Could Donald Trump get a security clearance? Not a chance. We need a law that states any person running for president of the USA must have a security clearance before his or her name came be on the ballot.
7
It is good to see so many comments that acknowledge what is happening: Trump is making progress towards becoming the first American strongman president. But Trump's evolution is somewhat different that previous dictators around the world.
Trump did not forcibly seize power. Rather he was appointed to the presidency by the Electoral College. The end result was that he began, and remains, the representative of the solid minority of Americans. In fact, Trump considers the 54% of voters who did not choose him in 2016 to be opponents who must be subdued.
Trump has not compromised checks and balances. Rather he is being elevated to autocratic rule with the consent and support of the congressional majority: Republicans are dismantling checks and balances. In fact, they are about to deliver the final destructive blow by elevating a Supreme Court justice that is unlikely to oppose Trump's presidential power.
However like most dictators, Trump is authoritarian and megalomanic. He is corrupt. He believes he is infallible, and that his word is the law. He is reactionary and willing to violate any legal or moral convention in order to enforce his dictates.
Given these circumstances, the situation in America is inching towards violent civil unrest at the very least, violent rebellion in the extreme. The future is uncertain, but increasingly likely to be very ugly.
3
“The president is exploring the mechanisms to remove security clearances because they politicized, and in some cases monetized, their public service and security clearances,” Ms. Sanders said.
Trump and his family appear to be the biggest "monetizers" of them all.
2
If Trump strikes out against those who criticize or disagree with him, why should we take the word of anyone who praises or agrees with him?
2
Why do we even have this practice?? Not to mention biting the hand feeding you.
I worked in the oil patch 45 years - some for Majors.
As soon as you left or retired, you were a history. Your badge was taken away along with PC, your email address was purged. You were nobody as far as their system went - nothing done disrespectfully - but this is an SOP.
I dare say that T. Rex had similar treatment when he quit ExxonMobil.
So, this practice of continuing clearances baffles me.
This POTUS through an executive order should bar this practice for all past, current and future employees even in his administration. And hopefully, persuade Congress to enact it into law.
And let's not forget a secretary of defense used these clearances to steal documents from archives.
Put an end to this practice - for sake of our country.
2
There is no good reason for people now out of government to have these security clearances. Comey is according to the IG's report hardly the white knight that he portrays himself. And, really, he might well have cost HC the election. And, he is a leaker and probably now guilty of criminal wrongdoing. Klapper by his own admission is a liar. He testified that the NSA was not listening to Americans. Well, it was and he later he admitted he lied. Brennan actually voted Commnunist. He is coudl not be more partisan. He foisted the dirty dossier on the White House and then made sure it was leaked so it could be called news. Now all three are commentators for cable news. These talking heads no longer should have any type of security clearances.
1
Since Sean Hannity schmoozes so much with Trump in the wee hours, gifting Trump his expertise on matters of state and our national security, the question arises—does Hannity have a security clearance? Do the bobble heads of Fox & Friends? Inquiring minds want to know.
3
Trump is turning a once-great nation into a banana republic (not that Banana Republic), and the monkeys in Congress are doing nothing about it. Republicans eat the banana, and are hoping the peels they leave behind we cause the Dems to slip and fall. As November approaches, we shall see if this is so.
DD
Manhattan
6
As someone who knows the process of holding a TS clearance with sensitive compartments, which is what most of these people hold Trump maybe un-handcuffing his worst possible adversaries. As long as you hold the clearance you are restricted from discussing what you know with people outside of the cleared community or those read-in to the compartment. Once read-out you have rule to follow but it open a big door that trump may not want to let be opened.
Funny thing is that holding that level of clearance is a sign that the US Government believes at the highest level that you are trustworthy and that you would never use your position or knowledge for personal gain! To hold that clearance means you don't jump on a quick trip outside the country, your resume is reviewed before it can be given out, you can't write a book or letter to the editor with pre-pub review by the agency holding your clearance. We have had some bad apples but they range in the 10's . People at the level of directors get paid poorly compared even to the contractors who work for them, they do the work for the mission and the safety of our country and our children. Respect them don't disparage them for not agreeing with them.
1
Surely Trump wishes he could just ‘disappear’ his critics like his mentors Putin and Kim do.
1
Brennan's buddy, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper admitted in a CNN interview Saturday that former President Obama instigated the ongoing investigations into Donald Trump and those in his orbit.
Speaking with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Clapper said:
"If it weren’t for President Obama we might not have done the intelligence community assessment that we did that set up a whole sequence of events which are still unfolding today including Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation. President Obama is responsible for that. It was he who tasked us to do that intelligence community assessment in the first place."
The inadvertent confession starts at about 2:50...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=171&v=G0faQMpFWFk
1
I wonder which is longer, his list of enemies or his list of friends?
I’m not counting the so-called base who all seem to have driven over the cliff, never to walk again in the land of reason and decency; I’m talking about people who should know better, educated people who swore an oath to uphold our Constitution.
4
Yup, the classic behavior of a spiteful tyrant... a dictator poised to take revenge even for the slightest perceived snub.
Definitely not okay, but also not the worst of his endless offenses.
This country was woefully unprepared for the current and threatened abuse of power by a POTUS... reaching its corrupt, self-serving tentacles into so many aspects of our national and global well-being. For well over two centuries, we were complacent that our laws, our system of government, and the integrity of our elected members of Congress — regardless of party affiliation — would protect us from tyrannical behavior by a POTUS or other presidential malfeasance. Ha! Well, guess again! If we ever get this guy out of the White House, we'll have to 'fumigate' very seriously! And we'll also need tighten up the laws, in so many areas, to protect ourselves in the future.
2
Trump is only doing what Putin told him to do. What a good boy he is.
Lock him up!!
Deal with Pence, until sanity regains some semblance of control.
1
Considering the enormous pile of misinformation I've read in many of these reader comments, I believe that the New York Times has an obligation to publish an article that provides clear, accurate, and concise information on security clearances vis a vis currently serving public employees, former public employees, and particularly in regard to the president. In the absence of that information, the public discourse is a contest between the uninformed but vociferous vs the well informed but constrained (by prior service and ongoing obligations). This situation is damaging the public dialogue, and is within the means of the NYT to rectify.
6
We've officially become a banana republic.
When dtrump is finally expunged from office I hope the entire country would deem him unworthy of the traditional Secret Service lifetime security detail. He has squandered more than enough of the national treasure on unnecessary time wasting legal interruptions. The stench his presence has lofted over the country and the world should be more than sufficient to 'protect him from potential predators.'
1
remember those letter blocks in kinder garden and there was always one kid, and only one kid who thru them?
lol. there is your 'security clearance' haha!
This will be a badge of honor for these tellers of truth to power. Much like being on Nixon's enemy's list was.
Trump is well on his way of making history... as WPE*
* Worst President Ever
2
Will the last one leaving the once-great U S of A please turn off the lights?
O--never mind. Trump already has.
4
Trump becomes more like his hero putin every day.
The garden slug like enabling republicans leave a slimy stain on our Country every day they refuse to rein in trump. They are both national disgraces.
2
A security clearance is granted on a "need to know" basis. If you leave the government job where you needed the clearance or a contract position where one is required, the clearance alone does not allow you access to classified information.
The only way any of these people would gain access now to classified information is if the government asked them for an opinion or analysis of some secret matter on a contractual basis. They could gain access through some other means, but that would not be legal. That would be very unlikely.
Trump does not need to revoke a clearance for anyone who does not have a job with a "need to know" basis. This appears to be political theater more than anything else.
3
This kind of behavior is the way every crooked dictatorship begins.
5
Brennan should run for President in 2020.
5
Yet, Trump's base loves everything that comes out of his mouth. What has become of us? I am sickened and ashamed.
5
The security clearances revocation needs to happen immediately. Brennan, Clapper, Comey, Strzok, MaCabe, and a few others attempted to subvert the 2016 election for president, failing in their attempt they attempted to undermine a duly elected president using some illegal insurance policy. These people were headed down the police state road, Trump stopped them dead in their tracks. I can't stress enough how Trump has saved the United States from a Clinton police state. The corrupt FBI needs to be abolished immediately, the FBI are a danger to the US Constitution and American citizens. The rot started with Obama and was to move to Hillary, thank goodness she's a freak show now.
2
"Deep State" is about as deep as Trump can think. Short-sighted, shallow of mind, quick to begrudge, fast in stupid labeling of good people, eminently qualified to do nothing, and committed to building a wall around himself and family to exclude good ideas and see anything beyond the next tweet. What he thinks is delightful is to normal people just frightful. Sick man and dangerous to our country.
3
For Ken. You better look up the meaning of banana republic. You shouldn’t use terns you can’t define.
You are way off track here.
1
Leaving security clearances with anyone who is out of government is questionable. Leaving it with people who scream nazi, dictator and imply the need for a coup is irresponsible.
2
Trump’s behavior tells us he aspires to a Hitlerian dictatorship modeled after Putin’s. Putin has no qualms about killing his opponents.
7
So you want to revoke the Security Clearences of those who are not making use of them, to make a point? The point you are making is that you are so arrogantly ignorant as to not find out that these folks are not making use of their security clearances. The symbolism is clear. You are nothing more than a small child who lashes out at the adults who seek to constrain your behavior.
2
What a petulant puny little petunia our POTUS has turned out to be. So Sad!
2
Of course the security clearances should be revoked.
If you are fired or laid off by the NYT do you keep your building pass email accounts etc?
No.
4
Monetizing their political clearances????? Gasp!!! Who would have thought it???
1
Trump ought to focus on the needs of Americans instead of focusing on his paranoia and maniacal need to punish those who don’t agree with him. Nothing is more stupid than his lying tweets which have made him look like a demented fool.
6
I think it amounts to a bit more than ‘criticize’ him. Something about a dustbin I believe. When will the fact checkers examine Times headlines?
1
In any my years following politics I have never seen such a vile, petty, vindictive person.
5
I'm a Never-Trumper, who thinks secirity clearances should be stripped of all who are no longer office holders.....and denied of people like his daughter n son-in-law!
3
This so Orwellian. Go after your critics, warmonger against Iran, suck up to dictators. This child needs spanking and sent to his room with no supper. And we know he'd miss his cheeseburgers.
3
There are a lot of comments about former top officials "nosing around" secret documents. Come on people. They do not retain their super secret password so they access secret documents s from their laptop while sipping a latte at Starbucks.
The reason former officials retain their security clearance is to be able to assist the current administration. These folks have inside knowledge, as well as history on certain events, that can be valuable to those dealing with current events. Being able to talk freely with former top officials helps current administrations, and thereby all of us.
As for leaks - As long as the information does not compromise our country or any citizens I want government officials to tell me what's going on inside. Who said what and who did what. Tell me how our government officials think and act. I want to know how the is sausage made. How else can we keep government accountable to the people?
2
When security clearances are revoked due to valid criticisms and disagreements expressed by a significant number of high ranking and highly respected past intelligence officials, and when the generals begin to limit daily briefings of the president due to concerns over his potential dislike for what he is being told, this country is in serious trouble. We must ensure against the formulation of alternative plans by a disillusioned albeit justifiably concerned military complex. Call me paranoid but nothing is out of the question any more.
6
@Alan B
Sometimes, to not be paranoid is to be foolish.
2
Trump's latest antic is enabled by a much deeper problem: that an élite of present and past government officials share--and trade--in information that belongs to the government of the people. This is wrong. Much more information must be declassified. And only the people's CURRENT elected representatives (and their employees) should be trusted with that tiny fraction of information that should, legitimately, stay classified.
3
When I was in the US Navy I was granted Top Secret clearance. I lost that TS clearance when I left the navy. Granted the individuals mentioned are high level individuals...if they are no longer actively serving ...why do they still have Top Secret clearance?
This is more smoke and distraction to keep critics and his base looking at something else. I have read some of the top comments and it's rightly full of outrage. But they are all missing the point. They were all distracted and made to look elsewhere. Trump is truly a master of mis-direction and disinformation. He truly is a friend of Putin the former KGB agent and master of disinformation.
So what do we do? State the obvious and call it for what it is...an ongoing disinformation campaign by POTUS. I believe when it is put in that light it loses its power. It's like call everything "Fake News" unless it says wonderful things about him.
4
What exactly does Senator Paul want from President Trump? He must want something to play such an obsequious card. Is there something he needs to monetize?
1
There should be strict oversight, who and why, keeps security clearance when they are no longer employed by the government. But it's beyond me why it should be one person's, a president's, prerogative - this is not an autocracy. There are three equal and separate branches of government, democratic ideals should demand it be non-partisan committee's prerogative to make these decisions. Stripping it away on the grounds of feeling personally slighted is a dangerous game that impacts the country's security, system of government and future.
2
Sanders said "The reason these clearences are being revoked is the people in question are monetizing that clearance, and that is inappropriate". And I see a lot of the nodding right saying that makes sense....
Okay, so why aren't they revoking the security clearances of the ex government and military officials who are conservative and routinely appear on Fox News, In the Wall Street Journal op ed pages, on talk radio, in conservative magazines, and of course books? If they are worried about the clearances being monetized, then why is it appropriate for these people?
If they were serious, they would revoke the security clearance of all people leaving office or the miltary and require them to re-apply if they need clearance later.
2
What's the difference between yanking security clearances for political reasons and pulling senior career federal employees out of their jobs because they didn't support the president?
Donald calls democrats the enemy. He calls the press the enemy. He calls anyone who doesn't agree with him the enemy.
The media, not wishing to play a part in the story, ignores this. But it's now taking full effect.
Donald hopes to purge government of all those who do not fall in line behind him. And given his desultory path through the cosmos, that's not easy to predict.
No, Donald. You can't persecute people for disagreeing with you.
1
I am reminded of Pres, Truman's advice about criticism - 'If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!'.
Good advice for Trump, which he won't listen to.
3
I have a bit of experience with getting a security clearance. If this president had to go through the normal process of a background investigation he would never, ever get a clearance. He would fail on the basis of: multiple bankruptcies, association with foreign nationals from adversaries, habitual philandering, association with known criminals, questionable financial dealings, questionable character, etc. If he did have a clearance he would have had it immediately revoked for leaking classified information to foreign nationals.
Let's figure out a way to have each presidential candidate, at least those from a major party, to undergo a background check and have the results publicly released before being nominated.
8
They need to be stripped of their clearance as they are used as props for the media to continue their attempt to influence elections. CNN (who uses many of these folks) attempted to influence an American election by providing Hillary Clinton with the questions in advance of a Presidential debate viewed by tens of millions of voters. Hillary accepted these questions and used to her advantage. Why allow security clearnace for those who continue to feed this Enemy of the People machine?
3
"Enemy of the people?" Wouldn't you feel more comfortable in North Korea or Putin's Russia?
2
There is no other reason that Trump is doing this other than they criticize him. None.
If Trump could silence you and me legally, he would. This is who he is.
2
Should Trump detractors like Anderson Cooper, Rachel Maddow, Erin Burnett et al be concerned about their contracts being renewed? Surely Don and his lawyers can find a way around the 'freedom of the press' to silence their nightly criticism. Anything is possible with the autocrat in the White House.
McCain's words should give us all pause:
"I you want to preserve democracy as we know it, you have to have a free and many times adversarial press, and without it, I am afraid that we would lose so much of our individual liberties over time — that's how dictators get started." --John McCain, February 2017
4
We watched President Trump openly betray the United States on the world stage in Helsinki.
We don't yet know why Trump aided and abetted America's most dangerous adversary, Vladimir Putin, as they stood side by side, but we do know a High Crime when we see one.
Now the president doubles down on there being no Russian interference, ignores his entire intelligence gathering network, and tries to silence his most informed critics.
That looks like ANOTHER High Crime, and a violation of the first amendment to me.
Retired officials have not spilled secrets, they note all the breeches and weaknesses in this administration. Those retired officials remain valuable references for their former organizations. Talk to Sean Spicer about his book if monetizing experience is an issue.
President Trump is not a king. He does not rule by decree.
Trump's blunders have escalated from embarrassing, to destructive, and now to High Crimes.
p.s. both the president and VP are Republicans. JS.
This is a very very deep and very serious crisis of democracy, under all versions of democracies available, except for Chinese and Russian versions, of course. As long as Trump supporters don't wake up to the fact of who Trump is, they will ride American democracy into an oligarchy, an authoritarian regime, on par with Turkey at best, with Saudi Arabia in the worst case. What else has to happen before Trump is removed from the oval office?!
2
For Ken: I understand that you are not a Democrat but I regret that you have dishonored honorable men just because Trump told you too. Better to do your own thinking and not just read Trump’s tweets. Even you know by now that he lies a lot, is vengeful and punishing of people who don’t agree with him. Such behavior is immature and even insane at his old age.
6
Pure political retribution against his critics by a would-be dictator. Christy Todd Whitman, former EPA Administrator in Bush administration, has called for Trump to resign. Her fellow Republicans need to do the same.
2
In my dystopian novel, the Russians stage a coup against the United States by taking over the white house during a lone and unrecorded meeting between the Russian and US Presidents in the oval office. While thugs take down the vulnerable President, the Russian despot orders the US energy grid disrupted which his operatives earlier hacked. This throws the nation and joint chiefs into chaos. NATO allies are in the dark because of strained relationships. As the US President in a fit of pettiness had stripped security clearances from former administrations intelligence staff, there was no one with the ability to step in and rescue the country....,
2
Oh no, there goes my chance for getting a security clearance!
For a moment when glancing over that headline I could have sworn it said "Trump weighs stripper", which to be perfectly honest probably isn't that far from the truth. As a matter of fact I'm kind of disappointed now.
3
All conservatives, everywhere, all the time. Not just Trump.
"the president’s animosity makes it next to impossible to continue working with their former agencies"
Uh, I don't think we're talking about the 'president's animosity' but rather the left's animosity. Sounds like a big 'leftist' projection to my right wing ears. I hope Trump revokes all those traitors' security clearances, even Obama's (who works for the Organization of America, a left-wing organization desiring to take down Trump).
1
Opposing Trump doesn't make you a traitor. It makes you a patriot.
4
Trumps "enemies list." I'm 61 years old and I feel that I'm back in high school with this distracting about real issues bully.
3
Geesch! Just one visit with Putin and Trump has already exercising two alarming dictatorial behaviors.
One, threatening to hand over american diplomats for interrogation by Russia.
Two, threatening retaliation against former intelligence officers who exercise their first amendment right to disagree with Trump.
Putin's orders for Trump are obviously already in play.
What's next?
Is Putin's trip to the WH to install secret codes for Trump's daily, direct "back channel" orders from the Kremlin?
1
I cry for this great nation of ours (and you should too). Here is a compromised president who is kowtowing to a foreign power, our avowed enemy extraordinaire. A president -- a pathological liar -- who cannot help being subservient to Russia, a man who is so thin-skinned that if you criticize him he will take the security clearance from our wonderful public servants. Public servants who have legitimate reason to worry about the safety and security of this country. But I cry for a different reason -- whatever happened to checks and balances in our government? Where is Congress? Where are Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell? There lies the true tragedy!!
2
I suppose if revoking their security clearances fails to shut them up he could put them in jail on some trumped up charge.
4
Clearly Trump is being gentle with those who criticize him. He is only stripping away a few security clearances. During the secret meeting with his buddy, Putin, Vlad advised him to have them killed with the Novichok nerve agent he used on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in England.
7
Is there any doubt he demanded an oath of personal loyalty from Comey? He thinks everyone took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend him as president instead of the Constitution. He can't understand their fidelity to the Constitution because his only fidelity is to himself. And his 72 year-old self is an incoherent jumble of ignorance, incompetence, insecurity, and petulance. He's a fraud surrounded by sycophants.
Vote.
7
PS Two of the named people on the LIST don’t even have clearances any longer. So much for WH fact checking. Several others point out that is action would not stop them from speaking out. This is a bogus threat from a weak man, who should be taking advice from all who have years of experience, expertise, perspective serving former presidents from both sides of the aisle. Besides blatant abuse of power, this charade makes Trump look the complete vindictive fool and the WH look incompetent & amateurish.
6
@Lb They don't bother to fact check because the truth is of no importance to them.
1
Of course he's going after anyone who disagrees with him! This is how he conducted his business in Manhattan, and he is using the same model in the Oval Office. And why should he change his tactics? They are worked splendidly for him on every front!
Stiff your contractors after they have done work for you; do anything you can - or say anything you can - no matter how outrageous so you get publicity, because being on center stage is all that matters; become the king of debt; sit behind your desk and let the "world come to you."
If there is any justice in the world the country will send him packing in 2020, and honestly NY Times, if the paper gives this man any substantive coverage after he leaves office I will cancel my subscription!
13
@Len
I would make an exception for a daily briefing on how Trump is doing in his jail cell.
2
@Len I want lots of coverage of when he goes to prison for the rest of his life!
2
What if, I just say, what if, hypothetically, one of those Moscow prostitutes had a kid? Are you following me? It sure would complete the puzzle, wouldn't it? Now please don't extrapolate from that, but a love child would be a remarkable thing. I mean I love all kids. You can't not. They're all innocent little people.
1
The petulant child that resides in the White House is at it again. Chaffing over the ridicule and outrage over his flaccid performance at the Helsinki Summit; Trump is lashing out with yet another shiny object to distract us from his incompetence.
Trump is threatening to withdraw the security clearance of former intelligence and FBI directors for what the White House has called "politicizing" and in some cases "monetizing" their public service and security clearance.
Translation...the president is threatening to punish former officials for exercising their rights of free speech because they dared to speak out in opposition to his policies and his behavior.
Monetize their security clearance? Seriously? This is a joke. Trump is the ringleader of the biggest gang of grifters to ever set foot in Washington. Pruitt, Price, Ross, Zinke, Carson...the list goes on. If Trump is serious then I expect Jared and Ivanka will be losing their clearances soon. Right? And to be clear...no one has worked harder to "monetize" his public service more than Trump himself.
3
If Trump needs proof of fake news he can point to this article. If he needs proof the media is the enemy of the people he can point to this comment section. If you need proof of the above you can look up the actual regulations.
See Executive Order 12968, Access to classified national security information.
5
"See Executive Order 12968, Access to classified national security information."
That concerns government employees, not former government employees. So what is your point?
3
@YDE
If you bothered to read it you would see that you are mistaken.
AGM: "If you bothered to read it ..."
Don't try to shift the burden of proof to me. Post an exact quote.
