Former officials who get political hurt the intelligence community, according to a former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman speaking out amid a controversy surrounding President Trump yanking the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan, a Trump critic.
“John is an extraordinary servant of the country, but I think he has been incredibly critical of the president and I think that has put him in a political place which actually does more damage for the intelligence community, which is apolitical, even as he’s retired,” retired Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said during an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” “I really don’t support him being as critical of the president as he has been.”
[New: Trump dares Brennan to sue over his revoked security clearance]
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced during Wednesday’s briefing that Brennan’s clearance had been pulled because he made “a series of unfounded and outrageous allegations — wild outbursts on the Internet and television — about this administration.”
Ex-intelligence and law enforcement officials have condemned the decision as an attack of free speech, arguing the move was unprecedented since the White House did not first liaise with Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats.
Mullen — who served as JCOS chairman for both the George W. Bush and Obama administrations — said Trump has the authority to take away the clearances of former officials, but suggested the White House should have better balanced that power with Brennan’s right to speak.
“For a long time, former officials have kept their security clearances to be able to advise on critical issues over time,” he said, adding he did not know of anyone who had “abused” their access. “These are individuals typically that have a lot of both wisdom and experience and our entities inside the government, there are contractors who support the government, that ask for advice in certain areas.”
Mullen also said he did not perceive “a need” for the Trump administration to host a military parade after Trump blamed local D.C. politicians Friday for the cancellation of the highly anticipated event in 2018 due to cost.
Brennan, who has worked for presidents from both parties, has been a staunch critic of Trump. He wrote in a Thursday opinion piece for the New York Times that the president colluded with Russia during the 2016 campaign.
