Striking at critics, Trump threatens former officials' security clearances

[webfact]

Striking at critics, Trump threatens former officials' security clearances

By Steve Holland and Jonathan Landay

 

U.S. President Donald Trump steps off a bus prior to delivering remarks at a showcase of American-made products event at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 23, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Monday threatened to strip six former U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials, including Obama-era CIA director John Brennan, of their security clearances as President Donald Trump considers striking back at critics of his summit meeting last week with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

The threat against Brennan and former senior U.S. officials James Comey, James Clapper, Michael Hayden, Susan Rice and Andrew McCabe represented an extraordinary politicization of the U.S. government's security clearance process.

 

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Trump is "exploring the mechanisms" to remove the security clearances. Sanders said the officials have "politicized and in some cases monetized their public service and security clearances, making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia or being influenced by Russia."

 

After Trump gave credence following his summit in Helsinki to Putin's denials about Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election despite findings by the American intelligence community, Brennan called Trump's remarks "nothing short of treasonous." In his July 16 Twitter post, Brennan added, "Not only were Trump's comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin."

 

Trump fired Comey as FBI director last year and he has become a prominent critic, calling Trump "morally unfit to be president."

 

Clapper, who stepped down as director of national intelligence before Trump took office last year, has accused the president of placing American democratic institutions "under assault."

 

Hayden is a former director of the CIA and National Security Agency. Rice was former President Barack Obama's national security adviser. McCabe, who as the former No. 2 FBI official was involved in the agency's investigation of Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. election, was fired by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in March.

 

Many former U.S. officials retain their security clearances after they leave government service because they continue to advise their former agencies or because it is a condition of employment as government contractors or consultants. Stripping the clearances also represents a public rebuke of the officials and severs a connection with the intelligence community.

 

Sanders made reference to Brennan's treason comment in explaining Trump's threat toward the security clearances.

 

"Accusing the president of the United States of treasonous activity when you have the highest level of security clearance, when you're the person that holds the nation's deepest, most sacred secrets at your hands and you go out and you make false accusations against the president of the United States, he (the president) thinks that is something to be very concerned with," Sanders said.

 

Asked if Trump was punishing the former officials because of their criticism, Sanders said, "No, I think you are creating your own story there."

 

Trump came under a torrent of criticism after Helsinki, including from many lawmakers in his own Republican party. One of the few who publicly sided with him last week, Senator Rand Paul, said he met with Trump on Monday and asked him to revoke Brennan's security clearance.

 

'A TERRIBLE PRECEDENT'

Clapper called the possibility of stripping the security clearances "just a very, very petty thing to do."

 

"There is a formal process for doing this, but you know I guess legally the president has that prerogative," Clapper said on CNN. "He can suspend or revoke clearances as he sees fit, and if he chooses to do it for political reasons, well I think that's a terrible precedent. And it's a very sad commentary. And it's an abuse of the system."

 

Hayden, a retired four-star Air Force general, said he was unbowed.

 

"I don't go back for classified briefings," he wrote on Twitter. "Won't have any effect on what I say or write."

 

A spokeswoman for McCabe, Melissa Schwartz, wrote on Twitter that his security clearance was deactivated when he was terminated, according to what they were told was FBI policy.

 

"You would think the White House would check with the FBI before trying to throw shiny objects to the press corps," Schwartz said.

Both the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees all U.S. intelligence agencies, said they had no comment on the White House threat.

 

Critics blasted the White House, with Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono writing on Twitter, "This is what totalitarianism looks like."

 

Some Democrats criticized the proposal as a deflection tactic to change the conversation around what Trump may have agreed with Putin in their two-hour, one-on-one meeting.

 

"This is absolute nonsense, and we shouldn't fall for it," said Rachel Cohen, spokeswoman for Senator Mark Warner, the senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. "In this country, we don't punish people for exercising their First Amendment rights," referring to the constitutional provision protecting free speech.

 

(Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu, Eric Beech and Warren Strobel; Writing by Lisa Lambert and Mary Milliken; Editing by Will Dunham)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-24

[Damrongsak]

It's a jungle out there.

 

 

[jackh]

SHould have been done 2 years ago.

 

[BobBKK]

I'm really shocked they have security clearance  as they only use it to throw ****  at POTUS anyway. 

 

Make Clearance Great Again

[Chomper Higgot]

Non of the named people have security clearance; they were, as Comey has confirmed, ‘read out’ when they left service.

 

Trump is at once displaying his petty vindictiveness and his total lack of understanding of how ‘security clearance’ works.

