These people are mostly no longer in government. Why do they need security clearances at the moment anyhow?
Gabbard strips security clearances of 37 intelligence officials, including many with Biden ties
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former intelligence officials, sharing the list in a move that prompted swift criticism that the Trump administration was politicizing clearances.
Among those on the list are several Biden administration officials, including Maher Bitar, who joined the National Security Council (NSC) after previously working for then-House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) amid the first Trump impeachment. Bitar has since returned to Schiff’s office, but he has captured the attention of right-wing activist Laura Loomer, who has complained on the social platform X about his retention of a clearance.
Emily Horne, an NSC spokesperson under Biden, also had her clearance revoked, as did Brett Holmgren, who most recently served as assistant secretary of State for intelligence and research and is married to former Biden White House counsel Dana Remus.
Gabbard, without evidence, accused those listed of politicizing or leaking intelligence or “committing intentional egregious violations of tradecraft standards.”
Well, if The Hill and others would like evidence, Gabbard could have these people charged with felonies, instead of just stripping their clearances. Would that be better (well, yeah)?
“Can you say ‘Privacy Act violation’? I certainly can. Further proof of weaponization and politicization. The vast majority of these individuals are not household names & are dedicated public servants who have worked across multiple presidential administrations,” said Mark Zaid, a national security attorney who has represented clients who have had clearance revoked and also had his own clearance stripped under Trump.
Zaid noted that the move was first published by the New York Post ahead of the public announcement by Gabbard.
A security clearance is a privilege, not a right
(NY Post) Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced security clearances had been pulled from 37 current and former officials who “abused public trust by politicizing and manipulating” information — including several who were involved in a controversial, Barack Obama-ordered assessment of Russian influence in the 2016 election. (snip)
The 37 include ex-Principal Deputy DNI Stephanie O’Sullivan and Vinh Nguyen, who both worked under Clapper while his office was producing the now-discredited 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) on Russia’s preference for then-candidate Donald Trump in the 2016 contest with Hillary Clinton.
Nguyen had been serving in the Trump administration as the National Security Agency’s first chief responsible artificial intelligence (AI) officer.
His involvement in the ICA report was first revealed by Real Clear Investigations earlier this month.
Several others affected by Tuesday’s announcement were involved in that ICA report, while some also signed onto a September 2019 statement in support of House Democrats’ first impeachment inquiry into Trump.
And more were involved. Others used their security clearances for political purposes. So, there’s your proof, The Hill. Get over it.
It’s perfectly legal for trump to order Tulsi to pull security clearances.
Clearances are a privilege not a right. Criticizing the administration is a serious charge!
Mr trump should follow up with prosecutions so the American people can see the particulars of their crimes!!!
The HILL is now concerned about ‘no evidence’? That’s funny, when the left declared President Trump guilty of a dozen crimes, they didn’t seem to worry about there not being any evidence.
???? My security clearance expired back in the 60s
Do you think I mourned it ?
As far as I am concerned ALL security clearances that are no longer needed should be cancelled
Do you think Obama lor Biden would give 2 shits if there’s were cancelled?
Fun fact of the day.
It wasn’t the white guy
Bwaha! Lolgf!
MAGA47 Motherfuckers!
A security clearance is a recognition of official trust. That trust is always limited by need to know and burdens to safeguard the information gained. It is only natural that those people who are known to be untrustworthy would have their clearances stripped. Having a clearance stripped is an entirely different process than simply allowing it to expire. An expired clearance can always be renewed by just asking (and having an official government purpose). Stripped clearances are an indicator that the holder no longer has the trust of the government.
Of course since we know that one entire political party is untrustworthy it is expected that when they hold power again, they will administratively grant access to their minions whatever clearances they desire to access the secrets of the government even though it is known with certainty that they will misuse that access.
Commenter:
And that party is helmed by Don Trump, the most untrustworthy person in American history.
And that means a lot coming from such a trustworthy person as Rimjob who swindled ~$75M from investors over a 5 year period.
Bwaha! Lolgf Loser!
MAGA47 Motherfucker!
LOL. William Teach aka Porter Good is car salesman who swindled an old couple.
Why am I not afraid of a defamation suit? Because I have supporting evidence.
Do you and Mr Good have any supporing evidence, Rodney?
So Rimjob if you didn’t swindle investors in Galera Therapeutics out of ~$75M over a five year period why are you so upset?
Why did you leave and where did all that money go?
Didja get out while the getting was good?
Bwaha! Lolgfy Swindler!
MAGA47 Motherfucker!
We’re not upset ya little minc, Rodney. But Porter Good may be.
So you and Mr Porter Good are claiming that Galera Therapeutics, Inc embezzled $75 million from investors? Interesting charge.
We’ll let Galera Therapeutics Inc know of what drowningpuppies and Mr Porter Good of Raleigh NC allege.
So allegations and innuendo upset Rimjob.
That’s good to know.
Porter,
Can you add a bit more detail to the “swindle”… name of organization, any other “swindlers” etc?
Thanks!