White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders stated on Monday that President Donald Trump is considering to remove the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan and other top Obama-era intelligence officials.
According to The Hill, Sanders accused Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former FBI Director James Comey and others of “politicizing” and “monetizing” their public service.
“They’ve politicized and in some cases monetized their public service and security clearances,” Sanders said during the daily briefing. “Making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia, or begin influenced by Russia against the president is extremely inappropriate and the fact that people with security clearances are making these baseless charges provides inappropriate legitimacy to accusations with zero evidence.”
Sanders’ remarks came after Republican Senator Rand Paul said on Twitter that he will ask the President to revoke Brennan’s security clearance.
“Is John Brennan monetizing his security clearance? Is John Brennan making millions of dollars divulging secrets to the mainstream media with his attacks on @realDonaldTrump?” Paul wrote.
Sanders also said that Trump is “looking to take away” security clearances belonging to former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice and former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe.
Sanders pushed back at the suggestion that the President is targeting individuals who had spoken out against him.
“The President doesn’t like the fact that people are politicizing agencies and departments that are specifically meant not to be political.”
“The President’s not making baseless accusations of contact with a foreign government. When you have the highest level of security clearance, when you’re the person who 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 thinks that‘s something to be very concerned with and we’re exploring what those options are and what that looks like,” Sanders added.
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