Once out of office, why would they be entitled to this clearance that they can clearly use to make money in a new job? Good grief, they are NOT employed by the government anymore. Trump has the legal right to take it away and I hope he does. They are not supporters, they are his enemies
6
1. The clearance helps senior retired officials to provide continuity and support to the current administration.
2. Access is STILL on a need-to-know basis.
3
@Bar tennant Sigh....they maintain a security clearance because their expertise and years of service to the country make them experts in their fields. They are often consulted about ongoing security threats in order to help protect us all.
2
RAND PAUL... apologies, I was Trumping crazy for a minute there... Rand Paul, ain’t he a peach! Thanks for the below-the-knees shot of an idea, and it no doubt opens the door for you, too, losing your security clearance at some point in the blue future: fair, right? You’ve made your bed, siding with BY FAR ... oops, by far, the worst of all Presidents previous, and reasonably all Presidents future. The absolute worst. Your ideas are screaming at history to justifiably pencil you in as a sad reflection of the hope you once were. Nope, that’s not the stuff they will write about you tomorrow. You were potentially one of the greatest hopes for America and now this is how you think. Just be careful what you wish for, when you take things away instead of bringing them. When you side with a chronic liar who thinks nothing of you. Do you really believe Trump will end well? Do you really believe this petty stuff is going to work out? Do you care anymore? What happened to you to think this was a good idea?
6
Seriously?
"I believe that Donald Trump should be criminally charged for this act."
This commenter shows that both sides exaggerate.
Presumably Dick Cheney had a security clearance, and he was no fan of Barrack Obama. Would Obama have wanted Dick Cheney nosing around in top secret documents? Should Obama have been charged with some crime because he took action to prevent Cheney from doing that?
4
Again, again, again, for people who are not clear on the point: A security clearance is *not* the same thing as having permission to view classified materials. A security clearance does *not* automatically grant you access to classified materials.
Think of a security clearance as a kind of very detailed background check, one that is required for many kinds jobs both within and without the federal government, and one that has legal implications for both the employer and employee. Permission to view *specific* classified materials may, at the discretion of the employer or governing body, be subsequently granted to a person with the appropriate level of security clearance on a “need to know” basis, but such permission is not granted automatically, only applies to specific materials, and ends when the “need to know” no longer exists.
9
@MyThreeCents
Having a security clearance only means that someone CAN be shown classified documents, it does not mean that anyone MUST show them the documents. Trump is under no obligation to share any classified information with anyone he doesn't like, but having security clearance means that in principle one can be legally shown these documents if one comes across them (e.g. during a committee briefing or in the context of advising on a military contract).
What he tries to do is shut his critics out. Essentially eliminating checks and balances by suppressing dissenting opinions.
That's what brought us the Iraq war, although the pressure there was political, not through withholding information from dissenters, as I recall.
@Scott Fordin
Pretty much the same thing I wrote, but explained much better. Thanks, Scott.
All of Trump's supporters - religious right, the monied class, bigots, and xenophobes will one day step out of the pews, look up from counting their money, pull off their robes and ask where did democracy go?
9
What a vindictive little weasel! That and his use of revocation of citizenship as a weapon of silencing those who do not agree with Trump show what a pitiful moral and character microbe he really is.
He acts like a redcoat, using terror to trample on the freedom of true Americans.
If Congress lets him get away with that, it is time to recite the Declaration of Independence. I bet he doesn't even know what it says.
11
@Kara Ben Nemsi
FYI: it's a member of the GOP Congress, Rand Paul, who came up with this idea in the first place.
When will we stop imagining that somehow Trump is worse than the GOP and that the Republican Congress would be interested in opposing him ... ?
Just like Trump, they're all interested in just ONE thing: their own careers. And they have Fox News' fake news to make GOP voters believe that they HAVE to vote for them anyhow.
The only way to stop this is to systematically go voting during ALL of the next elections, and to systematically vote for Democrats.
A centrist Democrat is still incredibly better for this country than any Republican out there.
1
"... a weapon of silencing those who do not agree with Trump ..."
That's ridiculous. Revoking the security clearances of Trump's critics will not "silence" them.
"... it is time to recite the Declaration of Independence."
You are invoking the wrong document. The Declaration has no legal force. The US Constitution is the foundation of the US government and legal system.
"I bet he doesn't even know what it says."
Then you can better Trump by reading the US Constitution yourself:
The Constitution of the United States
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript
(And don't overlook the Amendments.)
1
@YDE
I know the Constitution and the Amendments quite well, it is the essence of what makes me proud to be an American. You just did not get my point as to which passage of the Declaration of Independence I was referring to.
And, of course, instilling fear of persecution is a powerful weapon of silencing someone. It now only depends on whether we can agree on what constitutes persecution.
It is a shame that Clapper, Brennan, Comey and fellow conspirators will be remembered for the politicization and weaponizarion of the security apparatus of the US in their attempts to take us closer to banana republic status in cahoots with the Democrats.
Prisoners don’t need security clearances.
6
No, they won’t be remembered as such. YOU would remember them so, because YOU REFUSE to see the cause of it all: that your president did commit a treasonous act by PUBLICLY caving in to a dictator who killed A LOT of people.
2
Life 101: Information + knowledge = power.
Control the information, control the message and the population. It's a time honored tool straight out of a despot's kit.
Sanders: “politicized and in some cases monetized their public service,”. The Trump admin sure has a serious problem with psychological projection, it's a constant in their spiel. Trump, family and friends have made politicizing and monetizing their positions and privileged access into a fine art in the time-honored tradition of kleptocrats, oligarchs, lowlifes and bottom-feeders the world over.
6
@angel98 Accusing your opponents for something you're going yourself is right out of the Goebbels playbook.
Gee, Donald, I hope for the country's sake you never need to call on any of these people in a crisis. But you never want people around who seem smarter than smarter than you anyway, right? On with Trump's idiocracy.
7
The answer to people's questions, about why people retain their security clearance after they leave office, and why it is a big deal to remove it, is that that security clearance has a role outside the government. For example, a high ranking military person can move to the private sector at a company doing secret work for the government (for example, a computer company doing work for the NSA or CIA, or a defense contractor building the next generation weapon), and because they have that clearence, they can work in sensitive areas without having to go through the whole background check process again. The same applies to consulting firms doing work for the government, people with security clearance can work on things right away because they have that clearance. And if anyone thinks this isn 't an attempt by Donald Duck to suppress people speaking out, think about this; So they pull the security clearance from person X. Person X is going to be hired by a defense contractor, doing work in a sensitive area. The company applies to have person X get security clearance again, and guess what, the government drags its feet or refuses..and Person X doesn't get hired.
More importantly, Trump is not pulling the clearance for all ex officials. only those he doesn't like. Unfortunately Congress has turned into the Elmer Fudd hour, a lynch mob led by a bunch of morons, and they aren't going to do anything about this.
11
So, it has become even more clear than ever that Trump is simply a very sick man who never grew up and that the Republican Party knows no decency, ethics, or morality; only win at all costs. The latter, of course, is not new, it's been evident for years, and Mitch McConnell is the Head Wizard.
7
Strip Trump’s security clearances. His long history and recent acts shows he’s a risk.
6
Ask....the leaders of the GOP in the US Congress this
Why do you support the actions of President Trump....nd
please list all their responses.
Time to hold the Congressional GOP members' 'feet to the fire'
No more ….being "Mr Nice Guy'.....just do some serious
muckraking....and nail their self-serving butts to the 'fire' !!!
3
It is sad to see, but needed. Instead of a discussion of valid difference of opinion, the public is subjected to biased political labeling by some of the previous administration officials. The fact some of these officials leaked to the press classified information is undisputed. As always they have their first constitutional rights, but are now unable to use their connections to advance their personal wealth on news outlets, by leaking
3
Agree, though it should go without saying:
"If Trump is serious about draining the swamp, automatically revoking the security clearances of ALL "departing officials" would be a good place to start."
If someone received a security clearance because he or she was a high-ranking government official, and he or she ceases to be a government official, cancellation of the security clearance should happen automatically. Frankly, I thought it had. Until I saw this article, it never occurred to me that any former official -- especially one from the previous administration -- remained free to nose around in top secret documents.
Bottom line: Trump shouldn't "punish" anyone by taking away his or her security clearance. But ALL former officials' security clearances should be automatically cancelled when they cease to be officials.
5
It is laughable that Paul and Trump accuse critics of politicizing their (former) positions. Using the offices of government tp punish critics seems very close to impeachable behavior.
3
And why, pray tell, do FORMER intelligence officers need to keep their security clearances? Seems to me all they have done with them is leak classified infromation to the press and generally just snipe from the sidelines. Trump was elected to drain the swamp of these creatures who trade on their FORMER government positions to get board positions, speaking gigs, lobbying jobs and bobble head figures on news programs.
7
Well, it's official. We are now a dictatorship.
So there's no need to guess about what Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin were speaking about behind closed doors.
The proof is right here.
5
Supposing John Brennan, stripped of security clearance, runs for President, secures nomination. Would Brennan still be entitled to Security briefing privileges extended to previous Presidential Candidates?
2
People, this is not about free speech; rather, its all about Mr. Trump's personality.
A security clearance is good for about 7 years from the time it is issued / renewed. Should John Brennan, James Clapper, or anyone else of their stature have their clearances revoked by Mr. Trump, they will IN NO WAY be disqualified from employment with any number of contractors in the DC area. All it means is that the contractor will have to pay to have the clearances reinstated on their dime.
Bottom line: Clapper said it best -- revoking the clearance is "petty."
The fact that Mr. Trump would consider doing so, perhaps more than any action he could take, speaks volumes about the sort of petulant, angry, small person he is inside.
3
Once again, Trump accuses others of precisely what he is doing himself.
8
What is the big deal? When i was part of the work force, before starting a family with my husband, when i left a job, the place of employment, would ask for workers ID badge and all things related to their company. THIS IS NORMAL. Where the president messed up , was not firing all Obama appointees' upon taking office , and stopping all connections with the government employment. HE IS NOW correcting the error.
ANY one that has ever been employed should know this. So, quit the gripping and know he, is just doing what all Bosses do.
6
@Debra
FYI. There is a YUGE difference between being the 'Boss' of a company, and the president of the United States of America.
1
President Trump has violated the civil rights of all former security officials, not just Mr. Clapper, Mr. Brennan, and Ms. Rice. His actions have created a chilling effect on the First Amendment rights the above-named individuals as well as other, similarly-situated individuals. Such conduct is actionable under 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 and 242, criminal statutes, that must be brought by the United States Attorney for the district in which the crime occurred. I believe that Donald Trump should be criminally charged for this act.
3
I thinkTrump should strip his critics of their security clearances. We may want to believe that just because someone is critical of Trump it doesn't increase the risk that that person will pass secrets to enemies foreign or domestic. Not true; it does increase the risk.
It's like thinking that just because Gorsuch and Kavanaugh have spent a significant part of their lives as part of the Republican machine (Kavanaugh was Bush's in house legal/political consultant, and both K and G have been heavily involved in well financed Republican strategy groups), that they're not going to support some key ruling such as killing Roe v. Wade not because it fits the Constitution or sound legal jurisprudence, but because it fits their sense of loyalty to the Republican Party.
They will vote Republican. They will vote the money. They will vote their friends, Too bad! Better people, even those who call themselves "conservative" are available who can and will vote principle.
As surely as it was not the intent for secutity clearances to be held by enemies of the Republic, it was not the intent of the Founders for Supreme Court justices to be political hacks,. But that's what we got!
This article says nothing about the First Amendment:
"I'd like the next President of the United States to vocally support the First Amendment ..."
This article is about security clearances.
Since he doesn't like people he thinks are profiting from their security clearances, I guess the clearances for his family members have to go also. Disgusting is not a strong enough word for the hypocrisy of this 'administration'. It clearly needs to be listed among the articles of impeachment.
3
Quite disturbing to think that for years after they’re out of the White House, TrumPutin, Kashner, and Company will still have security clearance and the regular briefings that former presidents (and others?) receive.
Continuing access to such sensitive and very useful information (for their $$ gain of course) is reason enough for the TrumPutins to have sought and fight to keep the presidency.
And the idea of TrumPutin’s continued access to classified information even after the 2020 election is reason enough to want him out of the WH sooner rather than later — especially considering his apparent anti-Americanism and certainly anti-democratic words and alleged actions,
5
@ROÍ
I disagree. It may be the only way to send Trump where he belongs, i.e. in jail.
He can leak anything he wants as long as he is President without anyone being able to do anything about it, but once he is out of office and if he can't stop tweeting then and burps out classified details, THEN he can be put where he belongs.
So, by all means, let him keep his clearance. He will dig his own grave with it.
This is what happens when you have a peasant revolt, for lack of a better term. Trump and the GOP have fed off of the anger of the white working class for decades, creating and "US vs them" situation, and what this generally leads to is leadership feeling like with the power of the angry mob, they can do what they want, justify what they want..and they are right. Trump has continually abused the power of his position, he has turned the presidency into the equivalent of Martin Beale in the Movie "Network", and the GOP base is cheering each angry rant. The French Revolution, the Russian Revolution were peasant revolts, and had the same kind of abuses, the fact that Trump claims to be conservative doesn't matter, left or right, peasant revolts lead to retribution and anger and oppressive rule.
2
This sounds like more deflection from his disastrous Helsinki meeting and his failed Iran policy. He can't run away from either, plus he is worried about the next indictments from the Mueller investigation and what Cohen and Manifort will reveal to fend off their legal issues.
2
The question keeps coming up as to why former officials should keep their security clearances after they have left the government. The answer is quite simple: to benefit the government should their expertise be needed at some future date. Just because someone maintains a security clearance doesn't mean that they are read into any secrets. Their security clearances become inactive when they leave their posts. However, if they are needed, it is much quicker to activate their security clearances than it would be if they were to have lost them. Thus maintaining their clearances is a benefit to the government, not to the individual.
8
I don't agree with all of this currently, but we need to take an objective look at who all gets to keep security clearance. Certainly former presidents and vice presidents. I also think defense and state are an automatic. DNI and CIA too, but only the directors. For anyone else...thank you for your service...but we can't have thousands of folks walking around with security clearance. But definitely, nothing Trump is suggesting at this time...and in fact, my list keeps some of the folks he wants to drop. Can't have partisanship here. A sitting president may want to ask a Sec of State from a previous administration to help with a situation because of a relationship. Therefore, some folks should keep security clearance. Just my opinion.
2
@Tom
Let's really rethink this -why would I want Trump to maintain his security clearance when he leaves office. Based on the extraordinary damage he is doing now with the classified info he has access, the secrets he is revealing to the Russians and using for his own persona gain - the damage he can do even when he is out of office will be worse.
Security clearances are granted on a need to know basis. There is no reasons former officials need to have security clearances since they are no longer in the job. Nor should they have access to Top Secret information as a private citizen.
All security clearances. are normally revoked when a person leaves the job for which they are intended.
3
The years of experience offered by these past officials to the present ones if unfathomable. Their efforts to boldly speak out will not be stopped merely by taking away their security clearances, but their advice to current office holders will be limited. There is history that will be lost when they cannot help the government with advice.
4
@md4totz
That's the whole idea! Trump does not want them to give advice to current office holders.
It will not change what they can say in public, since Trump certainly will not share any intelligence with them anyway. The whole thing is for show, just to show Trump's minions how 'strong' a weasel he really is.
It reveals more about Trump's character than anything else.
1
It is refreshing and informative to hear the views of these top intel folks. The experience and the wisdom that people like Brennan and Clapper have accumulated is priceless. In a sense, these former Intel and security pros are functioning as a Cabinet, perhaps filling the void left by the constant turnover in the current Cabinet. I hope they continue to speak out regardless of the McCarthy era attacks on them for sharing their collective wisdom with the public.
5
This commenter asks the question many of us ask:
"Politics aside, why should any gov employee retain their security clearance after leaving their job?"
Frankly, it shouldn't be necessary, but apparently it is: Trump should just cancel the security clearances of ALL former government officials.
3
@MyThreeCents
Their clearance is inactivated when they leave their post. High level officials retain the clearance because it can be reactivated quickly, while a new application takes months of investigation. They might be needed in a crisis.
3
@MyThreeCents "Politics aside, why should any gov employee retain their security clearance after leaving their job?"
Security clearance is merely a pass to gain access to the first guarded door. It is not a master key to everything beyond.
I would think it necessary to allow security clearance for ex-employees (with oversight from a non-partisan committee) because new appointees do not always have the expertise and knowledge at their fingertips, nor the relationships with other departments and foreign intelligence, and may need introductions and someone to shorten the learning curve by walking them up to date.
Also security clearances take many months to be approved, so what to do in an emergency when continuity has been broken – fly by the seat of one's pants and throw some Hail Mary passes?
1
The default should be to revoke clearances for FORMER officials.
Unless a case can be made the those clearances serve a national purpose, such as continuity of policy, I fear "Former high-ranking officials in defense, intelligence, diplomacy and law enforcement usually maintain their clearances to advise those still in government, former officials said. A clearance also serves a more personally profitable function: helping departing officials get jobs at security contractors or similar firms."
6
"Unless a case can be made the those clearances serve a national purpose ..."
And that should be done on a case-by-case basis using a standard, documented process, possibly including a new background check.
2
@Eric Key
Many defense contractors and others in the private sector have security clearances. What former officials market is their experience and connections. Same as any job. If they need a clearance for the work they can always get one.
Former high level officials are kind of a brain trust in case of crisis. That is why they retain inactivated clearances. If you've ever been through the process you know how long it takes for the investigation to proceed.
3
Public servants should not be able to personally and privately profit from classified information they receive from the government — ie, through use of public funds. And private (and for-profit) companies certainly shouldn’t be allowed to profit from classified information that is by definition illegal to reveal to non-cleared parties. It is the definition of corruption.
I agree that the default should be revocation of clearance unless and until there is a proven need to know, and the need is for national security and functioning government of, for, and by the People — NOT the “need” of private individuals or businesses for PR and profit!
What is trumps level of security clearance. Maybe we should check and evaluate him. Of course he would act as he pleases no matter what i guess unless the cowardly republicans in the senate and congress stop or at least correct him.
6
We can end this nightmare if Jeff Flake and Bob Corker become democrats and chose a new leader of the Senate.
Call them and ask them to switch parties for the sake of the country. Mitch McConnell allows Trump to continue with unchecked power to destroy the nation. Must prioritize country over party. Need patriots to step up.
Now!
5
Flake votes with Trump almost 90% of the time.
1
@Johnny
"Mitch McConnell allows Trump to continue with unchecked power to destroy the nation."
Mitch McConnell started destroying the nation when he blocked Merrick Garland's nomination - unchecked power personified.
1
This reminds me of Nixon's "Enemies List".
9
So that's what Donald talked to Putin about: Siberia. Donald said he was tired of being criticized about the Russian meddling. Putin reminded Donald that Stalin had a way of dealing with critics who could not simply be murdered: the Gulag. Donald thanked Putin, who asked what else Russia could do besides ensure less detection of its election interfering hacking. Donald told Putin he isn't running in 2020, he just wants more loans from Russian oligarchs and, certainly to build a huge hotel in Moscow and, perhaps, a hotel chain across major Russian cities. Donald asked Putin: "And what can we do for you?" Putin said it was enough that Donald was making him more of an international figure and immunizing him from criticism. They laughed and talked further about the virtues of dictatorship and how to silence critics.
5
Politics aside, why should any gov employee retain their security clearance after leaving their job?
2
often they are called upon by their successor for their institutional knowledge and expertise. I imagine, but don't know for sure, that limits are placed on the breadth of their access.
How long can DJT launch all cap tweets or send SHS to the WH podium with idiotic pronouncements to simultaneously solidify the DJT base and fire up the DJT opposition? No question the idea to selectively revoke DJT critic's security clearances is not about silencing or punishing the critics, it is about polarization. Both sides outrage and smug sanctimonious responses are entirely predicatable and an integral part of the media play DJT stages as director, stage manager and prima donna star all rolled into one. Stepping out of his show means focusing the critical response not on venting and outrage and instead focus on facts (eg "Who has a clearance that supports DJT? What are their fees?") analysis and classic journalism who, what, when, where and why and leave the spittle spraying outrage to DJT.
4
War is Peace, Ignorance is Strength, Freedom is Slavery.
He obviously never read the book, but he learned all the wrong things anyway.
5
There doesn’t seem to be much to the man that is not petty and vengeful.
4
It may be a blessing in disguise. Trump won't be able to blame them later when he messes everything up.
The myopia and greed of the GOP is astounding. Trump has a max of 6 more years in office (more likely less than 2 ) and regardless of what he and his lackeys do, it will come around to bite them and their supporters hard. Hunker down and be patient. These power grabs are not going to bode well for the GOP down the road. What's good for their goose will be good for our gander.
3
@Adam
Are you sure that the maximum is 6 years? From the looks of it, he is going to be there for life.
1
I see that the FOX folks are posting now that they have received their talking points from Sean Hannity. What has Hannity studied with his high school education? Political science, constitutional law, history?
8
Trump digging deep into his trove of intellect. He is using his familial dunce cap to threaten independently successful men. Their reputations have nothing to do with Trump. Erosion of their good records will continue through continued association with this man. They probably regard a parking spot as more valuable than Trump's security clearance.
2
Speaking of Timothy Snyder ...:
"... read a Times' Book Review from Sunday June 17, 2018 by Timothy Snyder ..."
Timothy Snyder (who teaches at Yale) visited Tony Judt often before the latter's death. Their conversations are recounted at some length in Judt's "Thinking the Twentieth Century," a very interesting memoir in its own right. I highly recommend reading that book before forming any lasting impression about Timothy Snyder.
What else do you expect? Trump strives to become an absolute dictator like many in history. Like any other wannabe dictator, Trump expects nothing short of worship from his lackeys. The American People will not be the first to having voluntarily surrendered their democracy to an immoral egomaniac, but they are in a very small club of unenlightened nations, and are the first in the XXI Century to do so. And yet, most Americans still think of themselves as exceptional - amazing.
3
Instead of revoking these intelligence officials' security clearances, Trump should revoke Putin's.
8
This is what dictators do. A couple more training sessions with Putin and he'll be having critics assassinated...
10
Recommend all Americans read "The Anatomy of Fascism" by Paxton ; topical reading for 'Later in the Summer' ...of our discontent
1
These people are partisan hacks and should have their clearances permanently revoked.
2
If Pongo can pull the clearances of the listed Patriots, does that mean he can also pull the clearances from Congressmen who have clearances based on their Committee assignments and their opposition to his warped and unpatriotic views?
5
...this from the man that blabbed out classified information in front of the Russian foreign minister and ambassador. The person who should not have a security clearance is Donald Trump himself.
