Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, provided a list of current and former U.S. officials and said if any of them still have a security clearance, “they should lose it.”
The comments come after White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced that Trump has revoked former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance, saying his “erratic behavior” should prevent him from having access to sensitive information.
“Brennan loses security clearance,” Jordan tweeted Wednesday.
He then listed that former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper “lied under oath,” former national security adviser Susan Rice “blamed Benghazi on a video,” and noted that individuals including former FBI Director James Comey, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and others were fired.
“If any of these folks still have a clearance, they should lose it too.” Jordan tweeted.
Brennan loses security clearance.
-Clapper lied under oath
-Rice blamed Benghazi on a video
-Comey fired
-McCabe fired
-Strzok fired
-Yates fired
-Page demoted, then left
-Ohr demotedIf any of these folks still have a clearance, they should lose it too.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) August 15, 2018
Sanders also revealed that the White House was weighing revoking the security clearances of others as well, including Comey, Rice, Clapper, and others.
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., also praised the White House’s decision.
“Brennan’s security clearance revoked. Good. Maintaining a clearance is a privilege–not a right,” Meadows wrote on Twitter. “John Brennan’s conduct, particularly the information we’re still learning about his actions with the fake dossier, are not deserving of keeping that privilege.”
Brennan’s security clearance revoked. Good. Maintaining a clearance is a privilege–not a right.
John Brennan’s conduct, particularly the information we’re still learning about his actions with the fake dossier, are not deserving of keeping that privilege.
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) August 15, 2018
“I applaud President Trump for his revoking of John Brennan’s security clearance,” Paul tweeted. “I urged the President to do this.”
I applaud President Trump for his revoking of John Brennan’s security clearance. I urged the President to do this. Read more here: https://t.co/SAQNTJ1UAn
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 15, 2018
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, added any perceived effort to silence criticism would fail, but that “no one has a right to a security clearance.”
I doubt it will succeed. But no one has a right to a security clearance, especially someone who no longer works for the US Government. https://t.co/MUt5APVWmr
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) August 15, 2018
Meanwhile, Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., slammed the decision as a “stunning abuse of power.”
Revoking the security clearance of an honorable patriot is a stunning abuse of power & a pathetic attempt to silence critics. This is yet another disturbing attempt by @realdonaldtrump to distract & divert attention from his Admin’s #cultureofcorruption, cronyism & incompetence.
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) August 15, 2018