US President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, one of his staunchest critics, accusing him of "lying" and attempting to "sow division and chaos" in the country.
The 62-year-old former top intelligence official served in the previous Obama administration. He was the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director from 2013 to 2017.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders read out a statement from Trump during a press briefing yesterday in which the President said he has decided to revoke Brennan's security clearance since he recently has "leveraged his status as a former high-ranking official with access to highly sensitive information to make a series of unfounded and outrageous allegations, wild outbursts on the Internet and television, about this administration."
Brennan tweeted that his security clearance being revoked is part of a broader effort by Trump to "suppress freedom of speech and punish critics. It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out. My principles are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent."
When Trump addressed Newman as "that dog" in a tweet, Brennan replied it is "astounding how often you fail to live up to minimum standards of decency, civility and probity. Seems like you will never understand what it means to be president, nor what it takes to be a good, decent and honest person. So disheartening, so dangerous for our Nation."
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