Trump wants to be a dictator. Even more frightening is the fact that his cheering minions would love nothing better than to have “Dictator Donald.” They would give up democracy in a second to have this nincompoop in charge of everything.
10
Republicans and their man Trump love the Second Amendment—the First Amendment not so much. Comrade Trump couldn't pass the background investigation for a security clearance. Who knows what he told Comrade Putin in Helsinki. We can only pray someone in our national security apparatus was listening somehow.
5
Former officials do not need security clearances...they do, however, need to be monitored.
2
Apparently Trump doesn't understand that revoking someone's security clearance doesn't change their opinion of his incompetence. This is just the latest example of Trump's mental instability in a lunatic presidency already chock-full of examples.
4
Be honest with yourself:
Until you saw this article, did you even imagine that former officials got to keep their security clearances?
4
In response to MyThreeCents, yes, actually, I did think they kept their security clearances. Most of these people are career officials and have invaluable knowledge that they have acquired over many years. I believe they are called upon, from time to time, to give their opinions and offer help and guidance, when needed, because of their capability. I realize that this is not something that a Trump supporter understands or even cares about but, I assure you, many of your fellow citizens do. Most of us believe expert and proficient people running our government is a good thing.
7
Just when you thought only one side spewed out "alternate facts:"
"Well, Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated that the world is flat. Yes, she did."
No, she didn't. You just made this up.
Well, well. Trump is a good learner from his buddy Vladimir Putin. Removing a person's security clearance will get them fired because they will no longer be able to do their jobs. Of course, most of those people no longer work for the government so they no longer have security clearances. It's the thought that counts -- and the intimidation of those still working for the government. If you speak freely as according to the first amendment, you will lose your security clearance and hence your job. Way to go Mr. Trump. You have almost made it to that dictator category. If it weren't for that pesky Congress.
1
One thing lost in this argument about the potential stripping of security clearances from several former top intelligence officials by the president is the very nature of exactly what a security clearance allows access to.
As a former junior Air Force officer with a top secret clearance, it was driven into me that access to classified information has a two-prong test. Not only is the appropriate security clearance required (such as top secret or secret), but the other, conceivably more important prong is the “need to know.”
In other words, having a security clearance doesn’t by itself give unlimited or unrestricted access to classified information. Rather, the “need to know” requires that one needs to have access to the classified information in order to perform their services to the United States.
2
@Ralph Dunham I should add to my original post that it’s hard to see why former intelligence officials still have a “need to know” if they are no longer performing their duties for the US. Any former official still possessing a security clearance would need to be given access to any classified information by a current official in the Trump administration.
I just read the Steele Dossier again. In light of Trump's recent behavior, it reads as a more chilling and convincing narrative (compared to the time of its first release by Buzz feed).
1
As a Democrat my first impulse is to question the motives of Trump on any topic . This time it's clear , Trump is trying to bully his opponents into silence . This time is different , the idea is actually sound , not just for use against Trump's percieved enemys , but as a National practice. The majority of clearance holders should lose their clearances on the day they leave their job.
1
If the White House thinks that monetizing one's security clearance is inappropriate, they should revoke the many THOUSANDS of security clearances held by private contractors who do work for the US Government itself under security clearance conditions.
Of course, that would put a serious crimp in the cash flows of numerous private companies who feast at the government trough by providing services that the government could provide itself, at lower cost, if it kept that work in house.
That might result in fewer political donations to certain politicians as well, which donations are made using those funds spent by the government to pay those private companies, some of which have little or no other source of funds.
Oh, wait, ... that sounds like ... (drum roll) ... DRAINING THE SWAMP.
We could not tolerate THAT, right? RIGHT?
3
I'd like the next President of the United States to vocally support the First Amendment, like the right of private citizens and free press to speak out without fear of retribution. It is such a low bar, but that is where we are.
1
Seems reasonable for all to pledge long lasting allegiance to our Grand and Glorious Leader to whom we are grateful for the his providence that he bestows on all who are rich and privileged. Then there is the rest of us...all hail the Grand and Glorious Leader!
1
There is a lucrative, revolving door between the Defense Department and the military-industrial complex. Implementing a simple ban on security clearances for everyone leaving government would be easy to apply. It would remove much of the corruption and cost overruns that plague the development of new defense systems.
Additionally, security clearances have become a form of tenure and job security for incompetent workers. There are too many people running around with security clearances to keep us secure.
@Bill
The only thing wrong with your idea is that Trump is applying it unevenly. Stripping the security clearances of all people leaving the government would be one thing we could debate about (and you make good points), but stripping them because the person speaks out against Trump is abusing power, pure and simple, despite what Elmer Fudd and Mrs Fudd think.
1
It seems that the issue at hand is the rationale of Trump in making this decision. Is there a discussion to be had about the issues concerning security clearances? Possibly. But that is completely obscured by saying the reason is because of people disagreeing with Trump. That is what dictators say.
Long before Uber the joke was that the biggest surprise former government officials have is getting in the back of a parked black car and expecting it to go immediately. When regular people leave a job all of their credentials and access are taken. Why is it that officials from years ago get to keep their clearances? When you leave the service of working for taxpayers to start your high paying private sector consulting career all security privileges should be taken. Government service must be more like what normal, unprivileged Americans experience.
There's no mention of this in the article. Do you have some other source you can share with us?
"Now he is using the power of his position to try and punish those who dare to use their First Amendment rights to criticize his policies and actions."
The article is about security clearances, not anyone's exercise of First Amendment rights. Frankly, until I saw this article, it hadn't even occurred to me that former officials retained their security clearances after they'd left office -- especially when they were officials in the previous administration.
Be that as it may, this article says nothing whatsoever about any former official's exercise of First Amendment rights. Yet you say it does. Do you have some other source for that belief that you can share with us?
"... no mention of this in the article."
The quote you posted is not from the article. Please cite your source.
@MyThreeCents
"especially when they were officials in the previous administration."
Why? All government officials take an oath to serve the USA, not an oath to serve one person or one party - the latter is a despotic tack.
It is never a surprise when President Trump threatens and reacts to events as real or perceived insults.It is not only what he says or does but his repeated attempts to devalue erase and blame his predecessors for the ills supposedly the country suffers from. He thinks of himself as before Trump (BT) and after Trump(AT).
Grandiosity is one of his afflictions and the one that much determine his words and actions.
The Grandiose tend to lack empathy and others are always to blame.
This commenter wonders exactly what I and many other readers wonder:
"Am I just naive or is it odd that former officials have security clearances?"
I certainly don't think Trump should "punish" those who oppose him by taking away their security clearances. But the REAL question is why former officials have security clearances in the first place.
1
@MyThreeCents
There are several reasons why former officials have security clearances.
1. in order for the successor of the former official to discuss how the former official dealt with a given situation (e.g., consultation, or "corporate memory").
2. the former official might be called back into service, so having the security clearance in place saves time.
3. Many private sector companies perform functions that the US Government outsources that require security clearances. The former official might work in such an organization.
I am sure there are more reasons.
You do know that there are many THOUSANDS of individuals who work in such private contractors who have security clearances, don't you?
5
@Joe From Boston
"You do know that there are many THOUSANDS of individuals who work in such private contractors who have security clearances, don't you?"
There are several levels of security clearance, and many private contractors have lower-level SCs. I'm not aware that any private contractor has a top-level security clearance -- such as Brennan had, or Hillary Clinton had, when they were officials in the Obama administration. I have no doubt that Brennan (for example) can monetize his security clearance, but that doesn't make it right. True, Trump may call on Brennan some day for advice, but that should be Trump's call, not Brennan's.
“The president is exploring the mechanisms to remove security clearances because they politicized, and in some cases monetized, their public service and security clearances,” Ms. Sanders said. --
Is this "monetized" part the reason Jared Kushner failed to get his top secret clearance? He and his sister were making big bucks by selling citizenship visas to high rollers willing to buy Kushner condos.
I believe that there is an Amendment in the Constitution that prohibits this type of behavior of abuse of power.
The named individuals do not meet any of the 13 criteria for revocation. Appeal should be automatic and result in sanctions against the instigator.
Do not know what the 13 criteria are, but I assume they apply to active employees. If not working for the government, you might keep your clearance, but you do not get to appeal its revocation. What monetary loss in government salary do you suffer?
What will be next? To take away US citizenship from naturaluized citizens who are critical of the the donald? (I can' t bring myself to calling him President, because he is anhything but). An article in this paper today points out, in a continuation of politics of fear, a committee has already been formed to look precisely into that possibility, Just like it happened during the 1950's reign of McCarthyism. The irony here is that at that time, being a Russian sympathizer or having ties to Russia is what landed you in trouble. Now, being suspicious and critical of the donald's attitude towards Russia is what may land you in trouble.
2
A normal person might wonder why a former government employee would be allowed to maintain a security clearance based upon previous employment. A normal person might wonder how lax the security clearance rules and regulations are when a normal person recollects that The Times has reported that more than a million people have security clearances. But, normal people wonder about mundane trivia. Others see security clearances as an opportunity to repeat their political agendas. To wit, the commentariata displayed hereabouts.
Continued access to this type of information is a courtesy long granted to individuals who can "assist the government by providing additional incite". Emphasis has always been in "assisting the government." They are now employed by private concerns and are being paid for their input by these private concerns, based on the sensitive information they have access to. This voids their access because it benefits them and not the government. It has nothing to do with dictatorship, playing with fire or the flavor of the past two years-Russia.
I cannot tell if Trump's White House more resembles "Mean Girls", where the popular girls demanded loyalty to them for the right to hang out with them, and bullied the other boys and girls, or "The Godfather", where the Godfather demanded loyalty above all, and didn't give two figs about the law.
But this White House is only looking out for itself, like the mean girls and the Godfather. Limiting security clearances to only those who like you or agree with you cuts off rational viewpoints from experienced individuals, and leaves you surrounded with sycophants, and extreme, a-little-off-the-rails, hawks like John Bolton.
I know Trump will never want to do his job, be a public servant or global diplomat. He'll lean toward self-serving, and make as much money as he can while in office.
But people with level heads need to be around him, for the rest of America. Ivanka and Jared do not qualify. Trump's whole personal loyalty "thing" marks a deep insecurity ("Mean Girls") or illegal goings-on that require staff loyalty to hide crimes ("Godfather").
The White House needs stability and rationality at this time. Walking into Russia's embrace is not where Americans want to go. Trump is intemperate and intransigent...revoking security clearances like a mean girl or a godfather removes any chance of rational dialogue on crucial international issues.
1
I thinkTrump should strip his critics of their security clearances. We may want to believe that just because someone is critical of Trump it doesn't increase the risk that that person will pass secrets to enemies foreign or domestic. Not true; it does increase the risk.
It's like thinking that just because Gorsuch and Kavanaugh have spent a significant part of their lives as part of the Republican machine (Kavanaugh was Bush's in house legal/political consultant, and both K and G have been heavily involved in well financed Republican strategy groups), that they're not going to support some key ruling such as killing Roe v. Wade not because it fits the Constitution or sound legal jurisprudence, but because it fits their sense of loyalty to the Republican Party.
They will vote Republican. They will vote the money. They will vote their friends, Too bad! Better people, even those who call themselves "conservative" are available who can and will vote principle.
As surely as it was not the intent for secutity clearances to be held by enemies of the Republic, it was not the intent of the Founders for Supreme Court justices to be political hacks,. But that's what we got!
1
President Truman's advice to those overly sensitive to criticism is just as apt today as it was then: "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
this from the president who frequently skips his daily intelligence briefing and appointed a cabinet thai is monetizing on their positions while holding office must surely be an empty threat.
President Trump has violated the civil rights of all former security officials, not just Mr. Clapper, Mr. Brennan, and Ms. Rice. His actions have created a chilling effect on the First Amendment rights the above-named individuals as well as other, similarly-situated individuals.
Such conduct is actionable under U.S.C. §§ 241 and 242, criminal statutes, that must be brought by the United States Attorney for the district in which the crime occurred.
I believe that Donald Trump should be criminally charged for this act.
1
@Mark Hungerford
You can't charge Trump while in office, he is protected by the constitution from being charged with crimes while in office. The GOP could impeach him, but they are so scared of him and the rabble that supports him they don't dare do anything against them, GOP has now become synonymous with gutless.
1
Everything with Trump is about greed, revenge and retaliation for not getting his way.
That he has not been checked reveals that this administration is corrupt down to its core.
It is a clear revelation that we not only need to vote in new leaders, our governing system needs revision so this can never happen again.
If we survive.
2
Never have I witnessed such hypocrisy from a president. Trump doesn't want government employees to profit from their positions, yet he profited handsomely from the sales for his MAGA hats and other merchandise, doubling his membership fees on his Mar-a-Lago resorts, and who knows what else. For once in your life, lead by example, Mr. President.
1
How pitifully ironic it is that the worst security risk to our
nation /Donald J. Trump is stripping security clearances from
our most trusted patriots.....those who have put their lives on
the line to defend us.
How much more disgrace do we have to endure from an inept
GOP Congress who refuse to dismiss this mentally ill President who is a daily menace to our nation and the world.
It is time for every NYT reporter to ask each Congress member why they stand for Trump; Just non stop Interview every one of these GOP Congressional jackals until they confess that their own self interest comes first and foremost
Start with Speaker of the House Ryan...and just pin him down
until the answer is very clear...I think Tom Friedman could do
this job best.
3
Our country is imploding.
Our leader is a man with a divisive partisan agenda.
He abhors the poor and the disadvantaged.
He has a obvious attraction to dictators and turns a blind eye to their cruel, murderous deeds.
He isn't a leader by any stretch of the imagination.
This is a power hungry follower who cowardly "tweets" to his constituents.
Shameful.
1
The petty insecure man wants the presidency to turn into dictatorship. No criticism of the dictator allowed. Impeach! Un-American!
1
The person who really deserves to have his security clearance revoked is the dictator-in-chief. He gives secrets away to the Russians, from his uncalled-for private meeting, unattended by American media, with the Russian Lavrov and others, when he revealed Israeli secrets; and with the Helsinki surrender, when he again met in secret with the Russians for over an hour. No aides, no media; and the only reports we have of that meeting comes from the Russians, who can manipulate it to insist that the idiot gave us all away.
Trump complaining about people using their security clearances for monetary gain is like Satan complaining about sin.
2
My first reaction is to scream soundlessly that the idiot in chief is trying to violate the first amendment rights of people who have served their country and who are for the most part Republicans.
My second reaction is to involuntarily admire the ability of this con man to manipulate the news and the emotions of both his followers and his detractors. First of all, he detracts from the real issue of his opacity regarding his discussions with Putin. Then, he rouses the ire of anyone concerned about freedom of expression. This in turn rouses his supporters to protest that people just want to criticize him. These are like conditioned reflexes. I confess to falling into the trap each and every time.
Will the vote in November help our democracy to survive this very real battle for its essence?
1
"... trying to violate the first amendment rights of people ..."
No one needs a security clearance to exercise their "first amendment rights".
Trump attacks anyone who criticizes him.Petty man.Distraction. Trump is a Russian asset. Trump is pro Russia;attacking the intelligence apparatus is weakening America. Look at Trumps actions in this light. Trump attacks NATO; Putin wants that. Trump divides America; Putin wants that. Trump killed the N Korea war games; Putin wants that.Syria policy change next? Putin wants that. Trump is a Russian asset. Ray Sipe
2
"and courts are reluctant to overrule presidents on national security matters," This isn't a national security matter, it's a 7-year-old on the playground saying it's his ball & you'll play by his dictates.
2
It about time!.
It is all too true that this president and many of those before him have usurped too much power and that limits by law must be placed on the future presidency if America is to remain a democracy and not become a dictatorship of the Nazi style.
Donald, wants to distract us from the Mueller Investigation which is heating up!
Please, New York Times, stop covering his every tweet! It's petty, it's ridiculous! Keep putting the truth front and center! Dismiss his bullying!
Ever since his inauguration and appointment of his relatives to high level positions, comments have been made about this country becoming a banana republic. Now he is using the power of his position to try and punish those who dare to use their First Amendment rights to criticize his policies and actions. How soon before he declares HRC a traitor and has her arrested, just like third world autocrats do. Next thing you know thugs will be assassinating reporters like in Russia and Turkey, etc. We are so down the tubes! And should those of us who criticize him on line be afraid?
25
"Now he is using the power of his position to try and punish those who dare to use their First Amendment rights ..."
No one needs a security clearance "to use their First Amendment rights".
Times: "A clearance also serves a more personally profitable function: helping departing officials get jobs at security contractors or similar firms."
If Trump is serious about draining the swamp, automatically revoking the security clearances of ALL "departing officials" would be a good place to start.
5
Trump has turned the U.S. government into a stationary bicycle, he is pedaling very fast but going nowhere.
8
Meh; I was outraged at first until I realized two things:
-It's within the power of the executive to grant or rescind this type of clearance, and;
-that these individuals actually are profiting personally from this access.
Nothing about having their security clearance revoked should impede these individuals from continuing to speak out against the current Administration.
4
@Chris
@Chris
1. Meh is what got us into this deplorable mess to begin- people not carrying enough to search for truth and vote with intelligence.
2. Just because Trump can rescind clearances doesn't make it the right thing to do. He also has the codes to nuclear war- which should make you reconsider your beliefs in his decision making abilities.
3. So you believe that only the stupid and uninformed (e.g.Trump officials) should be allowed to profit from their opinions? The former officials who have found Trump to be stupid, at best, and treasonous, most likely, have opinions that carry weight because of their experience and knowledge, thereby making their opinions sought after by intelligent people watching the real news. If you paid attention to such sources, you would see that they don't have unrestricted, on-demand access but retain such clearances should their experience, knowledge, and advice be needed by our government. (And, by the way, Comey and McCabe lost their clearances when they were unjustly fired.) They are not profiting from their currently dormant access, but are being paid for their well thought out and much needed insights.
4. But you are right about 1 thing, nothing about having their security clearances revoked will impede these men and women from speaking out against this deplorable administration. For now.
@Chris
Then why isn't he revoking the security clearences of the many 'pro trump' voices that are routinely paid to appear on Fox News, write on the editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal, write for pay, write books, etc? They are moneitizing their security clearance, how come they aren't being revoked.
@Chris
While the president has the executive authority to rescind, I’m not sure if that power is absolute. It comes with responsibility that is in the best interest of our country. If there is a policy change that revokes clearance to ALL ex-administration officials, it does make sense. However, if you pick names selectively and target individuals based on their political preferences, and opinions, it is the dereliction of that executive authority. Regarding monetizing and profiting from the access , it is like the popular “the pot calling the kettle..”. Moreover, from a timing perspective, why is this an issue at this moment ? Aren’t there any priorities for this administration to focus on?
1
When this nightmare ends, this country needs either a legal reckoning or at a minimum a truth and reconciliation process to daylight those who ignored their sworn duty to uphold the constitution and allowed this endless assault against our values—and national interest—to continue.
In addition we need to take a serious look at constitutional reforms that limit the power of the presidency on issues like pardons, security clearances, negotiating (alone!) with foreign powers, financial disclosures and ongoing family business, restricting the hiring of family members, walling off the DOJ from the White House, etc.
In short we need to demonstrate to the rest of the world that we know how badly our system failed us (and them) and that we are committed to enacting reforms that ensures that America is a reliable partner whose system of government ensures stability and support for the common good.
14
Now, I know why the religious right is backing a very out of touch from reality individual in the oval office. They believe this is the year 1418. Want proof? Well, Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated that the world is flat. Yes, she did. She stated the Trump was had to deal with many issues “across the globe”. This is not “around” so she, like so many of the right-wing religion focused supporters, must think the world is flat!
11
"They believe this is the year 1418."
What is the significance of "the year 1418"? Cite a reliable source.
@YDE
Nothing significant about the year 1418, except it was an era when in western Europe you had a de facto power sharing arrangement between religious leaders and the leaders of the various kingdoms and whatnot. In 1418 the Catholic Church had no competition in the western world (the reformation happened a hundred years later) and had a power sharing arrangement with the various kings and emperors much like Trump with the evangelical Christians and right wing religious types. The church got huge money and the like from the princes, and in return the church supported them, told their members that God put the kings and princes and emperors in power and it was their duty to follow them. With the current mess, the evangelicals are getting a Trump using the Supreme court to turn the clock backwards, possibly overturning Roe, Overturning same sex marriage and The Lawrence decision (laws making private sexual conduct illegal). Basically the same deal with the devil that was in place in 1418, obeisance to dictators in return for power and wealth.
Well there is one saving grace in all of this
Trump goes to such unbelievable extremes on aspects of executive privilege in such a way that makes me want to punch a wall, that we all have an opportunity to learn about the validity of his actions by educating ourselves on the background facts regarding laws, rules, and regulations as opposed to practice and custom and in his case, tantrums.
We can all become smarter mice and for a fact know if what he is doing is legal, pushing the limit, or actually going over the line.
Otherwise, if there is any hyperbole from either side we just end up
venting in the wind.
My fervent hope is that those who are offended and tired of this horrific shift in the practice of civility to those whose prior experience can help move our country forward are now the making of a real 'silent majority' that will all show up to vote our conscience in November.
Democracy is messy, but it should also be civil.
4
Why on earth do departed public officials have any right to keep their top secret security clearances? And why do they need them except to fuel the fires of partisan politics? Makes no sense to me.
4
@RBrown
Maybe you, and all the others responding such should pay attention to the real news before mouthing off and realize that these men and women maintain their security clearance but not on-demand actual access. Former directors and top security aides maintain their clearances should they be called back to testify or serve on committees to protect national interests where they are given access to information as needed to perform the tasks they are asked to do.
5
This question was addressed this morning on NPR. The reason officals may well keep their security clearance after leaving their positions is so that they may then be asked to serve on a committee, asked for their advice, etc. after they’ve left an administration. If their clearances are about to run out, but they want to remain available for advice, then the clearances may be renewed.
1
@RBrown I don't think it's a right. I think it's a privilege, and one with a long precedence. Trump is playing a dangerous game by taking up Rand Paul's suggestion.
What shabby hypocrisy from Mr.Trump, who"s own son in law could not even get a security clearance because of his many questionable deals.He was fine with Mr.Kushner sitting in on classified briefings when he did not even have his clearance.Evidently if you criticize Trump the security clearance is a problem- if you are enriching yourself while in the White House , no problem.This is a group of loyal, dedicated citizens who owe their loyalty to the country, not to Mr.Trump.
