Trump welcomes suit over security clearance

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday that he would welcome a threatened lawsuit from former CIA Director John Brennan, saying it would expose Brennan to the release of documents that would prove him to be “the worst CIA Director in our country’s history.”

Trump’s comments on Twitter came a day after Brennan said he is willing to take the president to court to prevent other current and former officials from having their security clearances revoked.

“I hope John Brennan, the worst CIA Director in our country’s history, brings a lawsuit,” Trump said on Twitter. “It will then be very easy to get all of his records, texts, emails and documents to show not only the poor job he did, but how he was involved with the Mueller Rigged Witch Hunt.”

Trump was referring to the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, now being led by special counsel Robert Mueller. Brennan, who served under President Barack Obama, played a role in assessing Russian efforts prior to Mueller’s appointment.

Trump’s Monday tweet came as a bipartisan outcry over his revocation of Brennan’s security clearance continued to grow, with the release of a statement of opposition signed by more than 175 alumni of national security jobs.

Brennan, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump, said Sunday that a number of lawyers have contacted him to offer advice on pursuing an injunction to prevent Trump from taking similar actions in the future.