An insult to intelligence
President Trump’s vindictive streak went on a brazen course this week, when he revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan and announced through a spokesperson that the access to classified material of others who have criticized him was now under review.
There is a term for a president who extends the government levers at his disposal to punish political opponents: abuse of power.
In this case, the move poses a risk to national security by shutting out classified access to a former top official whose advice might be invaluable in a crisis. Brennan’s experience includes a role in the inner circle during the 2011 raid that killed terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.
In announcing Brennan’s downgrading, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders revealed that the list of others being targeted for loss of clearance include Michael Hayden, formerly a CIA director and head of the National Security Agency; Susan Rice, a national security adviser under President Barack Obama; James Clapper, former national intelligence director; and Sally Yates, the acting attorney general fired by Trump after she refused to carry out his original Muslim ban.
Each has expressed deep concerns about the direction of the Trump administration.
In a stroke of irony that might be laughable were it not so serious, Trump’s rationale for acting against Brennan was his “erratic” behavior, “increasingly frenzied commentary” and a “series of unfounded and outrageous allegations.” Does that sound like a description of a certain someone with top security clearance who works at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.?
What the White House has not produced is any evidence that assessment of Brennan’s fitness for a security clearance went through the standard review process or that he met any of the legitimate reasons for revocation: drug abuse, financial or health concerns or mishandling of classified material.
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., called the act of retribution “a banana republic kind of thing.” The hit list on critics is reminiscent of President Richard Nixon’s infamous “enemies list.” It’s petty, it’s authoritarian and it’s an ominous move that puts the president’s personal interest above the nation’s.