Yes, Hell has frozen over. Here I am defending Michael Hayden, James Clapper, John Brennan, James Comey, Susan Rice, Andrew McCabe and who knows else I have criticized for years. But it was never personal.
However, with Trump, everything is personal.
Washinton Post
BREAKING: White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that President Trump is targeting these officials’ security clearances because they “have politicized and in some cases monetized their public service” and have made baseless claims about the president’s relationship and contacts with the Russian government.
The officials Sanders said are being examined are former CIA director John Brennan; former FBI director James B. Comey; former CIA director Michael V. Hayden; former national security adviser Susan E. Rice; former director of national intelligence James R. Clapper Jr.; and former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe.
“The fact that people with security clearances are making these baseless charges provides inappropriate legitimacy to accusations with zero evidence,” she said.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said that he plans to meet with President Trump on Monday and ask him to revoke the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, who has been a harsh critic of Trump on Russia and other issues ...
Oh. First Putin, now Rand Paul.
Sarah Sanders is now speaking, video cannot be far behind.
This will be fun. Wait till Trump discovers all of the above have waivers to exercise freedom of expression where it does not disclose operational details subject to their NDAs, an issue I have followed for years in the context of whistle-blowers and freedom of expression, particularly by journalists.
For your amusement, this old diary needling some of the above protagonists.
Monday, Jul 23, 2018 · 10:00:29 PM +00:00 · koNko
Following the WH presser, the WaPo added:
Trump can revoke critics’ security clearances if he wants — but it likely wouldn’t change much
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“Making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia or being influenced by Russia against the president is extremely inappropriate, and the fact that people with security clearances are making these baseless charges provides inappropriate legitimacy to accusations with zero evidence,” Sanders continued.
When a reporter noted to Sanders that the removal of clearances seemed punitive, Sanders reiterated her statement.
“The president doesn’t like that people are politicizing agencies and departments that are specifically meant to not be political,” Sanders said, “and not meant to be monetized off of security clearances.” When NBC’s Hallie Jackson asked if Trump hadn’t similarly politicized national security, Sanders said he wasn’t.
“When you’re the person that holds the nation’s deepest, most sacred secrets at your hands and you go out and make false accusations against the president of the United States,” she said, “he thinks that is something to be very concerned with and we’re exploring what those options are and what that looks like.”
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There could be some ramifications to losing clearance. Some former officials still serve on government advisory boards which necessitate certain clearance levels for participation. It’s unlikely, though, to have Trump’s most-desired effect: quelling their criticism.
The article includes a discussion with legal experts suggesting a consensus that the President does have a unique authority to revoke any remaining clearances, so this is likely to occur as Trump seeks to use this for retribution and as a distraction.