Democracy Dies in Darkness

Trump revokes security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan — a leading critic of the president

August 15, 2018 at 9:59 p.m. EDT
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders read a statement from President Trump revoking ex-CIA director John Brennan's security clearance on Aug. 15. (Video: Reuters)

President Trump on Wednesday followed through on threats to strip the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, igniting a firestorm of criticism that the president was recklessly attempting to distract from his own political problems and silence high-profile critics.

Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the decision at a White House briefing, reading a statement from Trump that accused Brennan of making “a series of unfounded and outrageous allegations — wild outbursts on the internet and television — about this Administration.”