International News: Several Obama-era critics of President Donald Trump’s administration could have major security clearances revoked.
Top on the list is ex-CIA Director John Brennan along with James Comey, former FBI director, Andrew McCabe, former FBI deputy director, James Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence National, Susan Rice, former National Security Adviser and former National Security Agency director Michael Hayden.
According to reports, at least two of them no longer have security clearance
The press secretary said Mr Trump “doesn’t like the fact that people are politicising agencies and departments that are specifically meant to not be political and to be monetised off security clearances”.
She said security clearance “provides inappropriate legitimacy to accusations with zero evidence”.
Mr Clapper told CNN the plan was “a very, very petty thing to do”.
He added that the president has the prerogative to “suspend or revoke clearances as he sees fit”.
“And if he chooses to do it for political reasons, well, I think that’s a terrible precedent and a very sad commentary. And it’s an abuse of the system.”
Contributed by Professor Colin O Jarrett
