Former intelligence officials have no "vested right" to maintain their security clearances, and in the case of former CIA Director John Brennan, having access to information that could be leaked is dangerous, Rep. Pete King said Tuesday.
"There is no vested right for a former CIA director or anyone to have a permanent security clearance," the New York Republican told Fox News' "America's Newsroom." "It is a privilege."
With Brennan, who is "making money because of what he can say on television," that is an incentive, intentional or not, to risk leaking information.
"Why would you be giving him that type of access is beyond me," said King. To me, the main reason you would give a person a security clearance if they've left office is if you need to call on them for advice or want them to be part of a crisis [team] to bring them in."
However, Brennan "despises Donald Trump," he pointed out. "They are as far apart as two people can be. It serves no purpose to give him a security clearance, and you run the added risk now that he is a high-priced commentator on other networks the risk is too great. I certainly understand why you take it away."
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, Monday commented that Brennan "should not get anywhere within 10,000 yards of the government" and that he should "have a restraining order," and King said he agrees with him.
King said he doesn't know if Brennan is receiving money from television networks himself, but the appearances help his speaking fees and make him more of a "saleable commodity."
Brennan, a frequent critic of Trump's, commented on Twitter that the president's words during a press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin were "treasonous," and King said he thinks that gives Trump the right to strip the former CIA director's security clearance.
"That's such an over-the-top, irresponsible statement by John Brennan, [but] unfortunately all too typical of him," said King.
Meanwhile, former CIA and NSA Director Michael Hayden, now an analyst for CNN, said that he doesn't go in for classified briefings, and revoking his access won't affect what he says or writes. King responded that Hayden's words prove Trump's point.
"I know him," said King. "If he doesn't take briefings now no harm, no foul. He should lose his security clearance and have it taken away but I wouldn't put him in the same category as Brennan. He has been sort of hostile to the president. Brennan has gone beyond that. The rule should be unless you're an advisor to the president I don't see what purpose it serves for people like that to retain security clearance. To me it creates risk."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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