13
This is how Trump tyranny becomes an autocracy. You pardon convicted felons who support you like Joe Arpaio, Scooter Libby, Dinesh D'Souza, Dwight and Steven Hammond; you punish honorable public servants like former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan and other former high-ranking public servants who have had the audacity to criticize in their books and in public. It's an abuse of power and an affront to our Constitutional republic and its "rule of law." When will Republicans like Rand Paul wake up from their own "derangement" and see the monster they're aiding and abetting in demolishing the pillars of our democracy? The clock is nearing midnight; darkness is descending on America.
6
Next it will be the removal of Media licenses that don't agree with him. I will be surprised if trump doesn't dress up as a field marshall at his toy paraade this fall.
21
An off-the-cuff idea? Doesn't Trump know anything about the country he's living in and is charged with governing? His offenses against America and the world keep getting worse. When will the Republican Party put principles before partisanship and rid us of this inhumane menace?
4
"As promised, Vladimir, I am following through on your ukaze to start muzzling my critics. No, I am not yet able to have them assassinated. That will come later if they do not fall in line. First their security clearances. Then, maybe, some press laws making it a crime to criticize the president. After that, Fox News will become the only legitimate media outlet in my country. I will probably have to outlaw the Democratic Party at some point in time. And if some disloyal Republicans object, I'll abolish Congress. I am omnipotent -- with your permission of course."
7
Am I just naive or is it odd that former officials have security clearances?
3
@Jason A. It is very common for people to retain clearances so they can work under contract after leaving employment that requires clearance.
Not so much naive as astoundingly dense as it comes to the long-term function of democratic governments and the security agencies that work toward their defense.
Thugs.
How does Sarah Huckabee Sanders sleep at night, knowing she willingly enables the destruction of our democratic norms?
She must have been promised a great book deal.
Wretched people.
8
Trump needs to stop looking out for himself with petty punishments like blocking security clearances, and start looking out for American's election security and our grid's integrity.
He's become a petty dictator and this congress is letting him do it. We will NOT forget this time.
6
Who next? The four living former presidents all of whom have criticized DJT? Petty,petty,petty!
22
Distraction. Trump is a Russian asset. Trump is pro Russia;attacking the intelligence apparatus is weakening America. Look at Trumps actions in this light. Trump attacks NATO; Putin wants that. Trump divides America; Putin wants that. Trump killed the N Korea war games; Putin wants that.Syria policy change next? Putin wants that. Trump is a Russian asset. Ray Sipe
15
The saddest thing here is the Republican party's lack of interest in controlling this lunatic. They have the burden of guilt as they have become complicit in the destruction of the democratic process in this country... Obviously they have no shame and it needs to be documented that this party has no longer the interest of their party or the constitution they swore to honor .. But instead a tin pot dictator they have elected to "president"...The worst offender is Ryan. He should be ashamed of himself..
6
Did Putin educate Trump on how to move toward a dictatorship in their meeting. Without any knowledge of their meeting, we could possibly assume that Putin shared his methods. . . starting with neutralize your enemies!
3
I guess Rand Paul,”Libertarian” is finally exposing his true authoritarian leanings.
4
This is the time for Congress (Dems and GOP) to act, to reevaluate presidential powers and protect the country from ill-informed and mean spirited presidents, who use tools they are entrusted with to uphold the US Constitution (a document the current occupant of the WH has neither read—probably wouldn't understand it—nor respects) against us.
1
One way to put President Trump's stripping of Security clearances in a clearer light is to gather up and read a Times' Book Review from Sunday June 17, 2018 by Timothy Snyder, as he reviewed 'The Death of Democracy' by Benjamin Carter Hett. If you don't get a chill as you read this review, you need to have your mind's thermostat checked.
www.nytimes.com/2018/06/14-/books/review/benjamin-benjamin-carter-hett-d...
5
An even more radical suggestion, actually buy & read the book itself. Dr. Snyder is a brilliant historian and this book offers some of the most useful analysis of Trump's behavior relative to the emergence of authoritarian governance.
A happy, light-hearted romp through the dictatorial mindset, entertainment for all!
@merc
correction to website:
www.nytimes.com/2018/06/14/books/review/
benjamin-carter-hett-death-of-democracy
How is it even possible that Brennan and Clapper have security clearances after selling their souls to leftist media outlets?
And getting rid of McCabe's and Comey's clearances should be a bipartisan no-brainer.
6
@LarryGr
Because denying security clearances has only been threatened by the biggest fool with the smallest brain pan. Gee I wonder who that could be?
1
If you mean CNN and NBC as "leftist" media outlets, I'm sorry you see our American free press in those terms. Unlike Fox "News," other media outlets seek points of view that are not necessarily reflective of Trump and Sean's talking points.
@LarryGr Thanks for showing how partisan and petty this threat is. Revoking of clearances has been, and should be, done only in a case where there has been wrongdoing. The person who should have their security clearance revoked is the President. We still don't know what he might have revealed and what he said to Putin in his private meeting.
All dictators exhibit one trait: Vengeance against anyone who crosses paths with them. This has been true in history of all nations at all times, hey be political dictators, social dictators, economic dictaros or religious dictators. Trump was raised as one by his father who was a son of a Nazi escapee who did not want to fight war. He wants to change citizeship laws, first amendment ad even remove the separation of state and religion laws. And his SCOTUS appointments are designed in that direction with the help of his smug white leaders in Senate and house. He hates anyone who believes in Democracy.
13
"All dictators exhibit one trait: ..."
Dictators do not have to run for office, and they are not subject to term limits.
@YDE
I suggest you read history, plenty of people ran for office and were elected then declared themselves dicators for life. Among other things, Vladimir Putin has been elected to office several times, and also has maintained power when "out of office"......Napolean initially took power in a coup that was approved by a vote of the people of france, then declared himself Emperor.
bill d: "I suggest you read history, ..."
Russia and France are not the United States, so I "suggest" that you read up on false historical analogies.
Who's next? Journalists who have criticized his highness, Donald Trump?
3
He's on the road to turning US into a dictatorship.
5
It's unfortunate that as this potus outdoes himself daily in be pettiness, insecurity, and immaturity, we begin to just roll our eyes at the silly little man.
2
When I consider opinions from former officials like the ones named, I don't assume that they have current access to classified information. Why should I? They have left their jobs. My former employers don't tell me what they are currently up to nor do I think I need to know. I evaluate their opinions based on their previous experiences and knowledge as well as their expertise in the field. Even in such generic measures, these people's qualifications frequently far surpass those of this current administration, starting right from the top on down.
So basically
Everything is revenge and punishment and retaliation in Trump's decision-making as President. This is his daily thought process.
At this point, even Sarah Huckabee Sanders is eventually going to feel Trump's wrath for who knows what "offense" Trump thinks she did to him.
1
As an educator, I told my students that “if you were born in America, you won the lottery.” Despite its many flaws, it remains the greatest country on earth. Not anymore. Trump and his Republican sycophants are destroying the country and the democratic values that made it what it was. As a former Republican myself, I can assure you that I will be voting for everyone with a “D” after their name at the upcoming mid-terms. If you love this country, hopefully you will too.
4
"... the democratic values that made it what it was."
What "democratic values" mandate that anyone have a security clearance?
'... I will be voting for everyone with a “D” after their name ...'
What did you teach your students about being a responsible and thoughtful voter?
Awesome comment!
So now Trump launches a purge of his political enemies. Next we'll learn that a security clearance requires a personal loyalty oath to the leader of the people. Sounds familiar.
4
The entire Trump *administration* looks like a really bad grade B movie. Every day brings a new round of attempts to cover up incompetence and shield Trump's Russian friends from scrutiny. And somehow that makes sense to the always in-line-no-matter-the-cost-to-civilization--GOP rank and file.
A huge asteroid strike would seem minor at this point
1
The president doesn't control who does or does not have security clearance, so why should he even suggest removing these men's clearance? If it was up to him, Putin would have Top Secret clearance, but our own IC would have none. He is out of control and getting worse every day. This Congress needs to be fired and replaced with members who abide by their oath of office and put country over party.
They should revoke Trump's security clearance. He leaks information to Putin.
4
I'm surprised this is not already policy. Everyone who leaves the government should have their security clearances revoked. How many times have we seen ex-military, ex-CIA and ex-FBI hired by defense contractors and news organizations? John Brenan is a liar, having been caught spying on the Senate and Diane Feinstein's committee looking into the CIA torture program. He should have been prosecuted for that or at the very least had his security clearance revoked. James Clapper literally lied under oath to a Senate panel about warrantless NSA spying on Americans. We all remember his infamous excuse that it was the "least untruth he could tell."
If people are worried about partisan payback, just make it a blanket policy for everyone, Republican and Democratic administrations. It's just common sense.
1
It will now be a badge of honor, if not martyrdom, for these former public servants and patriots to have their security clearances pulled. They have more guts than the poor excuses for Senators and Congressman who still hold office and fear their Dear Leader, Comrade Trump.
I was surprised to hear that Mr. Paul came up with the idea. It's the first sign of ingenuity that he has manifest since coming to office.
1
"baseless charges provides inappropriate legitimacy to accusations with zero evidence"
That's a perfect description of what Trump does on a daily basis. Oh, the chutzpah of these people.
3
Is Trump an enemy of the State? Why would he collude with Putin? Why disparage the freedom of the press? Why put people with no experience into positions of authority, like the EPA, Indian affairs, education etc etc., to tear down that establishment. It's as if he Steve Bannon left his notebook behind and trump is using it.
1
Just like with citizenship let's revoke Trump's security clearance too.
It is useless anyway. He either does not read or listen to the reports and if he does then he does not understand them.
Being the loud mouth that he is one day he might divulge some information on Twitter or on a one on one with Stormy or Putin.
1
He is modeling the behavior of his idol, Putin. Trying to silence dissent and criticism with intimidation. Does he really believe this will get him anywhere? He is completely delusional. I have never counted the days until an election cycle until this year. I relish the idea of Trump and his cronies being run out of town.
2
Trump's reality TV show has reached crazy proportions. Nothing he does in office has anything to do with governance. It all is in an attempt to make him appear strong. It does the opposite; it makes him an international laughing stock. Give up, Trump, your days are number as president. Walk away before you're forced out. Oh, wait. With the republican congress, that can't happen, can it?
The United States can not strip security clearances from crucial officials who criticized Donald J. Trump.
1
They are not officials. The people affected no longer for us.
The key word in the sentence is former. Do they still have a "need to know", not according to security guidelines.
People in the private sector keep their clearances as they move from job to job. Their clearances May be different but often they are hired from one company with the clearance in place. The fact that someone would lose a clearance over their right to free speech is an abomination. These folks did not give up state secrets or deal secretly with a foreign power like Trump. Trump is trying to be a dictator like the strong men he worships.
7
Instead of reporting on this how about grilling Steven Mnuchin on his new Treasury policy designed to protect the identities of dark money being filtered through political organizations? Why did he time this policy right as the 12 indictments were issued to the Russian operatives?
This appeared for 24 hours then disappeared with no follow up reporting. I know there is a lot of distractions provided by this White House, but when the Treasury and Justice departments are acting as accomplices to treason it would be great to have some follow up.
Thank you,
- Concerned Republic
5
It is because it is a non-issue. The IRS retains full authority to investigate any group where the IRS suspects problems. The change is that groups do not have to file reports that likely do not do much at the IRS. The press likes the reports, but it is not the job of the IRS to do the press’ digging so people in cubicles can write easy stories. If the press wants the info, go get it.
Well, well, well. So much for the 'libertarian' Rand Paul. More of the hypocrisy that continually comes from this so-called senator. If Trump asked Paul to shine his shoes, Paul would probably have one question: how often?
5
Since no one that would be affected by revoked security clearances uses them anyway, stop crying and whining like babies about them being taken away. Revocation is the right of the office of the President of the United States.
1
@Scott K Apparently, so is obstruction of justice.
Times: "The suggestion marked an unusual politicization of the security clearance process ..."
Unusual, perhaps, but not unprecedented. As the article later notes, "J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who helped develop the atomic bomb, had his security clearance revoked because of fears over his associations with Communists."
That was in 1954. There is a 1964 play by Heinar Kipphardt about the episode. Here is a Times review of a 2006 production:
'In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer': On National Security, Then and Now
In The Matter Of J. Robert Oppenheimer
By ANITA GATESJUNE 13, 2006
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/13/theater/reviews/13opp.html
Really sad - and horrifying - that 045 dares threaten people who have been vetted and given security clearances, with revoking all clearances.
What most would like to know:
- Jared Kushner been vetted and given official security clearance?
- Ivanka Kushner-Trump or Trump-Kushner been vetted and given official security clearances?
- several of the obnoxious other family items vetted and given official security clearances?
- obnoxious cronies of 045 vetted and given clearances?
- how come Russians got admitted to White House, got dished out secret info shared by at least one ally which was not supposed to be shared and how many like incidents occurred so far?
- how come Russian hackers and the rest of that ilk are kind of given open access to anything and everything?
The dissolution of the American democracy is being written in daily headlines. It is appalling that the members of the pusillanimous Republican Congress are writing their own places in a shameful history and they don't seem to care.
1
He treats our government like it's his personal play thing.
3
I just want to say the it is disheartening to hear my fellow countrymen on both sides bash each other the way they have since being divided by this particular president. One nation, under God... Yeah right. I have a question for all of you US citizens. Just what do you stand behind? One another or your respective political team? Since Trump took office, I get the impression you do not stand for one another any longer. It appears you stand for intolerance. I must side against any president who openly pontificates from his honorable podium how the millions upon million of those US citizens who share a view that differ from his own are somehow unAmerican and therefore deserve nothing from him\her. It is a sad time in this nations history when, in front of the entire world we bicker like 3rd graders, openly and without much thought as to the harm (possibly irreparable) being done to the once honorable and respected reputation we had in this world.
2
@GreedRulesUS
Amen Santa Barbara. We bicker like third graders, or we don't bother participating or voting at all, don't read the news, don't know what's going on past our driveways. This is no way to hold the country together. Hopefully we all share a fundamental decency, but we surely don't look for it amongst our fellow citizens.
“Mr. Trump’s threat appeared designed to rebuke high-profile critics whose titles, experience and access to the nation’s most sensitive secrets lend weight to their arguments.”
Exactly, and that’s exactly what happens when former officials like Brennan and Clapper make irresponsible comments and charges—they receive more credence and exposure than their crackpot comments deserve. Really, when you call the President a traitor, it’s time for you to leave the country as so many Hillary supporters first promised. You are not contributing to the national dialogue. You are just trying to shut everybody else down with your baseless accusations which remind me of the McCarthy era.
And stripping one’s critics isn’t actual McCarthyism?
1
@Ed
You seem to have forgotten how Republicans and conservatives called Obama a traitor on a daily basis, for eight long years?
The country you're imagining here doesn't exist.
Yes, people often have strong opinions. In a democracy and a republic, there is something such as "freedom of expression", where you can say those opinions publicly without having to fear ANY punishment from the government.
The only country where presidents can use their power to punish political opponents because of their criticism, is a dictatorship.
The fact that a president or one of his supporters believes that a criticism of the president's actions or words isn't based in facts, cannot possibly be an excuse to start hoping that the government will use its power to shut those people down.
Start calling for this kind of government intervention, as you're doing here, and you cannot but undermine America's Constitution and as a consequence greatness.
3
As is the way of this doofus, he works his fingers before whatever brain cells he has can begin to fire and threatens security clearances of people who don't even have them. And his incompetent lemming staff just repeat the pablum. He is such a clueless idiot that he can only say, do or respond to the last person to suggest something to him that he thinks makes him look tough. And the republicans remain silent, covered in, and enabling, the noxious odor of this administration.
3
Trump tramps on the first amendment daily as he hates our democracy and ignores our constitutional laws.
Why stop there Trump? Revoke voter registrations on every Democrat in the country as most oppose your dictatorship and your embracement of a foreign enemy, Putin.
Revoke voter registrations on every member of legitimate news media and all who either write or comment on Op Ed articles not supporting an outrageous liar and cheat who cheated his way into the American presidency and has lied @3300 times since he took office. He continues to lie and destroy the truth and facts and too many people let him. They don't bother to check the facts or find the truth in even his most egregious lies.
Every time you hear a conversation between people and they are in direct opposition of you take down their names and have them stricken from the right to vote in U.S. elections. This will save Putin a lot of time and energy in November.
Meanwhile Twitter is allowing this deranged maniac in our WH to issue threats in capital letters to Iran and did nothing about his words of war to NK when our man baby president told them his nuclear button was bigger than theirs. If anyone else was threatening America, Americans or the world at large their Twitter account would have been removed.
1
Trump-odious is a bully...full of bombast, insecurities and a need to be accepted. He hates people who see him clearly and fawns over people like Putin who shower him with attention, as they use this dolt for their own ends.
4
Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are two of, if not the two, most important rights granted to Americans. Why aren't people raising hell at donny's attack on THE foundation of these freedoms and their critical importance to the continuation of America as a respected representation of true freedom. Or is it just another undeniable display of self-serving American hypocrisy?
2
Mr. Trump's ego does not allow for anyone to be contradictory. A smart and confident man would learn from the comments of those with knowledge and experience especially when they disagreed with them. Look how Hillary had the ability to meet and listen to Kissinger.
More important, our country needs the valued expertise of these men. We are losing our leadership role in the world, provoking powers toward military conflicts, violating and canceling treatise with friends and foes alike. It is at this time, that we need to have informed, educated, experienced people helping to guide our nation.
Security clearances are based on a "need to know". When any person has such a clearance and no longer working actively at that office than his keys, IDs, logons and security clearance should immediately be terminated regardless of who it is.
Well, I don't know. What do you need a security clearance for unless you are a government consultant? And these guys surely won't be consulting for Trump. And 1.3 million top secret clearances? No wonder we have leaks and spies. That's a huge number to keep quiet.
1
He can pull a person's security clearance but he can't make them forget everything they know. They're still out there and they're coming for you, Mr. President.
We once again marvel at Sarah Huckabee Sanders' ability to communicate the President's explicit intentions in the form of an accusation.
"The president is exploring the mechanisms to remove security clearances because they politicized, and in some cases monetized, their public service and security clearances."
John O. Brennan is a security risk but no one in the White House has a problem with Jared Kushner? Right...
2
Of course, strip them of their security clearances! Why do they need them? Why do they still have a need to know? If they were cooperating with the Trump Administration, offering counsel in the interest of the government then maybe, but these people are only causing trouble. Hillary Rodham Clinton must have hers revoked as well, in fact, she should never been granted one in the first place! I support the President. I support Trump. Thank you.
"... these people are only causing trouble."
That's a terrible reason for revoking security clearances. Revoking them should done in the interests of national security, and former government officials are a potential security risk.
This is what you should be worrying about -- from the article:
"Nearly 4.1 million people have security clearances, according to the most recent report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, including 1.3 million with top secret clearances."
Meanwhile, Jared Kushner still doesn’t have a full security clearance because he falsified his SF86 a few dozen times, and he’s a senior White House advisor.
And the American public is to believe that it’s the career government officials who pose a threat? Interesting.
4
Don't forget how Trump admires and is probably blackmailed by Putin. This is exactly what Putin would do. Maybe this is the advice Putin gave Trump in their secret meeting. But don't worry Trump's mindless base like those in Ohio will reassure you that this is how we Make America Great Again.
According to Sarah Huckabee Sanders
The President is exploring the mechanism to remove Security Clearances because they politicized and in some caes monetized their public services and security clearances. More lies from Donald Trump. The real reason for this is retaliation. No one should criticize King Trump.
As far as monetizing Public Services Trump and his family are the best example of this. They are using the Presidency to further enrich themselves.
5
I swear he gets tinier every day.
This is a man who can't let go of the tiniest grudge no matter how long ago or how unimportant - and he has absolutely no internal brakes regarding the consequences to anyone except possibly himself. There is no introspection, no ability to look outside himself, no rational analysis.
And where is the GOP in all of this? They are unable to let go of a world view with each of themselves at the center; unable to grapple with the stark reality that if they do not put love of country ahead of their own self-absorption that a great nation will have fallen for the sake of a few bucks and some power. They are none of them poor.
Our POTUS makes the Grinch look like Ghandi, and the best the GOP can do is whistle in the dark.
Clearly Mr. Trump is going against his critics, but I still don't understand why someone leaving the government should keep their clearances. The NYT article hints it, but still... It sounds like some are taking advantage of it, but then all people should lose their clearances as they leave their jobs in the intelligence community.
Trump's skin is about as thick as the latest compact integrated circuitboard chips coming out of silicon valley...
Trump doesn't care about the value to the U.S. that each of these six leaders can provide as former directors of intelligence agencies and as former senior officials in sharing their expertise with current leaders or in performing current jobs that require a security clearance.
The only thing that Trump cares about is creating perceptions that his base eats up. And the perceptions these six former directors and senior officials paint about Trump, however based in reality, is not a perception that Trump nor his diehard base want to hear.
2
These men, who have given long service to their country at the highest levels in both Republican and Democratic administrations, have not violated their oaths "to support and defend the Constitution...against all enemies, foreign or domestic." After investigation by the FBI, they have received security clearances, consistent with the laws and regulations of the United States. None have revealed secret information. None are known to be under investigation for crimes. None are under suspicion of giving aid or comfort to our nation's enemies.
Sharing their expertise, knowledge, experience, and opinions in our nation's public discourse is an important contribution to the public dialogue and is the right of every American under the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution.
On the other hand, the President has never released tax returns that might reveal money laundering, indebtedness to members of a hostile foreign government, has appointed members of his campaign and government who have been found to have close Russian ties, has denied intelligence agencies evidence of the interference of Russia in the 2016 election, has violated the letter and spirit of the emoluments clause, has repeatedly tried to establish secret back channel lines of communication with the Russian government, and has recently met "privately" for more than two hours with Putin, but has not revealed the nature and substance of their discussions, or the "agreements" claimed by Putin.
Who do you trust?
2
What Trump is now doing is just as treasonous as putting the enemy of the world above his own country. To revoke the security clearances of individuals who spoke out against him is nothing more than the actions of that of a dictator.
But I also believe that these FORMER government officials should have had their security clearances completely revoked upon leaving government service.
It truly boggles my mind that these now ordinary citizens still have security clearances to use to continue to enrich themselves at their new positions at this firm or that firm.
Our government is so corrupt. Democrats and Republicans alike continue to take away the rights of the people and act in the interests of corporations over the citizens of the country. The entire government, from the bottom on up, needs to be replaced by people who truly care about the citizens of this country and not about how much more of the national wealth goes into their pockets and that of the other 1% of their friends.
