Working in the government, security clearances are routinely revoked if you are going to another position that does not require a security clearance. The ONLY reason these “high level” people maintain their security clearance is in case they are needed to advise the president. It is clear that the President Trump will NEVER ask Brennan for advice nor would Brennan give it to Trump. Thus there is no need for Brennan to have a security clearance.
Quite frankly, I’m surprised that many of these people still maintain their security clearances and if I was Trump I would ax them. Republicans argue that if a Democrat gets into power they will do the same. But the reason for the clearance is to give advice to the President if necessary so this is a stupid argument. If the President doesn’t want to ask for their advice, there is no need for them to have a clearance.
Yes, I know. I heard Adm Mullen on Fox News this morning, lamenting it’s a shame Brennan and others’ security clearances are being pulled because we (the president and his administration) need their deep experience and wise advice. And I thought to myself, yeah and what if the president doesn’t trust or need or want their “deep experience and wise advice?” Sounds more like Mullen was defining the deep state swamp that Trump was elected to drain.
I just searched and found the transcript. Here are Mullen’s exact words:
“MULLEN: It’s — for a long time, Chris, former officials have kept their security clearances to be able to advise on critical issues over time. These are individuals typically that have a lot of both wisdom and experience and our entities inside the government. There are contractors who support the government that ask for advice in certain areas.
I don’t find it — certainly, I have my clearance. It’s not used that often and the dependence on sort of a deep understanding of what’s actually going on is not called for that often. So, it’s been going on for a long time. And I think for the most part, it’s been very useful and I have found no one that’s abused that.”
Quite frankly, I’m surprised that many of these people still maintain their security clearances and if I was Trump I would ax them. Republicans argue that if a Democrat gets into power they will do the same. But the reason for the clearance is to give advice to the President if necessary so this is a stupid argument. If the President doesn’t want to ask for their advice, there is no need for them to have a clearance.
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To most swampers, retaing their security clearances into “retirement” that access to priveleged information becomes their stock in trade for cushy jobs as TV analyst (brennan & clapper), consultants for defense contactors, or lobbiest.
It’s a another branch of the swamp