A trio of senators introduced a bill Thursday seeking to revoke Hillary Clinton’s security clearance.
“When individuals mishandle our country’s most sensitive information they jeopardize national security and shouldn’t be trusted with such an important responsibility,” Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, said in a press release.
Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and Tim Scott, R-S.C., also joined in on the legislation, officially titled the TRUST Act.
It would also revoke the security clearances of Clinton’s colleagues at the State Department “who exhibited extreme carelessness in their handling of classified information.”
The legislation comes two days after FBI Director James Comey criticized Clinton for being “extremely careless” with her handling of classified information while she was secretary of state by using a private email address and server. However, Comey recommended no criminal charges against Clinton.
Republican lawmakers have since seized on Comey’s words, saying she is unfit to handle classified information, which she will begin to receive once she is formally given the Democratic presidential nomination later this month.
“If the FBI won’t recommend action based on its findings, Congress will. At the very least, Secretary Clinton should not have access to classified information and our bill makes sure of it,” Gardner said in a statement.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, both also called for the revoking of security clearances.
Ryan also wrote a letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper to make his request formal.
