Trump revokes security clearance of former CIA director Brennan
US President Donald Trump revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan on Wednesday, accusing Brennan of using his access to classified information to "sow division and chaos" about the Trump administration.
Trump announced the decision in a statement read by White House press secretary Sarah Sanders at her daily news briefing.
Trump said he was also reviewing the security clearances of several other former ranking government officials, all of whom have criticized Trump, including former U.S. national intelligence director James Clapper, former FBI Director James Comey, former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice, former National Security Agency director Michael Hayden and former deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, among others.
Brennan, who was director of the US Central Intelligence Agency under Trump's predecessor, Democratic President Barack Obama, has been a sharp critic of Trump, frequently appearing on cable television news shows to attack his foreign policy positions.
Trump's statement said Brennan had engaged in "increasingly frenzied commentary" and abused his access to classified information by using it to "sow division and chaos."
"At this point in my administration, any benefits that senior officials might glean from consultations with Mr. Brennan are now outweighed by the risks posed by his erratic conduct and behavior ... That conduct and behavior has tested and far exceeded the limits of any professional courtesy that has been due to him," Trump said.
