Ex-security officials rip Trump’s move on Brennan
WASHINGTON — Former U.S. security officials issued scathing rebukes to President Donald Trump on Thursday, admonishing him for yanking a top former spy chief ’s security clearance in what they cast as an act of political vengeance. Trump said he’d had to do “something” about the “rigged” federal probe of Russian election interference.
Trump’s admission that his extraordinary act of retribution against a former high-ranking official was tied to his frustration about the Russia probe underscored his willingness to use his executive power to fight back against an investigation he sees as a threat to his presidency.
In an opinion piece in The New York Times, former CIA Director John Brennan said Trump’s decision — announced Wednesday — to deny him access to classified information was a desperate attempt to end special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. Brennan, who served under President Barack Obama and has become a vocal Trump critic, called Trump’s claims that he did not collude with Russia “hogwash.”
Later Thursday, the retired Navy admiral who oversaw the raid that killed Osama bin Laden called Trump’s moves “Mccarthy-era tactics.” Writing in The Washington Post, William H. Mcraven said he would “consider it an honor” if Trump would revoke his clearance, as well.
Trump on Wednesday openly tied his decision to strip Brennan of his clearance — and threaten nearly a dozen other former and current officials — to the ongoing investigation into Russian election meddling and possible collusion with his campaign. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump again called the probe a “rigged witch hunt” and said “these people led it!”
“So I think it’s something that had to be done,” he said.