Spy chiefs outraged at Trump’s bid to ‘stifle free speech’
President accused of dividing nation
Donald Trump’s feud with former U.S. spy chiefs escalated as seven former heads of the CIA lambasted him for “stifling free speech.”
Their open letter followed Trump’s decision to revoke the security clearance of John Brennan, a former CIA director who has become a vocal critic of the president, especially over links to Russia.
The former espionage bosses, who served in both Democrat and Republican administrations, wrote: “The president’s action regarding John Brennan, and the threats of similar action against other former officials, has nothing to do with who should and should not hold security clearances — and everything to do with an attempt to stifle free speech.
“We have never before seen the approval, or removal, of security clearances used as a political tool, as was done in this case.”
Former CIA directors David Petraeus, Robert Gates, George Tenet and Leon Panetta were among those who signed the letter.
Separately, the retired admiral who oversaw the raid that killed Osama bin Laden asked Trump to revoke his security clearance, saying he would “consider it an honour.”
In an open letter, William McRaven accused the president of “McCarthy-era tactics” and claimed he had “embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation.”
Admiral McRaven asked Trump to “add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency.”
Trump made it clear he would not back down, and that he planned to revoke more security clearances. Senior intelligence and security officials traditionally maintain top-level clearance after retirement in case they are needed in a national emergency.
Trump has said his revocation of security clearances is related to the investigation looking into links between his campaign and Russia.
The president singled out Bruce Ohr, a senior official at the Department of Justice.
Ohr has come under Republican scrutiny for his contacts to Glenn Simpson, co-founder of Fusion GPS. The opposition research firm hired former British spy Christopher Steele during the 2016 presidential campaign to compile the dossier on Trump and his Russia ties.
Ohr’s wife, Nellie, worked for Fusion GPS during the campaign — something Trump has tweeted about to highlight his assertions of political bias behind the Russia investigation.
He said: “I think Bruce Ohr is a disgrace.
“I suspect I’ll be taking it (his security clearance) away very quickly.”
THREATS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH SECURITY CLEARANCES.