Some Republicans endorsed President Trump’s decision Wednesday to revoke former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance. Others said it was a bad idea.
“It just feels like a banana republic kind of step,” Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., a frequent Trump critic, told reporters. “I don’t like it at all. It feels really vindictive.”
Other Senate Republicans praised the move and said Brennan is a likely source of leaks and other potential wrongdoing.
“I support it, “ Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, who is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee said.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said Brennan, “has cheapened the status of our national security intelligence in this country.”
[Opinion: Trump is wrong to suspend John Brennan’s clearance]
Kennedy added, “I don’t see why he needs a security clearance,” adding, “I think he’s just a political hack and I think he has demonstrated that.”
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was among several GOP lawmakers who said the White House may have reasons to revoke Brennan’s status that they are not aware of.
“I don’t see the grounds for revoking his security clearance but there may be information that I’m not aware of,” Collins said.
Collins said revolting the credentials is “unwise,” because those who have recently retired form the intelligence agencies “have a lot to contribute.”
Brennan has been a very vocal critic of President Trump on television, where he serves as a cable news contributor, and on social media.
He has been accused of leaking information to the media aimed at hurting the Trump administration.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a longtime critic of Brennan, personally lobbied Trump to revoke Brennan’s clearance.
