If you have (let’s say) a Top Secret clearance, it doesn’t mean you are free to roam around the government and just look at all the Top Secret stuff that appeals to you.
“New To Know” is SUPPOSED to be part of the equation.
Reality is that you can flash an ID at people and probably get access to classified stuff, but it’s not supposed to be quite that simple.
Brennan has no current role in the government, right? Therefore he does not NEED TO KNOW jack squat.
If the system worked properly, his clearance would have been pulled long ago. There is no good reason for him to have access to anything.
I’m guessing this is much ado about little. These former high-level officials seem to get certain classified briefings. They don’t have access to the original classified material unless it was produced in the past under their direct control.
Access to to their own past files is supposed to be for scholarly and historical purposes. Lots of these people write memoirs that are supposed to be accurate.
Certainly yanking even their seemingly minimal access is absolutely justified when their behavior is nakedly partisan, and no one can interfere with President’s ability to do so.