Come November, we as a people better stand up and start the process of removing these political hacks from office. Political parties need to be eradicated and replaced by individuals who truly care about the best interests of the people.
1
The march towards totalitarianism continues. Silence those who would criticize the President - right out of the Putin playbook. I hope the GOP is happy, they are clearing the way for an "anything goes" mentality by all successive administrations, including when the GOP will be the recipient of these tactics.
1
An unusual action "by a president who has routinely questioned the loyalties of national security and law enforcement officials and dismissed some of their findings...". Quite likely, he can always blame Rand Paul, in the aftermath.
Sanders remark where,“Making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia or being influenced by Russia against the president is extremely inappropriate,” really cuts to the core, though, especially as one considers the Helsinki stage show.
I feel a real and consequential damage looming.
Doesn’t trump have enough real issues to concern him? The gop needs to tell him to stop the threats and scare tactics and finally get to work like a real president.
Unfortunately, behaving like a real president is a dada-concept for him.
I find the (well it's probably not a ) revelation that anyone who ends a security clearance needing job retains any security clearance.
Irrespective of how one leaves, like when one leaves a private company, it should be automatic that they hand in their security card, ID, car park pass, and security clearance. If they are then required, in a difference capacity, to advice that or a subsequent administration, fresh clearance should be required tailored that new role.
The only people unaffected should be those that remain in government or part of the governmental apparatus (such as those in Congress or judges dealing with security hearings).
I can't see any of my old employers being happy that past employees can still have a free rummage through the files at will after they've left. Why should it be different here?
As John Samore noted, having a clearance allows you to have access to compartmentalized information in the context of work. You lose access when you no longer need it. So while I had a Top Secret Crypto clearance while in the Army Security Agency in the 60s, I lost access when I got out. Likewise, my clearance did not give me carte blanche access to all top secret info that came into my locations (Vietnam and Germany), but only to that needed to do my work.
The real onus is on the individual to protect classified information. That’s why I am appalled by those who disclose it to the press, while being really interested in the subject matter.
Not that I was a fan of Paul but lately he seems to have gone off his mind with a senseless defense of the indefensible Trump, Does he think that Trump follows his supposed libertarian positions? Paul is the champion of drawing back on his positions. He announces to the world that he is against a particular bill and then votes for it. He is no more credible than his now favorite politician. Has he ever criticized the phalanxes of politicians who have monetized their previous positions and made millions going to corporations whose businesses they oversaw while in government?
And would he deny someone to make a living out of his expertise? This is a naked move of a pitiful and vengeful individual.
8
I am confused. Why should anyone have an active security clearance when they leave a certain job responsibility. It should go in suspense (e.g., locked down) because there is no need for any official to have an active security clearance. This maybe one of the reasons our "secrets" are being stolen.
When I changed responsibilities at my employer, they gave me more access for obtaining more sensitive information. When I no longer had that resonsibility, they took it away.
This is another sign where people fail to understand the ramifications of a big government losing control of top secret, secret, and confidential information.
Frankly, it makes good sense to renew the background checks every three years for these clearances.
6
Perhaps giving them clearances preserves continuity so any new administration has a team of skilled, experienced professionals to consult with to insure the safety and integrity of US policy. But oh - this administration only cares about Russia, North Korea and other repressive regimes.
So none of these people had security clearances anyway. Who knew?
What a stupid blowhard cowardly bully Trump is. How anyone can stand him is beyond me.
21
Unless the plan is to do the same to the talking heads who show up on Fox to rubber stamp his policies, this clearly is an attempt to muzzle his critics.
But we all know he won’t pull clearances from “Fox Approved” former security officials. It’s just for the ones who dare to speak out against his noxious administration and his odious policies.
This is how Fascism works.
24
The hallmark of brutal dictators in the making. Made in the USA, right to our faces. Get rid of this cancer, it is painful to watch it grow.
24
Funny thing is- about the only real impact this will have is to make patriots detest the pig even more.
14
We're just a few steps from "if you speak badly about me, your whole family will disappear". Where ya at Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell?? Oh, that's right you're all in on it, I forgot.
33
How long before we become the United States of Russia? If his base thinks they are the downtrodden now just wait until they get what they voted for.
This president is not the president of all Americans. Congress...get a spine.
18
Turns out that many of these people don’t have security clearances anyway.
This is how it looks when you make it up as you go.
The effect of normalizing a fascist like roundup of critics rings loud and clear...as intended.
9
Sara Sanders said the president was considering pulling security clearances because these individuals had "monetized" their status. We have never before had a president who blatently "monetized" the positin of president; the president and his senior advisors (Ivanka and Jared) continue to expand their business while using the leverage of the presidency.
25
I suspect the average American is surprised to learn that any FORMER government official retains their security clearance after leaving government employment. Having millions of people with security clearance status assures that classified informaion will leak. It also allows current government employees to leak classified information to those who have retained their status but are now employed by the media without fear of breaking the law...not a good situation. Further, the citizens of the U.S. have no obligation to help former government officials obtain lucrative positions after leaving their posts. NYT readers may be outraged, but I don't think the majority of the citizenry believes handing out lifetime clearance status is a wise practice.
4
@Slick On the contrary, some of these people have special expertise that any other administration (one that is sane) would have reason to consult. If there opinion is to be valued, they need access to the latest intelligence. This is especially true of the former CIA chiefs.
No one is using their clearance for gain: I can't see how that would ever happen. If the information is classified, it can't be used in a public forum anyway.
Of course, we know that the biggest leaker resides in the WH. Remember the Russian officials's visit just after Trump fired Comey? Loose lips, and all...
@Slick I think a lifetime clearance for our spymasters is perfectly reasonable. They literally know where all the bodies are buried.
1
This is another example of Trump trying to kill the messenger because he doesn’t like the message.
7
Revoking their clearance means they could never get cleared again. A scarlet letter. Beyond inflicting political humiliation to punish, supress free speach and rile up his ignorant base, Trump and his accomplices in Congress are trying to erase institutional memory, as well as block these experts from any future involvement in investigation and testimony against the crimes of this administration.
10
It is not a scarlet letter. The former officials simply no longer have a need. When you leave a private employer and it revokes your access, it is not a negative. The firm simply does not need you. If the government needs their services, the government will grant a new clearance.
I think we know whose security clearance should be removed. It's the one with the loud mouth who turns against his own country to side with a known enemy.
21
If you want to see fake news, read this article. If you want to see how the fake news media is the enemy of the people, read these comments. If you want proof of the above read the actual regulations on security clearances. See Executive Order 12968, Access to classified information, signed by William J. Clinton. It’s still in effect.
5
Why is this fake news? What part is fake? Why are comments fake when they are personal opinions?
1
@Aristotle Gluteus Maximus
The whole thing reminds me of Wag The Dog except here it is the Russians rather than the B3 bomber.
As Connie Breen said "now they're getting it" as he hears the masses repeat the narrative.
@thriftd
Read the executive order.
Hmmm... befriending, aiding, and abetting dictators and punishing American patriots. Is it only me or does this seem counter to normal practice in the Oval Office? Have we ever seen this level of extremes before?
Should we all watch the movies "The Manchurian Candidate" and "Idiocracy" for enlightenment?
6
Making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia or being influenced by Russia against the president is extremely inappropriate,” Ms. Sanders said,
Well there it is, the number one tactic of DT. Accuse others of the very behavior for which you are guilty. Now it’s the intelligence services who are Russian stooges. VOTE!!!
14
Former officials is the operative term.
1
What, they “monetized” their public service? I’m shocked! Just shocked!
If that’s the case, let’s start with the Trump family.
The fish heads of the most corrupt administration in years.
20
Well that will sure prove he has nothing to hide, won't it?
5
If Trump were Kim of North Korea the penalty would be far worse, maybe fatal.
Which one of them actually cared about this?
It's hysterical that the NYTimes says Trump announced an "off-the-cuff idea" after talking with Rand Paul, rather than a "carefully considered" proposal. When has he carefully consider anything?That would require listening to others and reading facts.
7
KGB is an old man's game.
Mr Putin lacks the confidence to be direct at the cost to his economy and people.
Lenin and Stalin were wicked but put Russians first.
RT and Sputnik re objectivity are laughable.
Mr Putin super spy got caught attempting to ineptly fiddle with US elections. The public murder of UK and Australian citizens via Novichok and MH17 would cause Mr Putin to retire.
I make no remark re Russian politics.
Mr Trumps tweets make front page news in Russia.
Vide RT and Sputnik and the "avuncular" Judicial Watch.
News that Mr Trump has emasculated six civil servants for disloyalty is headlined in RT:
"White House mulls revoking clearances of Trump-bashing officials"
Dateline: Published time: 23 Jul, 2018 22:36
Edited time: 24 Jul, 2018 07:40
Look but avoid the cookies.
I as a foreigner I avoid comment on US politics.
That said I am happy to comment on Russian politics and history.
I majored in Russian Economic History as part of my degree in Theology.
The reader may indulge me with a short history of Russia.
The Industrial Revolutions in the UK, the US and Germany were not embraced by Russia.
The 1905 war with Japan indicated Russian issues.
2018 the anniversary of the drunken murder of the Czar and his family is perhaps an appropriate time for Mr Putin to reflect.
Sputnik and RT are laughable as propaganda.
Perhaps the journos should use spell chek [sic].
Mr Putin should retire.
1
One wonders when those who dissent will start to disappear in Putinesque style.
10
As ambassador Albright says......He is plucking the chicken one feather at a time. Just like Mussolini.
Beware America we have a junior dictator blooming.
18
Maybe there are a limited number of people allowed clearance. If so he probably wants to free some up to give to bad Vlads folks!
1
Why do these guys who go to work for private interests maintain access to classified and secured material anyway? Seems like that might be what they’re being very generously paid for, along with access.
4
Why are not all security clearances removed once you leave the job? To my knowledge, all members of military lose clearances upon discharge or retirement. You should not need them. If the government desires your services on an ad hoc basis, it can restore the clearance for the duration of the service. Clearances are not degrees you keep forever and list on your resume. The fact that you even have a particular clearance is supposed to be non-public, not a line item in your LinkedIn profile. I assume clearances require periodic background investigations. Why should American people pay for investigations not tied to a specific need?
8
@Michael Blazin
"How Long is a Security Clearance Good for After the Military?"
"Generally, a security clearance after separation from the military is good for 24 months or 2 years. It may be less if the periodic investigation window expires less than 2 years at the time of separation. For instance, re-investigation for a SECRET clearance occurs every 10 years. If separation from the military occurs 1 year prior to the re-investigation than that service member would have 1 year left on their current security clearance instead of 2 years."
https://militarybenefits.info/security-clearance-jobs-after-the-military/
In the case of national security positions it is 5 years for top secret clearance and 10 years for security clearance between renewals
That sounds like a process for veterans to get low level technical jobs at government vendors. I would expect the officials in question all have variations of Top Secret clearance, variations whose names are likely Top Secret. Investigations at that level are much more frequent, maybe even yearly for the WH ones, and much more expensive.
I did not know that government employees kept their security clearances after leaving their government jobs. That is not right. In my opinion, to maintain your security clearance your new employer must sponsor you and the government must approve. What if you go to work for a foreign government entity or company ? If I move to a different group within my company, my access to all systems is revoked and my new group management must request access to the appropriate systems for me, and access must be approved. And I am sure my company information is not as sensitive as the US secrets. But this issue has become a political issue now so everybody to their trenches and fight.
5
Does ms. Sanders vet her words? They monetized ? Does she know what monetize means? Working for the Trump clan and using the term monetize to demean people who have been in honest service to this country for decades is a dangerous comment to issue...
13
Trump has made EVERYTHING political - Trump or no-Trump. That is not what a President should do, but how would Trump know?
The single most important person to have a top security clearance removed should be Trump himself. HE is the greatest threat to this country in every conceivable way.
So, where is Congress? The Congressional Trumplicans should be second on the list, beginning with Nunes and Gowdy.
11
With his latest salvo to intimidate his opponents, Trump is also sending a message to anyone else that might choose to oppose him. Is every single high ( or low) ranking official that has a security clearance now in danger of losing their clearance on the basis of questioning Trump's positions? It is the chilling actions of a would-be despot.
12
This news story has seemed to inspire more responses from Trump supporters than any I've seen in recent memory. Their responses bring into sharp relief the kind of authoritarian point of view that is OK with restricting liberties, such as freedom of speech and the intelligence community's obligation to speak truth to power. Benjamin Franklin warned future generations of the need to protect our freedoms against such authoritarian sensibilities. When asked by someone just after the creation of the new country if the US were now a monarchy or a republic, he answered, "A Republic, if you can keep it." The voices reflected in many of these posts would, I fear, make Mr. Franklin fearful of the Republic's future in the Age of Donald Trump.
24
Trump continues to be himself which is offensive to those who believe in the principles of fair play, justice, and democracy. Meanwhile, most of us are hoping for the Republicans to stop him. (Democrats are toothless.)But each time when you look closer at the facts, it is the Republicans who are planting these ideas in his head. Silencing his critics was thought out by the Republicans and vetted on Fox News. They just had to get Trump to buy in so they sent Rand Paul.
If you want to save democracy here and abroad then just voting is no longer enough. You must support organizations that get out the vote. Every vote will count in 2018 and 2020.
9
All the Trump supporters that keep insisting that the US of A are a republic, not a democracy (as if that made any sense), will now be able to say something more sensible: it's not a democracy, it's a monarchy.
11
AC Not just any kind of monarchy. An absolute monarchy given by divine command, get rid of the pest.
If there is anyone who needs their security clearance stripped, it will be Trump.
15
If anybody knows about "monetizing" their public service, it is Donald Trump. Except that Trump does not consider what he does as "public service."
17
These guys (Comey, Brennan) were are using the information they jhave not to help the country but to further their own political agenda.
In fact, there's a lot of evidence that they were trying to subvert the government even while they were in office.
5
What evidence?
8
Trump's proposed action smacks of a violation of the constitutional precepts of equal protection of the law and freedom of expression. Trump really should read the Constitution sometime since he is supposed to be enforcing it.
8
Wow. The Trump Derangement Syndrome runs deep here.
The first sentence of the article says:
"WASHINGTON — President Trump threatened on Monday to strip the security clearances of top former officials ..."
FORMER
As a general principle these people have as much need for clearance as you or I. And a lot less if they use it to gain employment. This has zero to do with free speech, they can say what they want, it just can't be larded with info that they have no right to.
9
@Michael James Cobb
Why wouldn't we want to maintain a deep bench of qualified individuals of both parties who are ready to serve if needed? Administrations change, people move on from positions, and it may be necessary to fill a position at short notice. Keeping qualified people up to speed on international developments would strengthen the country, not weaken it. Not to mention that we are a democracy, and those who question power serve a critical function.
14
@Michael James Cobb The issue here is not necessarily whether they should or should not have clearance. It is rather the intent behind it which popped up out of the blue. I agree that once they are out of the job the clearance should be void.
1
@Michael James Cobb
It's not THEY who need security clearance, it's AMERICA that needs their security clearance.
Remember, these people have had access to the most secret and classified information about our enemies for years, so their feed-back on new information is CRUCIAL for any new administration in order to be able to weigh the importance of new risks and examine solutions.
NO strong state, effectively succeeding in keeping its citizens safe, would EVER start to systematically stop any collaboration with previous intelligence service leaders. Pragmatically, it just doesn't make any sense, you see?
As to free speech: it's TRUMP who claims that he wants to stop using their experience BECAUSE of their political opinions. So free speech is actually the only argument he and Rand Paul gave ... .
Finally, nobody is claiming that those - highly professional - experts would be leaking declassified information, as you're suggesting here. Trump and Paul don't claim so either. That's because they never did.
And of course people having served at the highest level always move on to other high-paying job, and do so BECAUSE of the expertise that they've gained while working in the US government. Since when is that supposed to be wrong or a problem ... ?
Conclusion: imho you're not understanding what is going on here ...
Isn't this reminiscent of Stalin's ridding Russia of thousands of its Generals prior to Germany's Operation Barbarosa and then suffering those disastorous consequences a s a result?
10
@merc Yup. Just like Stalin's mass murder of Generals. Exactly like that.
“Tradition” is no reason to allow those no longer in office to hold security clearance. Brennan can’t keep his mouth shut, not exactly a characteristic of someone in the clandestine services.
2
@Midwest Josh Brennan, Hayden, Clapper and others mostly stayed out of the public light untl Donald Trump and his band of fools took control of the Executive Branch and declared war on the intelligence community. There are many people who go to work every day in these agencies who are dedicated to the safety and security of the United States. Meanwhile, the White House staff is doing all in their power to denigrate their work and their patriotism. Brennan had it right: Trump's behavior is treasonous.
@Midwest Josh
Brenan is not opening his mouth and letting out government secrets.
He is merely criticizing Trump's policies.
He called Trump treasonous after Helsinki. Many of us agree.
When people are released from a Company in the United States, their security badges are taken so that they are no longer allowed in the building.
Why should the Government be any different? Separately, people can say whatever they want, whenever they want but they should not have access to the building unless they are currently working there.
5
@RCS they no longer have access to the building. The clearance just means they are entitled to future access should the government require their assistance.
8
As a matter of general policy, perhaps. This is different. It's a targeted attack at members of the intelligence community who dared criticize the president. It is meant to send a message.
6
RCS, has this been your position all along? When Obama took over did you advocate removing all of Bush’s people’s clearance? Didn’t think so.
4
If those he threatened to revoke security clearances from had instead praised POTUS, their clearances would be safe. These revocations have nothing to do with national security (and Huckabee-Sanders poorly laid out case doesn’t even pretend that), much less democracy.
21
The former government officials that misused their security clearances for political purposes should lose the clearances and be run out of Washington. The clearances are for accessing classified data, not committing crimes and then hiding behind national security. The deep state is attempting a treasonous coup and the people must stop them.
6
@James
So this is where we are in the age of Trump. Criticizing a president is akin to committing a crime.
9
Trump's critics didn't misuse anything. The only person 'monetizing' his government service is Trump himself. Him and his whole sleazy family.
3
@James what crimes have they been convicted of?
1
The Emperor, in another abuse of executive power, threatens to withdraw the security clearances of people who criticize him. In the past, when we had real presidents, the only reasons for withdrawing clearances were suspicions about the individual’s trustworthiness or because they no longer needed the clearances. Everyone on Emperor Don’s list of enemies are people who are eminently trustworthy and who have spent much of their adult life in the service of the United States. Conversely, we have a President who is not only manifestly unfit for the office, but whose loyalty to the United States is suspect. If he wasn’t POTUS there is no way Trump could get a security clearance. He is certainly guilty of turpitude, his financial dealings suggest unethical behavior, and his relationship with a foreign adversary is, as John Brennan’s wrote, treasonous.
17
I hope one of these career professionals being attacked by Donald Trump has the courage to tell the American people what they know about Trump's conspiracy with the Russians. The Republicans have been covering up for Trump for 2 years now. The American people deserve to know if their president is a Russian Agent.
18
@Ronny I think we know. It's the B-3 Bomber all over again.
Get used to the North Korean system of government America, brought to you by Trump and his Republican enablers. It will last until Russia turns out our lights with Trump's blessing.
19
OK!! I sincerely want to know what can legally be done to stop this man, and who has to do it?
12
@Lois Lettini The answer is impeachment. However, the Constitution requires that the vote to impeach must begin in the House of Representatives and then a trial is held in the Senate. The problem is that both houses of Congress are held by Republicans, who are in thrall to Emperor Don. Conservative Republicans lack the wisdom and courage needed to impeach Trump. Their loyalty to the Republic Party and their morally bankrupt ideology is more important to them than any sense of loyalty to the country.
As Trump does not listen to any reasonable advice, what difference would it make. Trump must be removed from office before he causes irreparable disaster.
9
If any more evidence is needed that we have foolishly elected a buffoon as our president, here's a little more.
28
What a child! "Play by my rules or I am going to take my ball and go home."
10
These rogue agents are enemies of America, captains of the deep state, and cannot be trusted. Kudos POTUS. Srip them.
4
@Steve And what have they done other than call attention to the bizarre behavior of Trump & Co.? It's what any other patriot would do when their country was in danger, as ours is today.
I guess this is what you would call a "slippery slope" but not the summer fun kind.
7
Why do they need a clearance after having left government?
7
No one ever retires from intelligence work. The active agents constantly consult with the old pros, and value their wealth of experience and extensive knowledge you can't get from books. The retired agents should keep their security status so they can be brought into cases without delay or excess paperwork.
Ignore Trump and his tantrums. With any luck, the old fraud will be out of office sooner rather than later.
Where did you read that - in an Ian Fleming book? I expect 99.9% of retired intelligence officers get no follow up from the government. If they do, it is just as likely because they did something wrong. They are bureaucrats no different from USDA or Fed Reserve employees. Many might get work with government contractors. If so, the contractors can pay for the investigations for their employees. The government has a free hand to award clearances as needed for its employees, depending on situation. We won’t have a clearance gap.
A new outrage very day, and his support rises.
5
I imagine Vladimir Putin sitting at a slot machine emblazoned with the seal of the President of the United States. Lights and bells and sirens are going off constantly. "This thing just keeps paying off" he smiles.
16
Once you’re off Uncle Sam’s payroll you no longer NEED a security clearance. It’s as simple as that. Why is this even news?
6
@Dave Smith...the majority of Security Clearances are for civilians SUPPORTING government needs -- not actually on "Uncle Sam's Payroll"....how have we raised so many dummies in America?
4
Then their employers can foot the bill for the very expensive investigations.
These are the actions of a Weak and Petty Man!
11
It never occurred to me that Brennan and others of his stripe were paid for their appearances on CNN, and probably in other venues. Like the Secret Service detail and limo, a security clearance should expire the last day of service, unless extended on a case by case basis.
15
They are used as consultants by the new team. Their experience is invaluable as they know all the foreign players etc.
19
@Tullymd. If they are used as consultants, then keep them in the payroll. It is not a good idea to have someone who is working for someone else providing consultations services. There may conflict of interest.
@DEH
Why? Any concrete arguments?
Here is why often this doesn't happen: we NEED the information stocked in the memories of people who had important national security jobs for years, because it helps us to keep the country safe.
There is no reason why deliberately throwing away their knowledge and experience would be GOOD for something or someone, let alone our national security.
And of course, apart from what has been proven about our enemies, any American has his own political opinions.
The strength of a democracy comes precisely from the fact that fall political opinions are openly expressed and intensely debated.
