“You’re exactly right. He’s now a civilian, a former CIA employee, and anything he can say has to be cleared by the Agency first.”
As well as, “On the advice of my attorney I respectfully decline to answer that question on the grounds that it may incriminate me.”
Not so fast. He can be called back to active duty as a 4 star general and ordered to testify. He is “not just a civilian” as a retired 4 star. I bet he wants to testify.