Former CIA director and Trump critic loses security status

DONALD TRUMP has revoked the security clearance of John Brennan, the former CIA director, one of his loudest critics on national security.

Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, accused the former intelligence chief of “erratic conduct and behaviour”, adding that he had “leveraged” his security status to make “unfounded, outrageous” allegations about the administration.

Mr Brennan, who served as the head of the CIA from 2013 to 2017, last night vowed to continue speaking up against the US president. He wrote on Twitter: “This action is part of a broader effort by Mr Trump to suppress freedom of speech and punish critics. It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out. My principles are worth far more than clearances.”

Ms Sanders said that the security clearance of other former intelligence officials, including James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence, and James Comey, the EX-FBI director, was also “under review”.