Speaking from the White House briefing room Monday afternoon, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders revealed President Trump may revoke security clearances belonging to a number of Obama administration officials.
"Not only is the President looking to take away Brennan's security clearance, he's also looking into the clearances of Comey, Clapper, Hayden, Rice and McCabe. The President is exploring the mechanisms to remove security clearance because they've politicized and in some case monetized their public service and security clearances making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia or being influenced by Russia against the President is extremely inappropriate. The fact that people with security clearances are making these baseless charges provides inappropriate legitimacy to accusations with no legitimacy."
Sanders is referring to former FBI Director James Comey, former DNI Director James Clapper, former NSA and CIA Director Michael Harden, former White House National Security Advisor Susan Rice and former Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe. Comey and McCabe are the only two who also worked under the Trump administration before being fired.
The news comes after Republican Senator Rand Paul said Monday morning he was going to ask President Trump to review the clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan during a meeting at the White House.
Today I will meet with the President and I will ask him to revoke John Brennan’s security clearance!
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 23, 2018
This is a developing story, stay tuned for updates.
