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U.S. NEWS Thursday 16 augusT 2018
CLEARANCE Mr. Trump to suppress free-
Continued from Front dom of speech & punish
The president described his critics.
own action as fulfilling his It should gravely worry all
"constitutional responsibility Americans, including in-
to protect the nation's clas- telligence professionals,
sified information." about the cost of speak-
However, Democratic con- ing out." Brennan said he
gressmen said it smacked learned of Trump's action
of an "enemies list" among only when the White House
fellow Americans and the announced it.
behavior of leaders in "dic- Former intelligence officials
tatorships, not democra- are wondering how far
cies." Brennan tweeted: Trump will go, according to
"My principles are worth far a former senior intelligence
more than clearances. I will official who spoke on con-
not relent." dition of anonymity to
Trump's action, critics and share private conversations
nonpartisan experts said, he's had with people who
marked an unprecedent- have worked in the field.
ed politicization of the fed- They note that Trump has
eral government's security moved from threatening to
clearance process. It also revoke security clearances
was a clear escalation in of former intelligence of-
Trump's battle with mem- ficials who have not been
bers of the U.S. intelligence involved in the Russia in-
community he inherited vestigation to former offi- These file photos, top row from left are former CIA Director Michael Hayden, former FBI Director
and has attempted to re- cials who did work on the James Comey, former acting FBI director Andrew McCabe and former national security adviser
orient since he took office. probe. The official said they Susan Rice. Bottom row from left are former FBI Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok, former
Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and former National Intelligence Director James Clapper.
And it came in the middle worry that Trump will go Associated Press
of the president's latest further and revoke security
controversy — accusations clearances of individuals other top national secu- Coats declined to com- tration.
of racism by former assis- who are currently working rity officials are typically al- ment on Trump's decision "If they're saying that the
tant Omarosa Manigault directly on the Russia inves- lowed to keep their clear- to revoke Brennan's se- only way I can speak is to
Newman and his bitter re- tigation. ances, at least for some curity clearance. The CIA be in an adulation mode of
action to them. Trump's Trump's statement said the period, so they can be in a referred questions to the this president.
statement, distributed to re- Brennan issue raises larger position to advise their suc- White House. I'm sorry, I don't think I can
porters, was dated July 26, questions about the prac- cessors and to hold certain Clapper, reacting on CNN, sign up to that," Clap-
2018, suggesting it could tice of allowing former of- jobs. said he didn't plan to stop per said, adding: "This is
have been held and then ficials to maintain their se- The office of the Director of speaking out when asked at least in my memory
released when needed to curity clearances, and said National Intelligence Dan about the Trump adminis- unprecedented."q
change a damaging sub- that others officials' were
ject. under review.
Trump, in a statement read They include former FBI
by his press secretary and Director James Comey;
distributed by the White James Clapper, the former
House, accused Brennan director of national intel-
of having "leveraged his ligence; former CIA Direc-
status as a former high- tor Michael Hayden; former
ranking official with access national security adviser
to highly sensitive informa- Susan Rice and Andrew
tion to make a series of un- McCabe, who served as
founded and outrageous Trump's deputy FBI director
allegations, wild outbursts until he was fired in March.
on the internet and televi- Also on the list: fired FBI
sion about this administra- agent Peter Strzok, former
tion." FBI lawyer Lisa Page and
"Mr. Brennan's lying and re- senior Justice Department
cent conduct character- official Bruce Ohr, whom
ized by increasingly fren- the president has tweeted
zied commentary is wholly about recently.
inconsistent with access to At least two of the former
the nations' most closely officials, Comey and Mc-
held secrets," the state- Cabe, do not currently
ment said. have security clearances,
Brennan has indeed been and none of the eight re-
deeply critical of Trump's ceive intelligence briefings.
conduct, calling his perfor- Trump's concern apparent-
mance at a press confer- ly is that their former status
ence last month with Rus- gives special weight to their
sian President Vladimir Pu- statements, both to Ameri-
tin in Finland "nothing short cans and foreign foes.
of treasonous." Ohr is the only current gov-
He said of Trump's order on ernment employee on the
Wednesday, "This action is list.
part of a broader effort by Former CIA directors and