Take away debate, and you cannot but make America weaker, certainly not greater.
Conclusion: former intelligence service leaders systematically get security clearance because we NEED their feed-back about new national security facts, as they have the unique knowledge and background to signal new dangers, based on what they've seen before. All this has nothing to do with becoming a public media expert or not. But of course, once they are, they get paid just like anybody else. Why would we NOT pay our best experts ... ?
6
President Trump is simply cleaning house. He runs the FBI and the DOJ, and all of the executive branch intelligence services. He is their boss.
Don't like it?
Impeach the man.
As it stands, 63 million people agree with him and a clear majority of the states want him in that office.
8
Um, “cleaning house”? They’re not IN the house—that’s the point. What part of “former” is unclear? And let’s be candid—stripping people of such clearances won’t stifle them. Have you ever seen a program where a former official’s credentials are laid out and those credentials include “he also has top security clearance”? Me either.
12
And a majority of the people do not.
4
Trump is the dirt in the House. He is a failed president, and a worse human being.
1
Brennan, Heydan, Clapper and others are the ones who kept us safe and understand the responsibility of national security. They are career civil servants and have given their lives to the service of their country. The petulant child in the White House is the one who simply gave classified information to the Russians in the White House and now for political and spiteful reasons wants to revoke the clearances of the very people that would be most relevant in advising their successors should a crisis present itself. We are moving toward tyranny at a break neck pace and the Republicans remain silent. Traitors all.
40
“The president doesn’t like people who are politicizing agencies and departments that are not meant to be political.” Sanders also claimed those individuals made “baseless allegations” against the president.
This may be the height, nay pinnacle, of projectionist hubris! Good grief..this comes hot from the ministry of truthiness..imagine Trump and company trying to control the narrative, trying to wrangle down the pesky questions that wait behind bushes like rabid dogs ready to strike with impunity..
19
This appears to be one of Putin's first orders to trump: Remove the security clearance of people who know a lot about Putin.
47
@credal75. Enough of the silliness about Russia. There never was any collusion, nor influence , as nobody can find the first voter influenced buy Russian anything. This was a coup attempt in violation of the constitution was attempted by these former government officials and it was supported by the liberal media including the NYT.
2
@James Congratulations. You win today's prize for best fiction.
There is no one in America who has monetized their public service and security clearances more than Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and Trump's entire Cabinet.
Trump puts money in his own pocket every single weekend as the Secret Service is billed top dollar for every single thing
while on a Trump property.
Remember, Trump is the sole owner of the Trump Organization. All profits go to him.
Putting money in his own pocket is the reason Trump ran for office. Leading America had nothing to do with it.
61
@D. DeMarco The cost of trump monetizing his position is now over $72 million. I am surprised that Sarah Huckabee hasn't choked on the words as she lies. Maybe she's also a fake Evangelical.
16
Another diversion from what is unfolding with this presidency. He does not understand anything about the value of these people all he sees is "they do not like him".
Trump is a disgrace along with all that continue to defend him.
36
Hopefully, these persons who have had their security clearances revoked will keep talking and keep criticizing this dangerous and immoral President.
27
Every tin-pot dictator in history has practiced the same methods our little donny is attempting now. How fortunate we are, watching history in action before our eyes. A great teaching moment. Now lets show how we deal with ambitious dictators in this country.
VOTE people VOTE. If necessary lets take to the streets.
26
Find a voter registration drive in your town or in the next five towns. Complacency is a danger.
2
And the next step with these persons, as well as with any person who publicly criticizes Trump or any of his cronies or goons, will be to charge them with some jailable offense -- the same way that the current dictator of Turkey, or the dictator of the Philipenes, or the dictator of Russia, or any other current dictator, for that matter, commonly does to eradicate any criticism.
Let's face it -- the longer this man holds office of President, the more this sort of thing will happen.
21
It makes absolute sense to revoke their top secret security badges. They are no longer employed by our government and they are of no use to this administration. Period.
10
@Pvbeachbum
They may be of no use to this administration, however they are of great use to the country.
These are the most knowledgeable people that exist, keeping their security clearance so that you can obtain guidance, information and contacts is of the utmost importance to the security of the nation.
1
@Rod Sheridan
After Benghazi, Arab spring, Crimea, Iran, Syria, misuse of FISA warrants....their “guidance, info, and contacts...” are absolutely not needed by our government and country.
The conventional wisdom is that Trump is being mean spirited.
However, one should not discount the possibility that this is Putin's request in their no witness meeting. Why, former IC folks know where the dead bodies, Russian and otherwise, are buried.
If folks in Congress, esp. Republicans, don't move to counter Trump. They may as well let Trump give Putin of NSA HQ or give Vault 7 passcodes to GRU
19
This will only intensify the contributions of Brennan, Clapper and Hayden as they attempt to secure the defend the country.
It is truly unbelievable that there is not a single Republican Senator who has reached the point of no return with Trump. Not one who can say I can no longer be a member of the R party?
24
@Frank Roseavelt
I don't think this is worse than constantly telling GOP voters that Obamacare is a disaster and that things will improve for ordinary citizens (read: better and more affordable HC) by repealing it and replacing it with bills that strongly increase premiums and destroy the HC of a whopping 30 million Americans, as the GOP has been trying to do for years now.
Systematically lying and spreading lies (the economy is a disaster under Obama, but called great as soon as the same economy continues under Trump; the deficit is a disaster under Obama, even though he cut Bush's $1.4 trillion structural and record deficit by two thirds, whereas the GOP doubled it as soon as it took over Congress under Trump, etc.) is how the GOP is undermining the greatness of this unique democracy for more than a decade already.
So why would we expect them to stop now?
And remember, it's not Trump who invented the idea to start attacking the most outstanding intelligence service officers professionally as soon as politically they have a different take on what is happening today and where the country should go in the future. It's a Republican Senator and former presidential candidate, Rand Paul.
The GOP was ALREADY totally corrupt before Trump took over. As reality TV celebrity, Trump simply had access to free acting courses where others had not, so he copy-pastes Fox News' lies easier than others. That's about the only difference between him and other Republicans today.
21
@Ana Luisa. These same Democrats demonized the intelligence community that told Bush there was WMD in Iraq. Remember? The intelligence folks were a useless criminal bunch who just wanted war? Now , after some high up people in the DOJ, FBI and CIA have been caught orchestrating an attempted coup with this fake Russia nonsense, Democrats are ready to defend that same intelligence community even though they have been shown to have used their power to lie to the FISA court and the public.
Security clearances became rather meaningless anyway when Kushner was allowed to work without one for more than a year.
22
This is a dog whistle for the base, a message that "These critics should not be believed" no matter where the truth of the matter lies. Like all audacious threats, if said enough, they will become real in the mind of the "people".
21
This threat falls squarely in the category of dishonor and disrepute.
7
The news media, our country's leaders (hello out there) and we, the citizens, MUST sound the alarms loud and clear. This is nothing but strong arming by a man who is determined to turn our democracy into a dictatorship and in some ways already has. Heaven help us all.
18
The politization of intelligence information violates a core principle of intelligence.
Where not just information--but the very eligibility, source and institutional knowledge of the intelligence function are politicized--this disables efforts to protect our country.
4
Ironic that Ms. Sanders would suggest that the clearances would be stripped because the former Obama officials were monetizing the clearances. The entire trump clan has done nothing but monetize trump's time in office.
52
@Bernard Bonn
Really, How?
How about Jared and Ivanka flying around the world on our dime, flapping their gums and profiting off of their security clearances?
I guess they don't count.
Yet another day in paradise.
34
Why is it that a person who has no need to know maintains a security clearance?
So they can get a job?
Sorry, no outrage here.
8
You might worry about free speech. Apparently Trump doesn’t like it.
10
@Michael James Cobb
1. They all have a job.
2. They get security clearance because the strength of a country equals the strength of its intelligence services, and you cannot possibly have strong intelligence if every 4 years you not only change its leadership (that's okay, as every president has the right to pick someone who politically agrees with him among all those competent to lead these services), but burn all bridges and no longer work with those who previously led them, you see?
You need a LOT of experience to obtain an intelligence service capable of keeping us save year after year, and that experience is built over the years, so it's extremely important that those who gathered lots of information about our enemies keep in touch with the new leadership and the intelligence service as a whole, so that crucial information can be exchanged.
And of course, part of those exchanges also include arguments coming from different political positions. This kind of debate is important too, as it allows us to avoid making mistakes because we only listen to one type of voice.
So yes, taking away the security clearance merely because of politics is outrageous, as it cannot but weaken America as a whole.
25
@Michael James Cobb
As an example,an engineer working in the aircraft industry needs a security clearance - no politics involved, just the country's security.
6
I am amazed Trump has a security clearance. I am dumbfounded he is president.
42
It makes sense to remove their clearance, the people are out of the government and should not have access to the information. It appears liberal democrats take this action personally. You shouldn't let emotion could your judgement.
6
@Jimd
They only have access to information if they are called in to the government to lend their expertise.
This way if we have a major event (war with iran?) we have people who can immediately spring into action when needed.
They do not get paid and they don't automatically get information.
Then the minute before they spring into action during a national security crisis, the government can give them clearance. The President can clear anyone he needs.
Former intelligence officials are private citizens with the same rights enjoyed by all, one being Free Speech. These former officials have only validated publicly what I have been seeing and hearing from President Trump since he announced his candidacy. Mr. Trump is a threat to the national security of this country. This is likely why these former intelligence officials feel it their duty to inform, and I applaud them for doing it. No other presidential candidate or president has ever descended to the level of embracing and scraping in front of murderous thugs on the world stage. These thugs hate democracy and the individual freedoms that come with it. The freedoms that threaten their dictatorial powers and personal wealth have been met with murders, imprisonment, and punishments of political rivals, journalists, and other critics. Putin, for example, has failed to keep democratic ideas out of Russia and the former Soviet satellite countries he covets, so, instead, he wants to destroy systems of democracy. The recent, highly publicized “summit” in Helsinki between Mr. Trump and President Putin demanded a read out to the public. What was discussed? What was decided? Instead, the Trump “no agenda” meeting read out has been left to Russian State media. Elected and appointed officials swear an oath to the Constitution, not to a presdient, and our president has demonstrated he has wants to be a king and has no dedication to the democratic ideas framed in the Constitution.
15
The secrets in question are the property of the United States.
Access to them is vested in the Office of the President of the United States, not the incumbent personally
Curtailing access for personal reasons is a misappropriation that authority.
If he follows through, someone clever should find a way to challenge him in the courts.
5
Ironically, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump get to keep their security clearances, in spite of verifiable information that they are personally profiting off the data they are receiving.
20
When a United States Senator suggests punishing former government officials for exercising their right to free speech without having committed any crime against the state, it is
time for that Senator to resign for betraying his oath to uphold the Constitution. Rand Paul should know better than to give this President, or any President for that matter, a shove
down the slippery slope to unchecked, dictatorial power in the face of unwanted criticism.
29
The word "vindictive" comes to mind.
7
@William Shelton’ as does “petty.”
1
Blocking current intelligence officers from the ability to consult with over 100 years of collective intelligence leadership experience:
Is this yet another move. with the purpose and/or effect, in the service of Putin?
5
Putin rules, Trump obeys.
1
The most galling aspect of this particular issue to me was to hear the presidential hack, Sarah "Huckster" Sanders, criticize people against whom she personally doesn't hold a candle. The hubris of the woman's lies is beyond description.
17
The rich and powerful think they can manipulate Trump to their own benefit and therefore tolerate his bizarre behavior. When they discover that they can't control him, when his authoritarian persona is fully unleashed, it will be too late---for them and for all of us.
5
For many years, witness and jury intimidation worked well for John Gotti. Until it didn't. It may delay justice, but justice will come.
7
Step by step Donald Trump is consolidating his grip and control over any opposition, dissent, or simple criticism of his Presidency and his increasingly authoritarian rule. It will be interesting to see to what extent the American Political System, with all its advertised "checks and balances", will be willing and able to prevent the consolidation in the US of a supervised and very much controlled one party "democracy", as in Russia or Turkey.
6
Bartokas—our system of checks and balances was created in an earlier era, before Moscow (using the NRA as a financial conduit) bought one of our political parties with dark-money campaign contributions. (I’ll leave it to you to guess which party that might be.) It was a smart investment as the Russians now have a new group of serfs holding U.S. elective office and eager to carry out Putin’s wishes. In the words of Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Oceans rise, empires fall.”
4
And Republicans in existential fear of the Trump base, all 88% of the 26% of voters who identify as Republicans that they let another abuse of power go unchecked. Do they think that we, the people, will allow this to continue forever without holding them accountable for the damage they have done to the country? Never forget, it's not just Trump, it's Republicans. They are all complicit. They are all guilty. They all need to be held to account.
25
Please get out and Vote! get everyone you know to VOTE.
Vote them out, this is the only way.
12
I gather Trump wants it known that he's thinking of revoking the security clearances, not of all former officials who have violated this or that principle, but of particular former officials who have committed a particular offense: criticizing him.
The question, as usual, is what mix of arrogance, thoughtlessness, and egoism produced this latest bizarre outburst. Would-be tyrants of the more cool and calculating kind devise general principles that cover their self-serving purposes. Even normal Republicans do that.
5
Combined with Trump's garbled threats of all-out war with Iran this violent attack on his critics within the government is proof-positive that Trump has gone completely mad. He must be removed from office for the safety of our nation. When will the cowardly Republicans in Congress step and obey their oath of office?
We need massive protests to send our message: Trump must go!
14
I may be missing something here because for the life of me I can't understand why" Former Spy Chiefs" still require security clearances? The media narrative that they keep their clearance so they can be availbe to current Cheifs for consultation is a stretch.I belive it is more like an Old Boy network that helps keep former officials in the mix. You would be niave to think these former cheifs don't benefit monetarily from having privy to our secrets.Talk shows book these people because they can say I just talked to my buddies still working. I am not a fan of Trump but someone should tell these former officials If They Can't Stand the Heat Stay out of the Kitchen.Trump is playing hardball .
6
It is trump who can't stand the heat. He is "considering" revoking clearances of those who criticize him. I use the quotation marks because as is so often the case he simply parroted an idea (of Rand Paul), without any real consideration, since at least two people on the list don't have security clearances. trump's pettiness, ignorance, and laziness are once again on full display, as are his inclination toward authoritarianism.
7
Another act of spite by DJT that is frighteningly too close to tactics right out of the 1933 Reich playbook. Continuing to denigrate his critics and punish political "enemies". Clearly, we are well past the threshold of a dictatorship yet our representatives in Congress seem to remain silent.This man must be stopped and the Midterm elections are crucial to regaining a balance and to defuse the GOP stronghold.
11
Well now we know what he and Putin talked about in Helsinki.
8
Perhaps in acknowledgement of Trump's fragile ego they should now be called "insecurity clearances".
11
Which golf club and hotel coffers are being filled by the taxpayer as Trump "monetizes" his public service as President?
Who has made the most concerted effort, along with Nunes,
to politicize institutions that have long been respected as
non partisan in their service to the nation? Time to take
away Trump's security clearance!
23
So instead of teaching their president what "democracy" means, the GOP is now actively giving Trump suggestions about how to attack it ... ?
And that's after Bush passed the Patriot Act, and after the GOP created its "alternative facts" propaganda machine Fox News in order to undermine conservative voters' grasp of reality and make them elect Republicans no matter what they do in DC. HOW far will the GOP take this??
The only truly amazing thing here though is that this comes from the GOP's self-declared freedom champion Rand Paul.
When the GOP designed its latest healthcare destroying bill, last year - the one that would destroy the HC of a whopping 30 million Americans, leading to at least 40,000 Americans dying each year only because of lack of health insurance - he refused to vote for it. Why? He wanted a bill that would give this "freedom" to die to even more Americans ...
As soon as it comes to the first Amendment, however, he seems to immediately forget about his notion of freedom. Now all that matters is using the government to try to intimidate former high-ranking (some of them Republican, by the way) intelligence officers when they have a purely political disagreement with the current GOP crop leading the US.
America is starting to forget what a democracy is all about, and why it's the best of all political regimes: political disagreements are NOT a problem, they are the FOUNDATION of any democracy, as DEBATE is what makes us collectively wiser and stronger!
8
A dangerous move for the President.
2
Does anyone else see the irony here?
Mr Trump, arguably someone who would never get a top secret security clearance, is threatening to deny them to people who have served their country for years.
15
What is to stop Trump from taking away Adam Schiff’s security clearance? Or to have the IRS audit Mr. Brennan’s tax return to determine whether he monetized his clearance?
Unthinkable? Think again.
10
Congressman Schiff is an elected Federal official and has a clearance ex officio. The Congress, as a separate branch of government, controls the need to know for its constitutional purposes. DOJ could bring charges if it felt he or any other Congressperson broke the law.
I had a top secret clearance when it was necessary, and then, when no longer in that line of business, it terminated. I presumed this treatment applied to everyone?
If you don't have a "need to know", you shouldn't.
6
@Bill - Trump isn't taking away their clearance because they don't need it any more, he's taking it away because they have criticized him. Why doesn't he take away Sean Spicer's security clearance? That's because Spicer says nice things about Trump. This is an enemies list.
14
Let's give credit to Marco Rubio (words I never thought would escape my lips) for speaking up, which he's starting to do more and more. Meantime Paul Ryan, the Republicans' Great Thinker, quickens his stride for the exit.
3
@highway u call what Rubio did Speaking Up. Is the bar really that low?
6
Fear tinged infatuation with Putin and Russia has driven Trump so crazy as to make him demolish himself the very protective fence that has protected the sovereignty and integrity of the US and ensured peace for the Americans. Trump's ire and frustration against the national security and intelligence establishment could only mean that whoever comes his Russian path will be fired and cut to size.
3
We are now in a dictatorship with the blessings of the Catholics and evangelicals . In America freedom of speech is number one freedom and the former officials who speak out about Trump and being striped of their security clearance. But yet a son inlaw who recently lied on government forms that they were renting homes to low income people but weren't got a top security clearance granted. Every day more chaos from this looser GOP and friends. I hope November mid terms forces an end to this dictatorship if it doesn't we are in major trouble.
15
Message sent: Criticize me and you will never work in this town again.
8
..., psst, I’ll tell you a secret - there’s only another 1,299,999 folks, who are in on the deal, so I need to keep tight, ok?
1.3M top secret clearances, really?
6
Yes- but information is compartmentalized. It’s not like everybody gets to see every document. Think about the size of the military and different federal agencies. Now consider the fact somebody who repairs xerox machines in a SCIF needs a clearance as they may see top secret documents....
5
Red meat to his base. They love it.
6
Of the numerous lazy reporting practices in this era, one I find particularly annoying is how anyone in the WH can just call up a reporter at any mainstream outlet, leak that something is being "considered" or "threatened" or "discussed" and an hour later that's the headline.
Especially with Trump, threats are not news. If the President wants to do something and actually does it, report on it. Otherwise it's just journalists letting themselves get manipulated over and over and over again.
11
True. Without the media Trump would be a fish out of water. The media also feeds his base.
4
Exactly. Everyone talks about Trump, but the media will receive equal if not harsher treatment by historians when this is all said and done...Unreal. It's as if they've never heard the saying , "any publicity is good publicity."
1
@Carl Holmberg - Excuse me, but Trump's press secretary announced this in a press briefing. How is it lazy for the press to report what the President's representative announced to the entire nation?
4
Wouldn't this be a perfect example of a lack of objectivism from the leader of a democracy that is suppose to serve all, or the majority and not just one? Don't imagine even the least educated of us would equate democracy to a current interpretation of a dictatorship/monarchy.
6
OK, it's Orwellian, to say the least.
This potential move is without a doubt opposed to the First Amendment, blackmail, and an authoritorian move on the US Constitution.
No Trump, you cannot do that action.
4
Completed or not, this proposal is another Rubicon day for Trump which will progressively highlight the next two plus years.
1
It seems in this case both sides are politicizing our nations security. By its very definition matters of National Security should be left secret, period. At no time should issues which rise to the level of National Security be discussed, referenced, or referred to by any person entrusted with such knowledge.
If you don’t like the direction our nation is heading then get involved in our political system. Change in America happens from the bottom up.
To make change happen millions of Americans need to vote for the candidate of their choice.
VOTE!
Anyone who thinks this is unprecedented should take a look at the 1954 destruction of Robert Oppenheimer through a public show trial to revoke his security clearance. Anyone who doesn't believe that was encouraged/endorsed by Eisenhower is naive to the nth degree.
The crime against the man who lead the Manhattan project that delivered the atomic bomb to the US in WW2?
Speaking out against and persuading physicists to not take part in working on the Hydrogen bomb.
While Oppenheimer was brought to a show trial dozens of other physicists, who also spoke out or refused to participate, lost their jobs due to the US government's pressure on employers, many of which were Universities.
Trump might be a grifter, but he follows the footsteps of giants.
5
Why do these people have security clearances in the first place. Normally, when people retire or are separated from the military or government service, their security clearances are revoked. Security is about need to know. If you are no longer working in a position that requires access to classified information, you not have a need to know. Security clearances are not supposed to be a retirement perk.
10
So, Mr. Paul, since you have politicized YOUR security clearance, I am sure you will have no problem when Mr. Trump’s successor revokes yours, even if you are still in Congress?
5
@Chris
Mr. Paul does not have a security clearance. He was elected to office.
2
Rand Paul sits on the Senate’s Homeland Security Committee and Foreign Relations Committee (for some unknown reason). The former deals with classified information in closed sessions. He’s got a clearance.
4
@John
Elected federal officials don’t have a security clearance. It’s the law. Look it up.
The United States is at the cusp of a one party dictatorship. This is what to expect. Every step taken by Adolf Hitler parallels Donald Trump's actions since the day he won the election in 2016. https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007677
Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933, bringing an end to German democracy. Guided by racist and authoritarian ideas, the Nazis abolished basic freedoms and sought to create a "Volk" community. In theory, a "Volk" community united all social classes and regions of Germany behind Hitler. In reality, the Third Reich quickly became a police state, where individuals were subject to arbitrary arrest and imprisonment.
In the first months of his chancellorship, Hitler began a concerted policy of "synchronization," forcing organizations, political parties, and state governments into line with Nazi goals and placing them under Nazi leadership. Culture, the economy, education, and law came under greater Nazi control. Trade unions were abolished and workers, employees, and employers were forced into Nazi organizations. By mid-July 1933, the Nazi party was the only political party permitted in Germany. The Reichstag (German parliament) became a rubber stamp for Hitler's dictatorship. The Fuehrer's will became the foundation for government policy.
