Trump escalates feud with intelligence officials over Russia collusion

US President Donald Trump has run into a maelstrom of criticism over his decision to revoke the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan.

In a statement on Wednesday, Trump said he had revoked Brennan’s security clearance for what he called the latter’s “unfounded and outrageous allegations” about the Russian collusion.

PressTV-Trump revokes Brennan’s security clearance

US President Donald Trump has pulled the security clearance of one of his harshest critics, former CIA Director John Brennan.

Trump has repeatedly denied a collusion with Russians.

“I call it the rigged witch hunt, (it) is a sham,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal on Thursday.

However, the US intelligence agencies claim otherwise and Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been appointed to get to the bottom of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. 

Brennan's reaction

Brennan, on Thursday, described Trump’s repeated denials that his campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 election as “hogwash”.

The ex-CIA chief accused the president of revoking his security clearance as part of a “desperate” attempt to interfere with the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Brennan, who led the CIA under President Barack Obama, said he would not be silenced by the move.

He said Trump’s decision to revoke his security clearance was “politically motivated” and an attempt to “scare others who might challenge him.”

“The only questions that remain are whether the collusion that took place constituted criminally liable conspiracy, whether obstruction of justice occurred to cover up any collusion or conspiracy, and how many members of ‘Trump Incorporated’ attempted to defraud the government by laundering and concealing the movement of money into their pockets,” Brennan wrote in an opinion article in the New York Times.

Brennan pointed to Trump’s own words and actions, including his suggestion to the Russians to find Hillary Clinton’s “30,000 emails that are missing” in July 2016.

Dangerous precedent

Legal analysts said it was unprecedented by a president to unilaterally intervene in a security clearance case of a former, high-level official.

They are worried that by revoking the security clearance of Brenan, Trump was setting a dangerous precedent.

Trump’s move has triggered concerns about whether others in the national security community will be affected.

Media reports said the White House is considering to revoke the security clearance of high-ranking former officials critical of Trump.

Those targeted by the White House include former FBI Director James Comey, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, ex-NSA Director Michael Hayden, former National Security Adviser Susan Rice, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, ex-Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, former FBI agent Peter Strzok, ex-FBI lawyer Lisa Page and Justice Department official Bruce Ohr.

Comey criticizes Trump

Comey, on Wednesday, hit back at President Trump for revoking Brennan's security clearance.

Trump is “sending a message that he will punish people who disagree with him and reward those who praise him,” Comey said in a statement posted on Twitter.

Comey said “security clearances should not be used as pawns in a petty political game to distract voters from even bigger problems.”

Washington DC-based national security lawyer, Mark Zaid, said the move could have a chilling effect on lots of individuals who need security clearances to perform their duties.

“It raises the concerns that if you are politically opposed to the president, your security clearance is in jeopardy,” Zaid said.

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