Politics

Former NSC Adviser Mike Flynn Loses His Security Clearance

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Jonah Bennett Contributor
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A spokesman for the Defense Intelligence Agency told CNN Wednesday afternoon that the security clearance for former National Security Council (NSC) adviser Mike Flynn has been suspended.

The spokesman then added that the procedure was routine and part of administrative due diligence that occurs when “questions arise regarding an individual’s compliance with clearance standards,” according to CNN’s chief national security correspondent Jim Sciutto.

If the review finds no wrongdoing, Flynn’s clearance could be reinstated.

Flynn announced his resignation Monday from the NSC, after having misled Vice President Mike Pence on the contents of a call he had in December with the Russian ambassador to the U.S.

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Caller News Foundation immediately after his resignation, Flynn said he didn’t cross any lines during his call with the ambassador.

Those contents, however, did not escape the attention of certain parts of the intelligence community, a point that has flabbergasted Flynn.

“One has to wonder, ‘Are they coming out of people in the National Security Council? Are they coming out of people in the intel community? Or State? Or Defense?'” he asked.

Former CIA analyst Tony Shaffer appeared on Fox Business Wednesday, pointing at several former Obama administration figures he believes may have been behind the intelligence community’s leaks to the press regarding Flynn.

Shaffer blamed former CIA director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence Jim Clapper and former Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes.

This isn’t the first time Shaffer has directly called out Brennan. Back in December, Shaffer stated that Brennan was behind the secret CIA assessment leaked to the press that alleged Russian interference in the election to back Donald Trump.

Additionally, GOP Rep. Devin Nunes, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, told Bloomberg View columnist Eli Lake earlier this week that intelligence officials are waging a war against the Trump White House from behind the scenes.

“There does appear to be a well orchestrated effort to attack Flynn and others in the administration,” Nunes said. “From the leaking of phone calls between the president and foreign leaders to what appears to be high-level FISA Court information, to the leaking of American citizens being denied security clearances, it looks like a pattern.”

Nunes wants the FBI to investigate the leaks.

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