10
@sandcanyongal, and don’t forget the Reichstag fire, which was staged to blame “communists and jews” and to declare “ emergency powers,”
That was the beginning of the police state,
The further the President intends to be from the truth the more he will hate those who speak it.
11
A president should spend the precious minutes of a day, that of every single day, focused on advancing the concerns of all. This petty politicking is obviously a waist of time. And time on this mans clock is running out.
5
Putin is dangerous and wants to destabilize Democracy around the world. Not simply America, but all our allies as well. The Republicans need to step up in a big way and challenge the President. This lack of concern is dangerous. If you need some motivation, here are two quotes from President Reagan to motivate you.
1. "I have sometimes said it isn't necessary to make them see the light; it's only necessary to make them feel the heat."
2. "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
4
By refusing to divest himself, Mr Trump has "monetized" his entire Presidency. By refusing to release his income taxes, he keeps US Citizens from even knowing where his monetary interests lie.
17
DJT’s behavior in Helsinki was a good indication where his loyalty lies - when you owe the mafia, you do what they say, including turn your back on your own country’s intelligence agencies. Does anyone really believe DJT is not owned by Russia?
5
We still have the vote. Use it. Get others to use it.
It is obvious that we cannot depend on the cowardly and complicit Congressional Republicans or Trump's White House coterie to rein in the malevolent interloper. Meanwhile, it plainly would be foolish to depend wholly on the Mueller investigation to set things right.
The only thing we have left is the vote. Let this go on, and soon enough we won't have that.
8
Come on djt, you have thicker skin than this. Nobody is going to agree with you so think about more reasonable ways to conduct yourself. This country lives on having an opinion; you have opinions. Don't abuse your power. That makes you look weak. You don't want to be ashamed of looking weak do you?
Let it go. Just drop this idea of stripping people of their clearances.
1
@NextGeneration the President is incapable of considering sane advice like this. He is unraveling, rightfully fearful of his legal problems, totally self centered. No one can any longer expect him to wake up one AM and act normally, act like an adult in a free society or be “presidential.” Read the rest of the Comments section. He’s lost it. If he ever had it.
3
There has been a coup, people.
14
Despots and dictators love to silence those that criticize them. They surround themselves with family in fear of being over thrown.
16
This "man" has such thin skin and cannot take even the slightest criticism. He has no consideration for how this will effect the nations security. He really is a "man child" incapable to withstand even the slightest criticism.
2
Has Kushner's security clearance been revoked? Ivanka?
11
The spiraling out of control into a banana republic seems unstoppable. Thank Republicans
12
Trump is more than a disaster.
McConnell is a disaster.
Ryan is a freaking disaster.
Why you ask?
Trump is making a mockery of our country and our government with no real regard for facts or legitimate concern or interest in how the government works.
McConnell is a disaster for three major reasons, one, he is responsible for the runaway campaign financing that is immoral and flies in the face of true liberty and justice for all. Secondly, he destroyed the workings of the Senate as Minority Leader and destroyed the Senate's ability to work when he abolished the filibuster for judicial nominees. And thirdly his hypocritical position on the timing of the selection of Supreme Court nominees is a serious disgrace. He has forever politicized the nomination process.
Paul Ryan has abdicated his responsibilities as Speaker of the House by allowing such nonsense like the special committee investigating Hilary for no real reason other than to discredit her and to weaken her candidacy for political gain. He doesn't have the courage to stand up to Donald Trump. He heads up the coequal branch of government by supposedly representing all the people. Or so the Constitution suggests that he should. He can't even fight his way out of the political fangs of a minority within the GOP.
The GOP is in a death spiral and the Democrats are infighting their insipid extremism. Extremism doesn't play well in the Midwest.
And that is where the country became unglued.....
5
Nasty, spiteful little boy says :
"If you say mean things about me, I won't let you play
with me any more. Only people who say NICE things about me can play in my house. So there!"
6
Petty and juvenile, as is standard for the Trump presidency.
12
This action does not harm the individuals named; however, it deprives the nation and it's leaders of their experienced counsel and assistance. Trump is both vindictive and foolish. He wants to stop the flow of information he doesn't like into the administration and into the public realm. This action further reveals his desire for general ignorance.
5
All hands on deck. We have a loose cannon threatening to smash and sink our ship of state. Bring ropes - need to tie this beast down tight.
4
Over on Faux news, they are praising this as right and just. Of course, the president can and should revoke the clearances of anybody that disagrees with him, he embodies the state, after all, he is the dear leader, dissenters must be punished.
5
Answer: November, 2020 -- and forget the leg irons.
"How long do we have to wait for Trump to be taken out of the White House in leg irons and do the perp walk?"
Elections – that's how we do it here in the US of A. Even "deplorables" are allowed to vote, and they don't need to justify, or even explain, their vote for Trump. Correctly or not, the thinking behind this is that "elites" don't know any better than "deplorables" who ought to be our leaders. Like everyone else (of voting age), deplorables just get to vote. So do "elites." Whoever gets the most votes wins. Period. That's how we do it here in the US of A.
Trump was duly elected in 2016. He beat Hillary Clinton. That surprised all of us, but that's nevertheless what happened. Maybe Trump has done something that warrants impeachment, but it's looking less and less likely every day that any evidence of wrongdoing will be found.
Trump nevertheless can be voted out in 2020 -- no need for impeachment; no need for an explanation. Just vote him out. That's how we do it here in the US of A.
All the Democratic Party needs is a candidate!
Pretty much anyone could have beat Trump in 2016 (anyone but Hillary Clinton, it appears). Pretty much anyone can beat Trump in 2020, but there does need to be SOMEONE on the ballot!
All the Democratic Party needs is a candidate! That's how we do it here in the US of A.
2
Newly acquired dictatorial chops.
8
Just one more distraction after the one this president created earlier today, and the day before today, and the day before yesterday, and the day before.....
7
Trump's fear is showing. If he could, he'd fire anyone who disagrees with him. He's trying to be an oppressive dictator. This is a BAD sign of his deteriorating mental state.
4
A walking, talking serial violator of the Emoluments Clause is accusing his critics of monetizing their security clearances?
Trump accuses others of the flaws he sees in himself.
"No puppet. No puppet. You're the puppet!"
6
Get Trump out of the White House! Someone should inform him that the United States is a democracy.
6
Seems how a free speech country should work, Could you imagine Fox if Obama had did this.
4
In my opinion, public enemy #1 is the GOP, carcinogenic gaggle of exploiters, shysters, and men and women so lacking in the "milk of human kindness (Shahespeare)" that the mind boggles. This evil party is selling this country because of its own immorality.
A party representing the welfare of this country should have already tarred and feathered the sub-human creep that it is floating as its leader of its swamp (a swamp has a purpose in nature, what purpose does the GOP have?) We are lost as long as he GOP is allowing him to play dictator. America, wake up. What we have is a den of men and women with the morality of scorpions (apologies to scorpions, they serve a purpose in nature!).
There is a balance of nature with each creature has a purpose, however, think about the GOP. Where is its reediming quality, what is its purpose? It has none, no allegiance except to a bank-account. It is a cancer that will destroy the whole country.
5
In addition to being Ignorant, Corrupt and Incompetent , Trump also is National disgrace by threading to pull security Clearances from the REAL patriotic Americans , But of Course what would a Traitor like him know about Patriotism !
2
Let's all be big and admit that Russia scammed the 2016 election to put their puppet Don The Con Trump in office. He is a crook and traitor. Let's bring him to justice. Military please step in.
3
Trump & Paul hate the First Amendment.
3
To a visitor from Mars, Trump seems to work for Putin, (and is a poster boy for all would-be mafia states) and is doing Putin's bidding, maybe not in quite the stealthy way a spy would, but he is trying his best! The US is like a frog in slowly warming water. Its getting really warm!!! When will he be impeached? The US is, still , a functioning democracy, ...wake up!! It's getting really strange, and can only get stranger.
3
Putin is dangerous and wants to destabilize Democracy around the world. The Republicans need to step up. If you need some motivation, here are two Reagan quotes.
1. "When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat."
2. "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."
2
You hope the President will be a decent man. Obama, for example, is a decent man. This one is not--that's all.
2
Bad error on Trump's part. Especially to have Sarah explain it this way. Who has proven that what such people have said is false? Trump is the liar -- not them. Anyway, pulling clearances will not stop them from criticizing Trump. Little thing called the first amendment.
Bad stuff is going to come out now. May be the end of the Republican party as well as Trump.
3
Trump playbook, policies not withstanding: Threats, smears, name-calling, bullying, blatant compulsive lying, press bashing, insulting military heroes & professional men/women of good will, inability to accept any constructive criticism, fostering divisiveness as a leadership tool, boorish rudeness, absence of ethical center, inability to ever apologize for anything, cruelty, malicious vindictiveness, pervasive pettiness, willingness to put personal gain & self absorption above American democracy ...all indicators of WEAK person with no leadership skills. They called it “doesn’t play well with others” in grade school. 95% of adults grow out of it. Character is destiny and it affects every decision, strategy, policy & tweet. And GOP Congress is pathetic & entirely complicit.
7
What are you worried about, prez?
That these 6 Honorable Americans got something on you?
5
Mamma! They are criticizing me! Revoke their security clearance!!!
Great article in the FT today, with a truly great cartoon of Trump as Puten's ventriloquist's dummy!
Recommended reading/ viewing.
https://www.ft.com/content/7d63ecc6-8e5c-11e8-bb8f-a6a2f7bca546
1
Let’s find out what Devon Nunes thinks about this, and do what he says. Nunes seems like straight shooter, and a pretty smart guy, to boot (especially compared to that dummy, Clapper). Plus, he benefits from a unique perspective: making some of his smartest, country-first decisions without even reading the material that’s available to him, Nunes recognizes that these fancy clearances don’t even matter. So stop all the whining, everyone, and let’s just see what Nunes thinks.
1
When did this change?
As another commenter pointed out, when former President Jimmy Carter requested access to top secret files, it was sufficient for Reagan administration officials simply to point out that Jimmy Carter no longer had the right to see those top secret tiles.
When did this change?
Does this mean that Dick Cheney could have nosed around some top secret files after Obama took office, since Cheney had had top secret clearance before Obama took office?
When did this change?
3
Everytime I think it can't get worse, it gets crazier. our Lord of the Flies should be in full Banana Republic Dictator garb. I'm sure if he could have his critics assassinated like his BFFs Putin and Kim, he would, with glee.
Since Brennan, Rice, Clapper, and Comey will get their clearances revoked by the CAPSLOCK troll anyway, they may as well do the right thing.
Follow Snowden's and Winner's heroic examples. Show the American people how deep(-state?) the "covfefe"-putin rabbit hole goes. As Howard Dean would say, "You have the power!"
1
I am not a Trumpist. I have had government security clearances. If you leave a government or contractor job requiring a security clearance, you should lose that security clearance. If you are applying for anew job then your security clearance should get updated. There is no way people who do not have jobs should continue to have security clearances!
3
Security clearance must be regularly reinvestigated and renewed. When I retired my security clearance expired as a matter of course since I was no longer a federal employee and no longer required a security clearance. I find it *astonishing* that folks who no longer require a security clearance continue to hold one. From the names I see listed, I have a two-word description: privileged elites. BooHoo. When you leave government, leave your security behind (regardless of position or party).
4
What about Obama’s? Does he lose his security clearance?
Ex-Presidents may have special status. We guard them and provide office space that I assume includes secure communication. Anything sensitive they discuss is likely with current President who can grant clearance as needed. President Obama called President Bush before public disclosure of the Bin Laden raid. They may be similar to 5 star generals or admirals: they are assumed to be active until death.
1
When do the public roundups begin? Because if this is how he deals with criticism at that level, it's only a matter of time before he finds a way to jail the unfavorable press (not the State-sponsored Fox News) and nullify citizenship for certain ethnic groups of his "disliking". "The President has determined that this group is a threat to national security..." etc.
And if you're looking skeptically at that statement, just for a moment consider how far we've come to the current sad state of affairs, and that we're only 2 years into a 4-year journey.
3
Trump's petty and transparent vengence against dedicated public servants to happen to disagree with him is predictable. He has to keep ratcheting up the aggression. It's who he is. This latest distasteful and low move is also further proof of how dangerous Trump is. People need to stop focusing on the buffoonery. That's just for show. He is moving now to silence those he perceives as against him. That is what a dictator does, not a real president.
3
These hyper-politicized men have demonstrated their willingness to betray the trust placed in them on behalf of the American people.
From Comey's violation of the Espionage Act in running a leak through his pal in NYC to the illegal acts of Brennan and Clapper to get Hillary elected, this is an important step in protecting the country.
Waiting for Jeff Sessions to find the courage to initiate this process would take years.
5
Someone very dear to me has gone alt-right recently. She is an elderly person who has been slowly stripped of logic and reasoning ability by dementia. She was an accomplished and intelligent educator her whole career. Her perceptions now don't go beyond the most superficial of reasons for anything. A surprising undercurrent of racism, that I didn't know she had, is also 'feeding the beast.' The idea that keeps her up at night is some kind of uprising by 'mongrel hordes' against the lawful authority that Trump embodies. There is no further reasoning beyond that...and any attempt to bring up the facts of Trump's words and actions brings out the same cure-all answer: the media is 'twisting the facts (probably because it is controlled by the same mongrel hordes). This has given me a window into the mind of a Trumpist...pure fear, couple with an emotional state of mind that disallows the process of becoming properly informed or to think critically. Trumpists truly don't see Trump for what he really is, they just see a caricature of an authority figure.
7
Interesting setup with the Newsmax reporter at today's press conference. This wasn't spontaneous. Trump and his minions have no fear to attack democracy and the rule of law. They are happy to provide us with more evidence every day that they want to rule this nation by decree.
6
The GOP models precisely the posture POTUS wants all to assume - prostration. Oops - should have said "almost all," the notable exception being, of course, Putin.
trump and gang are the ones abusing clearances and not those listed bysanders, etc. just another abuse of power and repression. the listed people are better citizens than those who are accusing.
3
Deauthorize officials who used clearance for 'politicized' and 'monetized' means. After the last 24 hours, its more likely prep for an unauthorized war.
1
Retaliation should be considered part of Obstruction. It is an attempt to chill the efforts of those still involved. That this too will happen to you.
But since Republicans in Congress don't actually care about Rule of Law, preferring a silent acceptance of authoritarian force, will there be any consequences.
Oversight to republicans in Congress should be renamed to another thing. Overlooking the actions of this Republican President.
2
Me too.
"I am shocked and alarmed to learn that Brennan, Comey, Clapper and McCabe still have security clearances ..."
Naively or not, I'd assumed that officials automatically lost their security clearances when they left office. It never occurred to me that they were permitted to keep nosing around top-secret files.
I'll wager that very few Americans (as in "none") understood that some affirmative act was required to terminate the security clearance of an official from the previous administration.
2
@MyThreeCents
I've only worked in the private sector. I can't even imagine keeping access to corporate secrets after leaving the company. Seems only a few of us find the retention of security clearances as normal.
2
I've been trying to think of how Russia is controlling Trump, an obvious deduction, and all along I've been thinking in terms of the moment. I wondered if he wasn't receiving subliminal suggestions through power lines or phone lines, but Tonight I realized that Russia has been cultivating him for years, probably since his first forays into Moscow about which Putin volunteered, without being quizzed, that he did not know Trump was there at the time. Now c'mon! Did Putin expose his hand? Much ado has been written about those days when Trump was in Moscow and I can't imagine that a major spymaster like Putin wasn't apprised of Trump's presence as he is a famous American Billionaire much like Howard Hughes who was a pal to the C.I.A. and aided them in matters of Russian interest published widely.
Any competent intelligence organization in Russia would have been opportunistic with such a famous rich man in their midsts as a famous American and certainly would have analyzed him and his visits, and if the so called Russian prostitutes stories are real indicates the first recruitment of Trump's love and admiration for Russia. He was cultivated.
For the following years, the K.G.B. must have have found him as a potential resource to further the interests of Russia once he was psychologically indoctrinated. They must have kept intelligence on him and further cultivated his love and admiration for Russia which now clouds his judgement and tempers his sense of danger.
He's a puppet.
3
There is certainly no doubt now. 100$ say Putin convinced him to get tough with Iran. And who, by chance, benefits from the rising price of oil? Its all so obvious. $$$$
Don't forget that the Supreme Court eventually ruled in Trump's favor with the Muslim ban, which everyone protested at first. He does this, he ostracizes people and gets his way, because the republicans are not willing to stop him.
2
I think it is time now for past Presidents to stand and speak with one voice.
2
What am I missing here?
Regardless of how some former official feels about Trump, it should go without saying that the former official's security clearance will end automatically when the administration changes.
When Obama replaced George W. Bush, did Obama really continue the security clearances of former Bush officials? Does it really require an affirmative act to end them? If so, shouldn't those former officials be the ones to take that step?
3
“The president is exploring the mechanisms to remove security clearances because they politicized, and in some cases monetized, their public service and security clearances.” If that is the standard, then President Trump should be the first on the list to have his clearance revoked.
This bald attempt to hamstring dissenters shows that Trump does not just admire authoritarian dictators, he truly does want to become one. He is showing the American people very clearly who is he. Everybody should be paying attention before we let him destroy what remains of our democracy.
3
ABUSE OF POWER Trump's father was grandiose in his old age and died at 83 of dementia. So Donald has a genetic loading for grandiosity and dementia, which, at his age, he is NOT too young to begin to show the effects of. It is my belief that Donald is NOT entitled to revoke the security clearances of the highly respected security professionals who have served the US honorably, due to a personal disagreement. One of the differences that Donald must appreciate is that as president, he swore the oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. If, however, he decides to abuse his power to shred the Constitution, which he states clearly as he intends to suppress the protected speech. Thus, he is violating his oath of office by committing high crimes and treason. The invocation of the 26th amendment would force him from office immediately. Pence is out of the running, as he reportedly obstructed justice by failing to forward to Trump a letter from Isaiah Cummings about allegations that Mike Flynn colluded with the Russians. So we'd be left with Ryan, who has shown himself to have a backbone and to behave honorably in recent days. He seems to have matured to the point where he realizes that there is a higher good in governance that supersedes GOP extremist ideology. I think that Ryan has liberated himself from the bondage an servitude of being a TrumpubliKKKan by moderating his views of his responsibilities as Speaker of the House.
2
This is how democracies fall, a little at a time, with the consent of the ruling party who wants to stay in power and lets the abuses go unchecked. I have never been so frightened for my country. I am seeing a tragic history from its inception.
8
This guy is a tsunami.
1
That’s rich. The Trump administration is punishing people who supposedly politicized and monetized their public service. There will be a ferocious karmic bill due one day and I hope I’m alive to see it.
6
I know you admire 1500 character comments, but I just want to say, I can not believe my nation allows this man to repeatedly sabotage our society, politics, public trust and economy with a reckless conduct that gives precedence to a major nation that aided his election while attacking traditional American patriots.
3
Maybe we should play to this would-be emperor's vanity. We need a emperor's name. Emperor Presumius?
8
I'm not sure why these people even have have clearance if they've left the government. As I recall the day that Reagan was inaugurated, shortly after the ceremony, Carter called to get an update about the hostages. He was told he no longer had clearance to obtain that information.
4
Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past."
Eric Arthur Blair
13
Trump should take away his own security clearance.
23
@JaaArr
Lots of people familiar with this issue agreed that there was never any chance that Barack Obama could have been granted access to national security information had he not been elected president.
@JaaArr
You might want to read these little gifts to humankind aloud first, before hitting the ''submit'' button.
And I wonder why?
Hmmmm....
Ya think he would put a hit on Mueller if he thought it would clear his name and if he thought he could get away with it ?
Just let the question sink in.
15
Security clearance!! They should ALL be in prison and if it weren't for "Mueller and his 13 Angry Democrats," they would be.
How long before it's disclosed that Obama either ordered and/or authorized this illegal spying on fellow Americans and the opposition Party??
6
Calm down, Ivan!
1
Name the 13 Angry Democrats, please
Right wing fantasy: everything is Obama's fault. Actual history: Watergate, Ken Starr, Bush v Gore, Torture, fake weapons of mass destruction, Merrick Garland, Trump's treasonous collusion with Putin. Just a few highlights of Republican assaults on democracy.
2
There had to be people in pre-Nazi Germany, in the late 1920s or early '30s, who saw it coming, who wanted to speak out, but knew they would have to risk their jobs, livelihoods, maybe their lives, to prevent disaster. And they didn't or were outnumbered, and look what happened.
History. We're making it now.
32
Talk about witch hunts!
Despicable.
15
No matter what side of the fence you sit, this action should scare the bejeezus out of you!
19
I am shocked and alarmed to learn that Brennan, Comey, Clapper and McCabe still have security clearances, after their illegal and highly unconstitutional conspiracy to spy on a presidential candidate using false "evidence" which they knew had been concocted for that purpose. I would have expected them to be tried and convicted of their crimes by now. Why did the honorable General Flynn has his life ruined because of one questionable statement to the FBI, which was purely a deliberate trap set up by those FBI scoundrels based on the obscure, antiquated, and irrelevant Logan Act (which basically makes any foreign policy transition during the lame duck period illegal), when Comey is at large and unprosecuted after committing MAJOR perjury during sworn testimony to Congress, and after informing President Trump of the shocking charges made in the Russian dossier, without informing him that the FBI knew they were false and concocted? And don't get me started about Gus Hall-voter Brennan, who should never have been issued a clearance in the first place. These guys are the core of the so-called "17 intelligence chiefs" who are such abject failures at investigation that they never performed forensic electronic analysis on Hillary's cell phones or the DNC server, and made a practice of handing out immunity deals as if they were sticks of chewing gum, a practice which Mueller continues to this day, yet they wouldn't hesitate to "getcha" six ways from Sunday. Deport them all.
8
This post is a joke, right?
3
Deport natural born citizens? You must be brilliant!
2
McCabe doesn't.
Rand Paul the great Libertarian ... stripes are showing, Rand. You are a Libertarian by convenience, but, hey, so was your namesake. As phoney and ridiculous as the great Ayn.
20
@Doug Thomson
Rand Paul is a traitor to the Republic.
1
“Former high-ranking officials in defense, intelligence, diplomacy and law enforcement usually maintain their clearances to advise those still in government, former officials said. A clearance also serves a more personally profitable function: helping departing officials get jobs at security contractors or similar firms.”
Do we all agree on whether this is a desirable state of affairs?
