National Security Advisor John Bolton said Sunday that President Donald Trump was right to revoke former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance because he and others were “politicizing” the intelligence community.
“It was my view at the time that he and others in the Obama administration were politicizing intelligence. I think that’s a very dangerous thing to do,” Bolton told ABC’s “This Week.”
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“There is a line and somebody can cross it,” he told ABC. “In terms of what he said, since he left, I think a number of people have commented that he couldn’t be in the position he’s in of criticizing President Trump and his so-called collusion with Russia unless he did use classified information. But I don’t know the specifics.” (RELATED: Former CIA Director John Brennan Is ‘Thinking About’ Taking Legal Action Over Revoked Security Clearance)
The decision to revoke the security clearance of a former CIA director has sent shock waves throughout Washington and the press corps. Trump officially stripped Brennan of he privilege for the former director’s alleged “erratic behavior,” although Sen. Rand Paul has promoted the idea for weeks and suggested Trump do it.
Brennan lashed back at Trump for losing his clearance, writing in the New York Times that it was “hogwash” for the president to deny collusion between his campaign and Russia. (RELATED: Army Brigadier General Says John Brennan Is A ‘Clear And Present Danger” And Wants To ‘Overthrow’ Trump)
Brennan may not be the last of former President Barack Obama’s security and intelligence cabal to lose their security clearances. The White House is considering rescinding those of former FBI Director James Comey, former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, former CIA Director Michael Hayden, former National Security Advisor Susan Rice and former Intelligence Director James Clapper.