Maybe Trump hasn't actually revoked John Brennan's security clearance after all
On Tuesday, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley assured The Washington Post that President Trump really has revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan. "The president's order went into effect immediately, and Mr. Brennan no longer has access to classified information," he said.
But the Post notes that "no formal direction was sent from the White House to the CIA ordering it to terminate his clearance and revoke any privileges that came with it," and a senior White House official told the newspaper, without elaborating, that the paperwork to revoke Brennan's clearance has been "delayed." CIA Press Secretary Timothy Barrett told the Post that "the CIA does not comment on individual security clearances."
The topic came up because on MSNBC earlier Tuesday, Brennan said he hasn't received any notification about his security clearance either way. "Ordinarily, when a U.S. official's security clearance is revoked, the agency or department that holds that clearance explains the grounds for its action," the Post explains. "The clearance holder may be given a chance to appeal the decision and argue that the revocation was unjustified." The only news he has gotten about his own clearance was when White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced it had been revoked on TV, he told MSNBC. "I've not been contacted by anybody at all either before or since then. So whether or not my clearance has been stripped, I'm still uncertain about."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Given that I think everybody believes that the rationale for stripping me of my clearance is bogus," Brennan suggested, "I'm sure there are some people who are scratching their head right now who maybe have to put together the memorandum to say why I was stripped of my clearances, other than the fact that Mr. Trump might not like me, which is not a valid reason."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Donald Trump’s week in Asia: can he shift power away from China?Today's Big Question US president’s whirlwind week of diplomacy aims to bolster economic ties and de-escalate trade war with China
-
The Icelandic women’s strike 50 years onIn The Spotlight The nation is ‘still no paradise’ for women, say campaigners
-
Mall World: why are people dreaming about a shopping centre?Under The Radar Thousands of strangers are dreaming about the same thing and no one sure why
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