1
okay, wait.......so, speaking fees and cable-news shows are out. what about $6,000 helicopter rides to go horseback riding with the VP, or $12,000 charters from Vegas to Montana? oops. Zinke - dinke - don't do it!!!
9
Trump can't be trusted. Strip his first.
19
Strip former top officials of security clearances.
Strip citizens of citizenship.
Why worry about Russia when our very own dear leader strips everything of value from our nation and its cultural fabric?
Jared: BTW, surprised at your struggles on Gaza. Otherwise, just remarkable dude. Say hi to Ivanka. She's got to be killing those department store lines. Right? Power couple! Beautiful. Markle and Harry can't hold a candle. Royalty? We got it baby, with all the glitz (and then some - just really bright! all that glitters may not be gold, but it is bright).
13
Trump cares for no one but himself. He is not open for any criticism, and launches revenges against people who contradict him. It is a trait of a dictator!
On finance, he is questionable on his actions/comments. I personally believe that his "attacks" on companies and his "stands" on trade tactics are set up so that his inner circle can profit from the market.
Trump is no Reagan, that is for sure! He is not even close to Nixon.
12
Rand Paul, champion of small government and individual rights, wants to revoke security clearances in an attempt to stifle criticism of a President having an authoritarian bent? That puts Paul in the same pantheon of hypocrites as Representative Michelle Bachman, protector of States' rights, who supported a US Constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage in all states.
17
I am both disgusted and furious at Trump. Lately I think of ways he could go to the Great Real Estate office in the sky and put us all out of our misery (e.g., choking on a cheeseburger, falling down some stairs, drinking tea laced with a Russian twist), but then I think, So what? We’re still stuck with this do-nothing-good Congress. I live in Maine and have lost any respect I had for Susan Collins. It’s nearly inconceivable that in this country, after coming together during 9/11, we’d be as divided as we are. May we all find our way in November.
9
Former heads of the NSA, CIA, FBI, etc. tend, at least in public, to stay private about their political opinions and most certainly do not weigh in every chance they get with conjecture and innuendo. This has categorically not been the case with Brennan, Clapper, Comey, and Susan Rice. They have been highly partisan, undermining the President every chance they get. They certainly have monetized their former experience and access. Yeah--strip those clearances right away, like yesterday!!
7
@toddchow
I am surprised that someone thinks Comey is anti-Trump after he so openly undermined Hillary's chances of becoming a president. His is one of the major contributions which helped in Trump's presidency
‘Former heads of the FBI, etc tend to stay private about their political opinions and don’t weigh in on every political innuendo.’
Yeah, well, we’ve never had a Russian agent in the White House before. You think they’re reacting to innuendo? They’ve SEEN the evidence.
1
@toddchow
This is an extraordinary circumstance. That's why they are speaking out. For pete's sake we have an actual Russian agent in the White House.
Will you please wake up. This isn't a normal presidency.
So of course our dedicated security chiefs aren't acting normal.
They're trying to warn us, in case we can't see it with our own eyes. Trump is demolishing our alliances and going into business with Putin, who's apparently running the US.
What is wrong with this picture.
3
Individuals who abuse their position to continually leak confidential information to the press. Who actively act to undermine the President. Who played a far greater role than Russia in seeking to influence the election.
4
Trump shouldn't punish anyone by removing his or her security clearance, but why in the world do these former officials have a security clearance in the first place? Shouldn't that have been taken away long ago, regardless of how they feel about Trump?
4
@MyThreeCents
They act as advisors. Their knowledge helps us all, helps to defend the country.
4
@MyThreeCents
Like others here have stated, former officials retain their clearance so they can assist current staff if needed.
5
Plus, Current intelligence officials will now fear their access may be removed by an angry president who does not like what they have to say. It's called the "chilling effect"-- a dangerous byproduct for those expected to speak truth to power.
1
This is more than vindictive reflexive retribution by an enraged man. This is a strategic seriously damaging action that will disrupt the decades long aggregate knowledge of the most knowledgeable leaders of the Intelligence community whose historical experience is needed to analyze patterns of international espionage in history as a hedge against future attacks and to assure a vitally capable vibrant intelligence infrastructure. This is a very serious attack on those who defend us and prevent future attacks.
10
@Shakinspear
I'm "Patrick" the Pat riot and the intelligence community lost massive trust in America by turning it's focus inward against Americans, but many times I have seen those who expressed sincere concern for America in performance of their duties and I'm convinced the intelligence community does have Americans best interests and safety in mind as they scour the deep data they consume. I now take them at their word and they should take me at my word. I care about everybody.
Trump is responding to the public distrust of the intelligence community he created by rote and capitalizing on that distrust to garner a worshiping audience of citizen followers. He is trying to make distrust of the intelligence community a fashionable campaign dog whistle for him and Congressional Republicans. Trump is sabotaging our national security sentinels as an act of politics, not justified except in his own mind and nowhere else.
Trump is a national security threat.
Trump doesn't need his security clearance I've received many classified briefings myself, and they all exceeded Trump's concentration span.
8
@Robert Sherman
Trump can't even read his own misspelled notes in an articulate way.
Makes absolutely no sense that former officials maintain their security clearances. Either a person is a paid government official occupying a position requiring security clearance, as well as adhering to all the responsibilities, limitations and obligations of said position, or a person is not a a government official and thus does not have any security clearance. If the advice of "former" officials is needed, those individuals must either continue in their roles as government officials or they can advise current officials without the benefit of a security clearance. It's madness that those no longer in government are permitted continued access to classified information as private citizens.
7
@Teresa
Certain officials retain security clearances because of their deep institutional knowledge which may be needed by their successors. If those ex officials are needed for consultation it is highly likely that classified information would be involved. That is why they retain their security clearances.
19
Plenty of ex military/ex intelligence are allowed to keep their clearance when they leave and enter the private sector. My dad (ex army) kept his when he went to the defense arm of a well known public company. Because that company's work on defense contracts, he *had* to have top secret clearance.
1
Well stated. And a number of them apparently cash in on their information access as paid "experts" for mainstream news outlets. It's just so corrupt....
1
“The president is exploring the mechanisms to remove security clearances because they politicized, and in some cases monetized, their public service and security clearances,” Ms. Sanders said." How can she say this with a straight face when Trump has used his position to enrich himself since the day he was elected? The increased fees at Mar-A-Lago because rich people will pay more for access to him, charging the Secret Service to rent golf carts when he golfs at his own club, hosting foreign dignitaries at the Trump Hotel in D.C., are just three of the most obvious cases where he's run afoul of the Emoluments Clause.
14
Nothing makes sense to me anymore. We are taking leaps and bounds backwards in decades of diplomatic relations abroad.
2020 can’t come soon enough. Hoping there is a viable candidate to beat Mr. Trump. Joe?
8
I"m guessing that in some cases, pulling security clearances are wise, and in other cases not. But there is no question that the President has the authority to issue or revoke clearances. This is no different than any other issue of Executive judgment - we will agree or disagree or come down somewhere in the middle.
3
A president does NOT have the right to punish people who criticize him. That’s an egregious violation of the Constitution.
2
How long do we have to wait for Trump to be taken out of the White House in leg irons and do the perp walk?
16
This president is such a petty and evil man. Is this what it was like to be alive during World War II, when there was some new shocking news every day?
I can't wait until he is impeached and dragged out of office or dies of natural causes.
These public servants try to be nonpartisan but they have no choice. This president is worse than the 7th grade bully who rules in the back of the school bus. Worse, actually, the 7th grade bully will grow up eventually.
18
What we're experiencing now is indeed similar to wartime news. The opposing sides' positions and viewpoints are fixed. They are extremely biased (especially the anti-Trump side - and I'm much more liberal then most of them.) This is what propaganda looks like.
1
Putin must be beside himself laughing at this. Americans vs Americans, resulting in a weakened nation with a weakened intelligence capacity. A downward spiral to complete chaos and dysfunction. All for next to nothing! A few bots, a little hacking, a bit of kompromat and voila! It will go down in history as the best bang for buck in intelligence coups ever...
23
I wish Congress had the spine to tell desperate despot donny "you're fired!"
12
An independent physician and psychiatrist is needed at the White House.
11
This is full-blown treason. It's time to remove Trump's security clearances and duties. Impeach, or otherwise. Simply get rid of the mentally compromised and vile moral disgrace that has compromised our presidency. His co-conspirators can take the same bus out of town. The Republican Party is toast.
12
This is just self-indulgent venting. Aren't there are more appropriate forums for this?
1
And how about "monitizing" your government background? The Trump family enterprises, as well as most of his Cabinet, have done this and our Republican Congress does nothing. It's disgusting.
16
so basically Trump wants to remove security clearances so in the event of a Rssian-conspiracy trial of Trump family members or close political allies....Trump/GOP lawyers can discredit these witnesses by claiming their security clearances were revoked for malfeseance and deriliction of duty
7
Senator Paul obviously does not believe in the First Amendment.
12
I cannot fault Trump for feeling the way he does. These folks are making the news talk shows and aside from having protected one candidate from prosecution are trying to have the president removed with some pretty weak allegations and no evidence. Certainly these same people, with their TS/SI clearances should have known what was going on and stopped it. But they did not. And still, no collusion. Just a lot of leaks early on, and since the meeting referring to Trump as treasonous (Brennan), or a puppet of Putin, etc. Quite frankly, I am tired of the trash talk from both sides up to and including talk radio and TV. If someone has something, produce it. If there is nothing, admit it and lets move our country forward. The hatred has to stop.
6
You are living in a different reality than many of us...
14
@old sarge
Someone has drunk some mighty strong kool-aid. I'm not aware of any intelligence officials trying to have potus 45 impeached. This potus trades constantly in insults, lies, hyperbole and distraction. He and his supporters are most appropriate targets for attack.
2
The FISA warrant shows numerous violations of FBI rules and the law.
7
@Stephen
It does no such thing. Why do you guys keep lying? It's in plain sight for all to read.
3
Go ahead and list them then. Should be pretty easy if they're so obvious
2
No, it doesn't.
2
Another incremental thin slice on the way to Fascism. That’s how it happened over a decade in Germany. Think it can’t happen here? It is, and has been happening.
21
For those suggesting that the revocation of a clearance isn’t that big a deal, I am here to tell you YES it is. You cannot function in Washington without one.
I had Top Secret/SCI for several decades and that is the ultimate calling card that gets you in the door and grants you automatic and unquestioned acceptance at briefings, meetings, and even unofficial social events where everyone invariably “talks shop”.
If your clearance is revoked, you are instantly PNG’d and no clearance means no access to anything. Lose it and you no longer exist to your friends and colleagues.
And no clearance means those lucrative post retirement contracts and speaking engagements you thought you had locked up just vanished. Without that clearance, you can’t even get in the building to use the bathroom!
So it’s a huge deal and like it or not, everyone including friends, begins to question your integrity. Good luck trying to overcome that.
19
As Homeland Security is the ultimate granter and overseer of clearances, it stands to reason that the President of the United States can have a say of who can have clearances. Homeland Security is part of the Executive Branch, after all.
However, Trump is again stepping overt he line of abuse of power. He is pulling clearances because the named individual criticized him. And, he is doing this to punish them. And, he is certainly not doing it for national security reasons. He clearly state his reason.
Thus, another day, and Trump again crosses a line of ethics, morals, and abuse of power. Congress, again, just ignores this abuse. A week, after Trump committed, what amounts to treason, that incident has been swept under the rug. Trump, earlier today, sowed the seed fro a war with Iran, again to deflect from treason, Russian collusion, separation of refugee children, refugees put in interment camps, etc.
The worse part, about all of this, the GOP fully supports hat he is doing, plus their base. The dictatorship of the minority. If people wonders how "oligarchy with a democratic face" beings, your are living through it. In a few weeks, Putin will be her to provide Trump with more pointers to help make his transformation to autocrat complete.
The "YUGE" November 11 military parade, will resemble what happens in red Square and Kim Jong-Un Square. A parade to celebrate a tyrant.
17
Good God Almighty.
Please help us save ourselves and, should we stumble or fail, please inspire our tested and true friends, whom we rescued in yore, to kindly and quickly return the favor.
11
Let me get this straight. Sarah Sanders said Brennan and Rice and others MONETIZED their clearances? If anyone has monetized anything, it is Trump who has monetized his entire operation in the Oval Office. Unbelievable.
Republicans: Trump and your party WILL go down, it's just a question of when.
33
Hey...great idea!
And while we're at it, why don't we give security clearances to those nice GRU people who are victim's of Mueller's witch hunt
indictments?
Makes as much sense as what Trump proposes.
12
Trumpinsanity!
Wow! The Trump administration political advisors think they can repair the political damage President Trump caused in Helsinki last week by creating a vast left-wing conspiracy among former national security officials. No! America needs the wise and fully informed counsel of former national security experts. And this clearly deficient Trump national security team needs all the wise counsel it can get. Congress, it’s time for hearings on these inane and insane Trump foreign policy decisions.
13
Mr. Paul said "public servants should not use security clearances to leverage speaking fees or paid cable-news appearances". But it appears that Mr. Paul meant "our political enemies should not use security clearances to leverage speaking fees or paid cable-news appearances". Get real Mr. Paul, who is being partisan?
18
Donald Trump’s fascination with fascist leaders such as Russia’s Putin and North Korea’s Kim is based on the fact that this type of one-sided authoritarian rule is common in the culture of Corporate America. American billionaire and multi-millionaire corporate executives brook no dissent from underlings and have the boards of directors in their pockets. Trump’s threat to retaliate against seasoned national security experts who have criticized him by stripping their national security clearances is yet another inappropriate attempt by Trump to simulate his rule over the Trump commercial empire.
16
Well, indeed, democracy is great until it hits the workplace and then its Communism.
5
@Doug Thomson in case anyone missed it, that was sarcasm.
America is starting to see the face of fascism when citizens are threatened with security clearance cancellation for purely political reasons. It is one way to silence the opposition. There are other ways which America will see soon enough.
25
"Trump Weighs Stripping Security Clearances From Officials Who Criticized Him"
Trump and stripping - sounds familar.
6
Clapper has served his country and several presidents for more than 50 years. Trump is accusing him of waking up in year 50 and deciding to betray his task and become a partisan liberal, hellbent on destroying the president because he criticised his performance in Helsinki. It's amazing that his supporters believe anything he says, because the rest of us sure don't!
21
Clapper publically testified to the Senate intelligence committee about mass data not whittingly occurring before Snoden revealed it was happening in mass. Why wasn't he charged?
1
Hey John! There’s something shined over here!! Now, what were you saying?
OK, may have already been mentioned, but if you are a "former official" and no longer a part of government and need access to sensitive government info, why do you need a security clearance? should be an automatic loss of clearance once you no longer have the need. cheers
6
You’re missing the point. It’s NEVER worked that way.
7
Please read the article before commenting. The answer to your question is thoroughly explained, twice.
7
@PM.. maybe it should. upon leaving the position, the clearance is removed. the individuals new employer can then apply for it to be reinstated for the new employee, dependant on requirements.
This should strike us as not only alarming, but a dangerous thing to do in these times of international terrorism. If Republicans are truly as supportive of our security forces as they say they are, they would rebuke Trump for making clearances contingent on political allegiance to one party or figure. In times like these, we need our best minds free to solve problems. We can’t afford to let politics get in the way of people doing their jobs.
7
Well stated.
Wait. Isn’t this this poster perfect case of the government using its power to punish free speech? As in blatant First Ammendment violation?
9
This is what Trump meant when he referred to draining the swamp. If these former government officials weren't quietly suggesting that they would let their potential private employers in on a few government secrets then they would not need a clearance to get a job, a better paying consultancy, etc.
Enforcing current security clearance regulations is not a politicization of the security clearance process. The authors should look them up. They were signed by William J. Clinton and are still in effect.
7
Taking punitive action to stop political dissent is not permitted by The Constitution. Look it up.
If Trump had been interested in "Enforcing current security clearance regulations", Jared Kushner (and others in the WH) would not have had the highest level of security clearance for such a long time. Kushner is now unable to view the PDB.
If Trump had been serious about "draining the swamp", he would not have hired so many on his cabinet, who have been forced to resign due to their corruption.
7
@Aristotle Gluteus Maximus
Last I heard, expressing personal opinions that trump does not like isn't a violation of any security laws, but it's clear Donald trump thinks it should be.
7
Trump doesnt understand how his actions are unamerican, because his narcissism leads him to believe that any action he takes is in fact American, and completely correct. so he doesnt really get that what he is doing is constantly testing us for what we will tolerate from him as an autocrat in charge of a totalitarian state. when it arrives, he will blissfully believe we finally have a great america. he will be wrong of course. however, his lackeys, lickspittles, toadies, blackguards, scoundrels and rogues that stand behind him, all know exactly what they are doing, and are revelling in it. they are cackling in demonic glee as they get to see how far they can go towards creating an autarchy, with them controlling trump through innuendo and whispered suggestions. I support a military coup at this point. i have no power to make that happen, but if it did, i would be both alarmed, and a little bit relieved. as long as they lock up the entire GOP and declare the last election null and void. i am not sure this midterm can stop the destruction of the united states. im not sure anything short of a violent revolution can stop it. i have had a nightmare of being bussed off to a camp, on putins orders. it didnt feel that unreal.
9
Strip security clearances? Why not? That's what Putin would do. And not threaten, just do it. Because he can. And God only knows what follows. And, if we are not vigilant, Trump, rubber stamped, will do the same thing. Republicans continue to draw an iron curtain so that the light of day, democracy's life blood - the truth - remains in darkness. What values exactly does the GOP hope to protect by coddling this aberration of a Presidency?
16
Question is, what does Trump understand, exactly. What the scoundrels do is more important than what they say. Maybe the scandal and shock of the words will distract us from the dastardly deeds.
A President who does not disclose his taxes to show how much he is monetizing his political power (and vice-versa) is uniquely unqualified to accuse others of monetizing and politicizing anything. EVERY GOP official with the power to call this out - as well as everyone still supporting this administration - is complicit.
74
The administration would have a point IF the criticism were in fact baseless. It never is. No one ever intimates that Trump is treasonous or in cahoots with the Russians without (mostly publicly available) facts to back themselves up. Claiming baseless criticism, like claiming fake news, is yet another straw man wolf cry; it's pretty easy to make a case for *baseless* criticism being punishable by clearance revocation. Making a case for revoking clearance of those whose cogent, fact-based analysis informs their criticism is entirely different; it's a tough case to make without a strong suggestion of guilt on the part of the criticized. If you're not really paying much attention, trusting the president would be an easy mistake, as we are all accustomed to doing that. The criticism in this case is well-founded and Trump's protestations, of course, are what's baseless.
8
Makes sense. Why would a stone cold liar, our president, want former intel chiefs getting the same briefings he does?
Calling Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell, this may be your last chance to slightly redeem your legacies.
31
McConnell and Ryan can't stop Trump. They have accepted money through the NRA. Trump will lock them up as well when they he gets everything he wants from the Republican party.
8
By limiting access to national security information, it permits him to say that his critics don't have complete information. [as thougth he reads those reports] As such, as he see it, they can't criticize is decisions. It's just that simple. Expect false information similiar to the reasons that broughtus into war in Iraq as he tries to move against Iran. Then, if we go to war with Iran, we have to "support the troops."
17
Well, in the defense industry, two years after you leave a job that requires a security clearance it lapses if you no longer have a need for one. That is exactly what happened to me and everyone else I know that left the defense industry.
As such, any former government official that has a current clearance but has no current need for access to classified materials should have their clearance revoked.
And, no, former Obama Administration officials do not have a current need for access to classified materials. In fact, the Feds, as my former company, should do an audit on a regular basis of who actually requires a clearance to do their job and purge the rolls of those who do not. Way too many people out there with clearances who have no need for it.
6
Welcome to the Soviet States of America. Donald Trump, Czar.
16
The next step down that slippery slope to Fascism.
26
We’re already there.
1
I wonder if this has ever happened: respected and experienced intel chiefs losing their security clearance because the POTUS is as sensitive as a 5 year old child when it comes to taking criticism? Somehow, I doubt it has.
12
@TommyTuna
They are losing their security clearances for repeated lies and leaks to the press. Comey admitted to leaking to the press. Clapper and Brennan lied to the American People. Rice went on national television and lied to the American people during the Benghazi catastrophe.
3
Respected? Remember Rice on Benghazi, Clapper testifying publically to the Senate about mass data collection on Americans not occurring, Comey being fired on Rob Rosensteins recommendation, and Brennan spying on Senate computers.
3
@Chad
Delusional. Trump wants to punish them for criticizing HIM. It's always about HIM. Got it?
Such people like Brennan and Rice and Comey have no business with any security clearance. They are out of office. I'm surprised that it wasn't automatically done when they completed their tenure. Quite frankly, it's suspicious that they still have it.
6
I guess you didn’t read the article. It is well explained .
8
@Len You don't know how this works.
8
@Len
Michael Flynn still had security clearance when he was criticizing President Obama. Len is stoking this conspiracy theory. Is Len even an American?
2
Trump and his family are monetizing their situation - it's called profiteering, in their case - yet here he is decrying that they're "monetizing" themselves by receiving income as pundits, as many ex-politicians and bureaucrats do. Mueller, please get a move on.
15
@Sara G.
Trump came into office a wealthy man. Obama came in to office with some wealth but left office a millionaire. He made out big time. As most all politicians do.
2
@Chad
Obama at least knows how to write. He sold books.
Trump - you don't even know if he's rich. Tax returns?
No problem tracking the Obama wealth ... mostly from book deals ... but all public record. Where is the Trump public record?
2
Consider themselves lucky that black cars are not showing up on their doorsteps at three in the morning to take them off to Dachau, yet.
11
... and the birth certificates of all Americans who have criticized him. Busy, busy times.
15
I am happy Trump is our president and not of Russia. Here we have checks and balances. Imagine if he were the president of Russia.
1
How long do we have to stand for the derelict inaction of the
GOP Congress members who refuse to denounce this maniacal
President....
This is a dire need...and I believe that the Editors of this newspaper can effect an immediate response by publishing
the views of each and every one of the Congressional GOP members....
Trump is obviously crazy !!!! and he is being allowed by Congress to sell out or nation to Vladimir Putin and his henchmen...
Please Editors ….get cracking and stop the whimpy responses
to this obvious whacko President....Trump is NUTS....just prove this...and get the Congress to use Amendment 25: Section 4 to kick him out of office...NOW !!!!
14
The President is a liar. The President is a Traitor who wants to take away security clearances when he should be impeached. America Deserves Better.
12