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A2 UP FRONT
Monday 20 august 2018

Brennan considers legal action to stop clearance revocations

By JILL COLVIN and LOLITA ance and threaten nine cel it. Speaking on CBS’
C. BALDOR others who have been “Face the Nation,” he said
Associated Press critical of the president Trump’s decision to revoke
WASHINGTON (AP) — For- or are connected to the Brennan’s clearance raises
mer CIA Director John Russia probe. “If my clear- questions about whether
Brennan said Sunday that ances and my reputation he followed due process.
he is considering taking le- as I’m being pulled through Brennan’s legal warning
gal action to try to prevent the mud now, if that’s the came as other officials
President Donald Trump price we’re going to pay joined the growing chorus
from stripping other current to prevent Donald Trump of critics — now more than
and former officials’ secu- from doing this against 75 intelligence officials —
rity clearances. other people, to me it’s a denouncing Trump’s se-
Speaking on NBC’s “Meet small price to pay,” Bren- curity clearance threats,
the Press,” Brennan said nan said. “So I am going to saying they have a right to
he’s been contacted by a do whatever I can person- express their views on na-
number of lawyers about ally to try to prevent these tional security issues with-
In this May 23, 2017, file photo former CIA Director John the possibility of an injunc- abuses in the future. And if out fear of punishment.
Brennan testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington before the House tion in the wake of Trump’s it means going to court, I Retired Navy Adm. Mike
Intelligence Committee Russia Investigation Task Force. move to revoke his clear- will do that.” Mullen, former chairman
Associated Press
Brennan, who served in of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
President Barack Obama’s under George W. Bush and
administration, said that Obama, likened it to Presi-
while he’ll fight on behalf of dent Richard Nixon’s use of
his former CIA colleagues, a political enemies list.
it’s also up to Congress to Mullen told “Fox News Sun-
put aside politics and step day” that while he doesn’t
in. “This is the time that your agree with Brennan’s de-
country is going to rely on cision to criticize the presi-
you, not to do what is best dent, the former CIA direc-
for your party but what is tor has the right to freedom
best for the country,” he of speech unless he’s re-
said. Trump yanked Bren- vealing classified informa-
nan’s security clearance tion. “It immediately brings
last week, saying he felt back the whole concept
he had to do “something” of the enemies list,” Mul-
about the “rigged” probe len said, “and even before
of Russian election interfer- that, in the early ‘50s, the
ence. And he has said he McCarthy era, where the
may do the same for nine administration starts putting
others, including a Justice together lists of individuals
Department official whose that don’t agree with them
wife worked for the firm and that historically, obvi-
involved in producing a ously, has proven incredibly
dossier on Trump’s ties to problematic for the coun-
Russia. An executive order try.”
signed in 1995 by President Republican Sen. Ron John-
Bill Clinton lays out the pro- son of Wisconsin agreed
cess for approving security with Trump that Brennan’s
clearances and describes comments “really did cross
a detailed revocation and a line.”
appeal procedure. But, he said, rather than
Former Obama-era CIA Di- pulling officials’ security
rector Leon Panetta, who clearances, Trump should
also served as defense avoid politicizing the issue
secretary, said Sunday that and simply deny them ac-
Trump must abide by the cess to classified material.
executive order unless he “I don’t want to see an en-
decides to change or can- emies list,” he said.q