Trump Rips, Rages, and Threatens to Revoke Security Clearance of His Critics, but…

He’s a petty, small, sniveling little man.

And a Russian asset. Trump is definitely a Russian asset.

Besides that, however, it is with no small amount of amusement that I, and anyone who has not been caught up in the delusion that is Trump, sit back and view this latest impotent rager from Putin’s pet.

Apparently, President Trump has decided to punish those from the former administration that he sees as “political enemies,” by stripping them of their security clearance.

That’ll show ‘em.

The White House laid it all out in a Monday presser:

“Not only is the president looking to take away [Former CIA Director John] Brennan’s security clearance, he’s also looking into the clearances of Comey, Clapper, Hayden, Rice and McCabe,” press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters.

Ouch. He plans on cleaning house.

The White House accused those individuals of having “politicized and monetized” their access to U.S. intelligence and national security secrets.

“As of right now, we are exploring the mechanism on those specific names,” Sanders said.

Explore, yes.

The five officials who are likely somewhere in a fallout shelter, quaking with awestruck fear all worked in some official capacity during the Obama administration.

As has been mentioned, John Brennan was the former CIA director. James Clapper served as the Director of National Intelligence. Michael Hayden is the former Director of the National Security Agency. Susan Rice, of course, was the former national security adviser to President Obama. James Comey and Andrew McCabe, of course, are the former Director and Deputy Director of the FBI, ousted by Trump when the Russia probe became too uncomfortably close.

Something else they all have in common is their willingness to speak out openly against Donald Trump.

But don’t assume this is motivated by petty vindictiveness, however.

“The president is exploring these mechanisms to remove security clearances because they politicized and in some cases actually monetized their public service and their security clearances, and making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia or being influenced by Russia against the president is extremely inappropriate,” Sanders said.

“The president contends that the fact that people with security clearances are making these baseless charges provides inappropriate legitimacy to accusations with zero evidence,” she added.

I mean, it really does sound like whatever this is, it’s because they badmouthed the president, at some point, and he’s just paying them back.

Still, Sanders insists that the president’s motives are pure and upright, just like his marriage vows.

When pressed again on whether the move was aimed at punishing his enemies, Sanders shot back, “I think you are creating your own story there.”

“The president doesn’t like the fact that people are politicizing agencies and departments that are specifically meant to not be political and not meant to be monetized off of security clearances,” she said.

So is she saying she thinks they were getting paid for their books, interviews, etc… because they once worked for the government?

I don’t know what she’s getting at, and I doubt it makes sense to her, either. She’s just the administration mouthpiece.

That being said, there’s still a curious matter that needs to be cleared up.

I just texted @Comey asking whether he even has a security clearance to revoke.

“Nope,” he responded. There’s nothing for POTUS to revoke. Comey says he was “read out” when he left government as per normal practice. 1/2

— Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) July 23, 2018

He even recently declined a temporary clearance from the IG to read the classified annex to the IG’s recent report. He didn’t want to see any classified material lest the president accuse him of leaking it. 2/2

— Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) July 23, 2018

Yeah. I was wondering about that, as well.

And it doesn’t end there.

I dont go back for classified briefings (although they occasionally ask me in to offer a view on something). Won’t have any impact on what I say or write.

— Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) July 23, 2018

Oops.

It really doesn’t appear this threat was well planned.

Still, isn’t there anyone within Trump’s circle now willing to warn him about these things, beforehand?

I guess they’ve all given up.