White House revokes ex-CIA director’s security clearance

FAN Editor

Last Updated Aug 15, 2018 2:50 PM EDT

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Wednesday that President Trump has ordered former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance to be revoked. Brennan served in the Obama administration. He was CIA director from 2013 to 2017. 

“Mr. Brennan has a history that calls into question his objectivity and credibility,” Sanders told reporters in her opening remarks at Wednesday’s press breifing. 

The White House announced in the end of July that it was “exploring” the possibility of revoking the security clearances of several former intelligence officials who have criticized Mr. Trump. According to Sanders, the White House is now evaluating the clearances of the following individuals on a “case by case basis”:  

  • James Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence 
  • James Comey, former FBI director
  • Michael Hayden, former CIA director
  • Sally Yates, former Acting Attorney General 
  • Susan Rice, former National Security Adviser 
  • Andrew McCabe, former deputy FBI director
  • Peter Strzok, former FBI agent 
  • Lisa Page, former FBI lawyer 
  • Bruce Ohr, former Associate Deputy Attorney General 

Not everyone on this list appears to still have a security clearance. In July, a spokesperson for McCabe tweeted that the former FBI director’s security clearance was he was deactivated when he was fired. The same apparently is true of Comey, according to his friend Ben Wittes, because he was also fired. Meanwhile, Hayden said last month that revoking his clearance wouldn’t have any effect on what he says. 

“I don’t go back for classified briefings,” Hayden, who served under President George W. Bush, told CBS News on Monday. “Won’t have any effect on what I say or write.”  

Sanders brought into question why former government officials should maintain their security clearances, although these clearances are typically valid for five years.

“More broadly, the issue of Mr. Brennan’s security clearance raises larger questions about the practice of former officials maintaining access to our nation’s most sensitive secrets long after their time in government has ended,” Sanders said. “Such access is particularly inappropriate when former officials have transitioned into highly partisan positions and seek to use real or perceived access to sensitive information to validate their political attacks.”

Sanders called Brennan’s behavior “erratic conduct and behavior” and accusing him of “lying” and “wild outbursts.”

She also claims he’s “leveraged his status” to make unfounded allegations.

Brennan has been deeply critical of Trump’s conduct, calling his performance at a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Finland “nothing short of treasonous.”

Sanders says other former intelligence officials’ security clearances are also “currently under review.”

Former high-ranking government employees can in some cases ask for and receive a security briefing on a certain subject. But the purpose of extending security clearances is to help the U.S. government, not the people who have them. 

“It’s not just a courtesy,”former Acting CIA director Michael Morell told CBS News last month. “For as long as I have been aware, which is probably two decades, former senior officials have kept their clearances. And the purpose is not to benefit the individual. It’s to benefit the government. So, for example, I go into CIA regularly and I help them think through issues, I talk to people, I’m there to assist in any variety of ways. I also serve on a government commission that I could not serve on without having my clearances.” 

This story is developing, check back for updates.

© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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