SHS presser-Trump considers revoking security clearances from Brennan, Comey, McCabe, Clapper & Rice

[PunkinPi]

Link to tweet

Sanders says Trump is considering taking away security clearances from Brennen, Comey, McCabe, Clapper, and Rice "because in some cases they have monetized their security clearances."

She didn't specifically explain why Trump is considering taking away clearances from a group of former Obama intelligence officials, but said they were "politicizing and monetizing their security clearances".

Also, Gen Hayden.

JFC, Trump is doing that to the WH.

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Ka-Boom!!!!!

This ought to get damn interesting real fast.

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. He wants to silence his critics.

[PunkinPi]

4. Yep, going full authoritarian.

AP article (short):

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is considering revoking the security clearances of a half dozen former Obama administration officials and critics of his presidency.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday that the president is “exploring the mechanisms” to strip clearance from former CIA director John Brennan, along with former FBI director Jim Comey, former national intelligence director James Clapper and others.

Sanders is accusing the officials of having “politicized and in some cases monetized their public service and security clearances” as well as “making baseless accusations” against the president.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky tweeted earlier Monday that he was planning to raise the issue of revoking Brennan’s clearance at a meeting with Trump.

Brennan last week described Trump’s press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin as “nothing short of treasonous.”

https://apnews.com/0b21fcaf283a4139a5b27cf017fea03f?utm_medium=AP&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&__twitter_impression=true&__twitter_impression=true&__twitter_impression=true

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. He wants to punish the people who are acting in the nation's best interests.

No wonder he favors dictators like Putin, Kim Jong Un, Duterte, etc.

[Corgigal]

3. Do it, King Donald.

Pentagon papers part two thru 50.

They still know what they know.

[eleny]

6. Do they still retain their clearances after leaving public service?

[NewJeffCT]

7. It would seem so

otherwise, rather silly to revoke something they lost previously? But, you never know with Trump

[eleny]

8. I was thinking it could be more Trumpian nonsense

[haele]

11. Only if they are still in a position where they are providing services that are classified.

Some of the people mentioned are probably still part of the Intelligence Community or D.O.J as part of their normal post-White House employment - most likely as advisors or sources on critical areas that they had been working on. They may not have the same clearances they did previously, but they may still have clearances.

Just because someone no longer has a position on staff doesn't mean they just disappear or their memories, intelligence resources, and other associations are wiped clean.

Trump is being just as much a vindictive, petty asshole "punishing" these people who still have clearances because they are still providing invaluable services to their country (in ways other than speaking on the Media) as he was firing that someone 12 hours before retirement just to keep him from being able to collect his pension after he resigned.

Haele

[eleny]

16. Thanks, this was very helpful!

[VOX]

9. And the fascism keeps on coming.

Every week, more democracy is chipped away.

[malaise]

10. He's deranged

Lock him Up!

[TeamPooka]

12. Note to MSM: this is more distraction. stay on Russia. Night and Day

[malaise]

14. It's not

It's part of the entire process.
He's going down. The end is near and he knows it. Let him flail around like a dying fish.

[wishstar]

13. McCabe's clearance was already taken away when he was fired

Most of these officials except Susan Rice were Repubs or unaffiliated who served under both Repub and Dem Presidents.

[PunkinPi]

15. UPDATE: re Comey's clearance per Ben Wittes

Link to tweet

I just texted @Comey asking whether he even has a security clearance to revoke.

“Nope,” he responded. There’s nothing for POTUS to revoke. Comey says he was “read out” when he left government as per normal practice. 1/2
He even recently declined a temporary clearance from the IG to read the classified annex to the IG’s recent report. He didn’t want to see any classified material lest the president accuse him of leaking it. 2/2

So it seems most that were mentioned at today's presser aren't receiving them anyway. More distraction from team Twitler.