President Trump has revoked a security clearance belonging to former CIA Director John Brennan, claiming his “erratic behavior” should disqualify him from having access to sensitive information.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders made the announcement Wednesday, weeks after revealing that Trump was considering revoking the security clearances of a half-dozen former U.S. officials.
“As the head of the executive branch and the commander in chief, I have a unique constitutional responsibility to protect the nation’s classified information, including by controlling access to it,” Sanders said in a statement from the president Wednesday. “Today, in fulfilling the responsibility, I have decided to revoke the security clearance of John Brennan, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency.”
Sanders acknowledged that former heads of intelligence and law enforcement agencies are traditionally able to keep their security clearances after their time serving in the government is complete. Sanders said that any traditional justifications for Brennan to retain access to classified information do not apply.
“Historically, former heads of intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been allowed to retain access to classified information after their government service, so that they can consult with their successors regarding matters about which they may have special insights and as a professional courtesy,” Sanders said. “Neither of the justifications supports Mr. Brennan’s continued access to classified information.”
“At this point in my administration, any benefits that senior officials might glean from consultations with Mr. Brennan are now outweighed by the risks posed by his erratic conduct and behavior,” Sanders said.
Individuals that remain under review include former FBI Director James Comey, former national security adviser Susan Rice, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and former deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe.
Sanders added former deputy Attorney General Bruce Ohr to the list on Wednesday.
“The president has a constitutional responsibility to protect classified information and who has access to it,” she said.
Reciting a statement by the president, Sanders said Trump believes Brennan’s “erratic conduct” outweighs any benefit senior administration officials might reap from meeting with him in his capacity as a former senior intelligence officer.
[Opinion: Trump is wrong to suspend John Brennan’s clearance]
.@PressSec quoting @POTUS on revoking John Brennan’s security clearance: “At this point in my administration any benefits that senior officials might glean from consultations with Mr. Brennan are now outweighed by the risks posed by his erratic conduct and behavior.” pic.twitter.com/tbS0GIVqe3
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 15, 2018
Brennan has been a persistent critic of Trump and his tendency to question the motives of members of the U.S. intelligence community.
Several former officials criticized the president when it was first revealed he was open to revoking their security clearances.
“If he chooses to do it for political reasons, I think that’s a terrible precedent, and it’s a very sad commentary, and it’s an abuse of the system,” Clapper said last month.
