Posted on 08/20/2018 8:57:16 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
President Trump on Monday suggested he may pull the security clearance of former FBI official Phil Mudd after Mudd appeared on a heated CNN segment over the weekend to push back against the president's revocation of clearances from other members of the intelligence community
Trump tweeted that he watched Mudd "become totally unglued and weird" during a debate with CNN analyst Paris Dennard on the president's decision to revoke ex-CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance.
"Mudd is in no mental condition to have such a Clearance," Trump said. "Should be REVOKED?"
Trump tagged Fox News host Sean Hannity in the tweet as well. It was not immediately clear if Hannity replayed a clip of the back-and-forth between Mudd and Dennard, which originally aired on CNN on Friday night.
In the segment, Dennard agreed with Trump's decision to revoke Brennan's security clearance, and argued former intelligence officials keep their clearances "because it’s profitable for them after they leave government."
"Profitable, Paris?" Mudd responded. "When I am requested to sit on an advisory board, let me ask you one question. How much do you think I’m paid to do that at the request of the US government?"
"Answer the question," he shouted.
Mudd, who worked under then-FBI Director Robert Mueller and spent three decades in the CIA and FBI, asserted he is not paid by the government when he provides consulting work, and that he does not use his clearance for work in the private sector.
The two men continued to shout over each other, with Mudd growing more upset.
"We’re done, Jim," Mudd said. "Get out. 25 years in the service and this is the sh*t I get? Get out."
Trump justified revoking Brennan’s clearance by saying in a statement that the former CIA chief has made “a series of unfounded and outrageous allegations — wild outbursts on the internet and television — about this Administration.”
In addition to Brennan, Trump said he is considering revoking the clearances of a number of other former intelligence official, and one current Department of Justice employee.
Skeptics have noted that Trump has singled out individuals who have spoken out against him, and suggested the president may be using the clearances as a political tool to retaliate.
Dozens of ex-intelligence officials, including Mudd, have expressed support for Brennan in recent days and condemned Trump’s decision to revoke his clearance.
Michael Hayden, a former CIA director whose clearance Trump said he's reviewing, responded to Trump's tweet on Monday night calling Mudd a "hero" and a "counter terrorism giant."
DO IT, PDJT!
Whoot! And keep on tweeting! Love how you troll the #deepstate!
Recall that Trump said during his campaign that he would stop the "revolving door" where ex gobmint and congressional critters get lucrative jobs on K street and in industry.
I think he said a prohibition for 5 years
One way to stop this in its tracks would be to pull the security clearance.
You have the absolute authority to do that, Donny Boy ... what are you waiting for?
The article is a bit unfair. Dennard was patient and polite to a fault. Mudd just went apeshit crazy.
Mudd started by complaining that his voice was being silenced, which was risable from the get-go. Then he wanted to silence Dennard by throwing him off the show.
I doubt the average CNN viewer found anything ironic about it.
Using their own methods and standards against them, brilliant!
Sounds reasonable to me. Got a high level security clearance? You’re supposed to keep your mouth shut, not singing like a canary to the media or anybody else for that matter. Btw, those security clearances belong to the govt, not to the John Brennans out there who want to profit off of them. I’m not crying at all if it hits them in the pocket.
Loud mouth creeps love getting on TV and berating Trump
Thinking there will be no consequences or rebutals
You have it backwards. The question is "once they leave their jobs" who keeps feeding them information?
"President Trump, the most successful reality television producer in the history of the medium, knows how to spot a compelling villain, and now he has provoked the Deep Staters into defending the indefensible."
Mudd exposed himself with that outburst...who gets this angry unless they are a hard-left political hack. Anyone with a security clearance should be professional, circumspect, cool under pressure, and respectful of what's been entrusted to them.
Amen! I appreciate the link.
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