinely criticized the intelligence officials in public statements and on Twitter, but at least two of his targets no longer hold security clearances.
“Andrew McCabe’s security clearance was deactivated when he was terminated, according to what we were told was FBI policy,” Melissa Schwartz, McCabe’s spokeswoman, tweeted. “You would think the White House would check with the FBI before trying to throw shiny objects to the press corps.”
Comey said he doesn’t have one, either.
oOo
Hạnh Dương
www.Vietpressusa.us