 

Liberals don’t get distracted.

 

Illiberals get your denial glasses on, the truth will (despite Trmp’s best efforts) out!

Edited July 24, 2018 by Chomper Higgot

[Credo]

If he can shut everyone up, then he will look good.   Otherwise, he looks like the idiot he is.   

 

A big mistake on his part, but one of many on POTUS part.   

[neeray]

Critics blasted the White House, with Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono writing on Twitter, "This is what totalitarianism looks like." 

Anything is possible under the reign of Trump.

[Silurian]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Hayden, a retired four-star Air Force general, said he was unbowed.

 

"I don't go back for classified briefings," he wrote on Twitter. "Won't have any effect on what I say or write."

 

As much as Traitor Trump wants to knock over the game board in a tantrum, it won't affect these people ability to speak out against the man-child. Yet another distraction to shift focus from the truth and traitorous activities.

 

[neeray]

45 minutes ago, Silurian said:

 

As much as Traitor Trump wants to knock over the game board in a tantrum, it won't affect these people ability to speak out against the man-child. Yet another distraction to shift focus from the truth and traitorous activities.

 

As most of the 6 have said, they don't go to the briefings anyway. This is just another tit for tat by the man-child. Sad but true.

[Tug]

That’s our Donald vindictive petty nasty can’t stand people who call them as they see them don’t know if he meets the leagel definition of treason or traitor but certainly meets definition of agent of a hostile foreign power

[mike324]

So people can't criticize the president? Why do I feel Trump is being more like Kim, and the roles are reversing?

[spidermike007]

As usual Diet Orange did not do his research before making these threats. No security clearance to begin with, dummy! Revoke them. See if they care, nitwit.

 

"This is absolute nonsense, and we shouldn't fall for it," said Rachel Cohen, spokeswoman for Senator Mark Warner, the senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. "In this country, we don't punish people for exercising their First Amendment rights," referring to the constitutional provision protecting free speech.

 

Good point. This is how an authoritarian regime starts. With petty threats. How this coward traitor would love to be a dictator. How democracy constantly gets in his way. Petty is right. Anyone who disapproves of me, my methods, or my plans will be severely punished. You simply cannot get away with disobeying the master. I will not allow dissent among the citizens. 

 

Tiny Don. Shooting himself in the foot daily. He wakes up, and the internal misery, his unhappiness and malcontent state of mind inside that toxic body is so overwhelming, he lashes out at whoever, and whatever he can. He cannot contain the toxins. 

[zaphod reborn]

2 hours ago, jackh said:

SHould have been done 2 years ago.

 

Comey and McCabe already had their security clearances withdrawn.  This is purely vindictive.  Trump is a dictator who tries to stifle any opposition.  Removal is the only option.  All the security clearance does is allow these highly-respected former government officials (most of whom have over 30 years of public service as opposed to Trump's 1.5 years) from using their security clearance to do further government-related advisory work.  This just diminishes the government's ability to use them as resources to further ongoing work.   It doesn't affect their TV appearances, which is all Trump cares about.

[neeray]

2 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

Comey and McCabe already had their security clearances withdrawn.  This is purely vindictive.  Trump is a dictator who tries to stifle any opposition.  Removal is the only option.  All the security clearance does is allow these highly-respected former government officials (most of whom have over 30 years of public service as opposed to Trump's 1.5 years) from using their security clearance to do further government-related advisory work.  This just diminishes the government's ability to use them as resources to further ongoing work.   It doesn't affect their TV appearances, which is all Trump cares about.

"the government's ability to use them as resources". Trump doesn't believe in valuable resources. That's why he effed up the Singapore Summit so badly. But he does believe in being vindictive. He thrives on it.

[Tug]

He is trying to run the government like those cartel guys cash or lead what’s your pleasure nasty bit of work our Donald is

[cycolista]

2 hours ago, jackh said:

SHould have been done 2 years ago.

 

Should have been done 9 years ago, I'll bet you would have supported it then too, Right?

[klauskunkel]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"Accusing the president of the United States of treasonous activity when you have the highest level of security clearance, when you're the person that holds the nation's deepest, most sacred secrets at your hands and you go out and you make false accusations against the president of the United States, he (the president) thinks that is something to be very concerned with," Sanders said.

Let's look at your statement from a different angle, Sanders: If so many persons with the highest level of security clearance accuse the president publicly of treason and unfit to hold office, wouldn't that warrant at least a good, long look at the driver's license of the stable genius who is steering this country from one collision to another?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Critics blasted the White House, with Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono writing on Twitter, "This is what totalitarianism looks like." 

 

If Trump doesn't like being called a treasonous traitor, then perhaps he should stop acting like one. Problem solved!

 

As for his threat, Hirono above said it well...   Petulant man child...

 

 

Edited July 24, 2018 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

55 minutes ago, mike324 said:

So people can't criticize the president? Why do I feel Trump is being more like Kim, and the roles are reversing?

 

So people can't criticize the president? Why do I feel Trump is being more like PUTIN and Kim, and the roles are reversing?

 

He WANTS to be the Putin and Kim of the U.S.....  Terrifying....

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

So who's going to revoke the Traitor's security clearance, because he's the one in fact who deserves to have it revoked: (remember, it's Trump and Russia again....)  And this was just days after he had fired Comey...

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-revealed-highly-classified-information-to-russian-foreign-minister-and-ambassador/2017/05/15/530c172a-3960-11e7-9e48-c4f199710b69_story.html
 

Quote

 

President Trump revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador in a White House meeting last week, according to current and former U.S. officials, who said Trump’s disclosures jeopardized a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State.
 

The information the president relayed had been provided by a U.S. partner through an intelligence-sharing arrangement considered so sensitive that details have been withheld from allies and tightly restricted even within the U.S. government, officials said.
 

The partner had not given the United States permission to share the material with Russia, and officials said Trump’s decision to do so endangers cooperation from an ally that has access to the inner workings of the Islamic State. After Trump’s meeting, senior White House officials took steps to contain the damage, placing calls to the CIA and the National Security Agency.

 

 

Edited July 24, 2018 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Sanders said the officials have "politicized and in some cases monetized their public service and security clearances

Which places them in direct competition with the Trump mafia.

Can't have the Don be challenged.

[FitnessHealthTravel]

Do it, get it done!!!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

4 minutes ago, FitnessHealthTravel said:

Do it, get it done!!!

 

I'm sure you have no awareness nor care that government security clearances in the U.S. are not issued, nor revoked, on the basis on one's political views. But rather, on one's ability to keep confidential information secure.

 

Do you really want to go to a place where the party/president in power starts revoking the security clearances of the opposition party or simply those he doesn't like or who criticize him?

 

If that's what you want, you're not an American nor have any idea what being an American means.

 

[cycolista]

14 minutes ago, FitnessHealthTravel said:

Do it, get it done!!!

You should brush up on the 1st Amendment.

[DM07]

And if he takes away their security clearance, their brain automatically stops working and they love the orange circuspeanut?

[johnnybangkok]

1 hour ago, FitnessHealthTravel said:

Do it, get it done!!!

You idiocy is showing YET AGAIN as YET AGAIN you are just supporting the orange buffoon despite plenty of people here telling you that most of the people already have their security clearance revoked and that his actions are unconstitutional. 

You are either an idiot or a troll.

Or an idiotic troll.  

[Redline]

7 hours ago, BobBKK said:

I'm really shocked they have security clearance  as they only use it to throw ****  at POTUS anyway. 

 

Make Clearance Great Again

Really, I guess if you read anything about the history or reasoning behind it, you wouldn't be scared, I mean, shocked.  Learning is better than regurgitating?

[Redline]

Another example of what a weak person this man is.  Always crying and playing golf ?

[Redline]

4 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I'm sure you have no awareness nor care that government security clearances in the U.S. are not issued, nor revoked, on the basis on one's political views. But rather, on one's ability to keep confidential information secure.

 

Do you really want to go to a place where the party/president in power starts revoking the security clearances of the opposition party or simply those he doesn't like or who criticize him?

 

If that's what you want, you're not an American nor have any idea what being an American means.

 

As he lives in China, he may have other influences to explain his position.  I would bet he didn't do any research either

[sqwakvfr]

My Security Clearance is Inactive because I currently do not hold a job that requires it(living in LOS on a Non-Imm O-A).  In the past the Office of Personnel and Management(commonly know as OPM) granted clearances through an Adjudication Process.  OPM can also revoke a clearance.  The person with the clearance which is the subject of the Revocation process is entitled to Due Process(a hearing).  These are the Adjudication Guidelines:

(AKA Revocation normally involves a violation of some or all these guidelines).

The 13 Adjudication Guidelines are:

o Allegiance to the United States

o Foreign Influence

o Foreign Preference

o Sexual Behavior

o Personal Conduct

o Financial Considerations

o Alcohol Consumption

o Drug Involvement

o Psychological Conditions o Criminal Conduct

o Handling Protected Information

o Outside Activities

o Misuse of Information Technology