When some government officials leave their high-level positions, they can sign up to receive classified briefings. It’s a choice, and many people choose to receive those briefings, although I would think that for most ex-officials, the briefings are probably just a secure weekly email or a quick phone conversation, something like that. Ex-presidents can also choose to still receive classified briefings in person too. This is, for the most part, just a courtesy extended regardless of party, and regardless of which party controls the White House. Only a handful of ex-officials ever get their classified briefings suspended, and usually it’s for a good cause, like those people are under investigation or they’ve been charged with a crime (see: Michael Flynn). Well, no more. Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed on Monday that the Trump administration is going to try to start suspending classified briefings for any ex-official who is critical of Donald Trump.
President Donald Trump is considering pulling the national security clearances of top-level former intelligence officials for making what the White House described Monday as “baseless accusations” against him. Those ex-officials include former CIA Director John Brennan, former FBI Director James Comey, former NSA Director Michael Hayden, former U.S. national security advisor Susan Rice and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. Some of them said they no longer have security clearances, however.
All of those federal officials served during the Obama administration, and all have been vocally critical of Trump since leaving their posts in government.
“The president is exploring the mechanisms to remove security clearance because they’ve politicized, and in some cases monetized, their public service and security clearances,” Trump’s press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, told reporters during a press briefing at the White House. “Making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia or being influenced by Russia against the president is extremely inappropriate, and the fact that people with security clearances are making these baseless charges provides inappropriate legitimacy to accusations with zero evidence,” she added, appearing to read from a prepared statement.
One, it’s hilariously dumb to insinuate that somehow those ex-officials are “monetizing” their criticism of Trump, especially considering that Trump is the most corrupt president that we’ve ever seen, and considering that he’s still profiting from all of his “vacations” to his own golf courses. Plus, Jared Kushner still has some kind of security clearance and Kushner has been openly profiting from the White House this whole time. But that’s just it: Trump is fine if people want to profit from the White House if they’re on “his side.” He just doesn’t want to be criticized, because he’s that insecure and weak.
Secondly, half of the people listed by Sanders don’t even receive classified briefings anyway. James Comey doesn’t, Michael Hayden says he’s only received a few, and James Clapper said he doesn’t get the briefings at all. Which means they’re just criticizing the president based off all the sh-t that’s out about him in the public sphere already. It’s also just the kind of petty, small-minded, baby-fisted thing that Trump would do: “you’re being mean to me so I won’t allow you a courtesy classified briefing WAAAHHHH!”
Last thing: you know Trump is probably itching to take away Barack Obama’s security briefings too, right? That’s next.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
He won’t touch Obama because he is scared of him….
Does Trump think this will stop these people from going on TV and discussing things like Russia meddling in the election?
empty threats have worked for him for a long time (though, not so much these days) so he figures that this will stop them, sure.
but you and I (and anyone with one half of one lobe of one brain) know that it won’t.
he’s such a f*cking child.
He’s just throwing $hit up on twitter now. Something is bothering him. He even tweeted about the NFL knee thing (ffs let that go away). He’s trying for distraction but this time everyone is focusing on his date with Pudding and those missing children.
Rand Paul is his water boy in this escapade though. So yeah I don’t feel sorry for Rand when he got beat up by his neighbor.
Ryan gave a mealy mouthed pushback. So maybe Congress is not ok with this?
Yes, Trump actually thinks these people will shut up if he threatens to take their security clearance away. He is that dumb.
I can’t wait for this as*hole to be impeached.
I can’t wait for this ass and his spawn to go to jail. That perp walk will be sweet!
Everyday, I feel like we are in The Twilight Zone with this baffoon. Drumpf is being hit with so many scandals that you can’t keep up with them. And somebody needs to take away his phone so that he can longer post on Twitter. It has come to the point that I can’t read the news anymore because I become so angry. I just can’t understand why people still support him.
I love seeing Trump so desperate. Good luck taking on the world’s most experienced, well-connected and powerful lawmen, loser!
In his mind, he hears the sirens getting closer and closer. I guess the noisy nightly protests may be helping that feeling. 😆
They also chanted “lock him up” while he was entering the White House. Good for those people!
There’s multiple petty and not so petty issues at play here. First , these people aren’t getting full briefings like the current holders of their positions are. Second, they would request and get these briefings in the event they were called upon to testify at a deposition, a congressional hearing or a trial for the purpose of refreshing their memories on the issues about which they will testify. That’s the BIG problem here. ?Trump is trying to hinder their ability to testify in court against him and his cronies. This IS obstruction of justice. Moving into the truly petty realm, when applying for some jobs in these fields, people may be asked if they were ever stripped of a security clearance and that can be used against them in the hiring process. He’s trying to prevent them from getting new jobs. Also, should any of these people be offered a government job in the future, they would have to go through the whole application process again, costing us the taxpayers more money.
And then there is Rand Paul, who suddenly is opposed to the basic tenants of capitalism for these people yet has no problems with Princess Nagini exploiting a security clearance and a position that it is illegal for her to hold for her own personal profit.
Excellent points.
This is the best explanation I’ve read about the implications, thanks. Ever consider doing a podcast? 🙂
That SHS could talk about others monetizing their positions with a straight face, as Sean Spicer, for example, makes the rounds promoting his book, is crazy. The hypocrisy of this administration truly knows no bounds.
Spicer is making the media rounds to promote his book and he’s doing an awful job. Still making excuses for drump and his own blunders. Not answering questions, telling half truths or outright lies. He’s forever drump. Maybe to get a gig on Fox. But doesn’t he understand that drump is loyal to no one?
The infuriating thing is if he does this, the DOJ can’t use these people as witnesses in any case, not just involving Trump, so we’ll lose cases, costing taxpayers money & potentially putting us at risk if criminals go free.
Fox didn’t want Spicer. In the end I doubt anyone who works for that regime can get another job.
I loathe Sweet Potato Saddam and his entire family of lying grifters.
Sweet Potato Saddam is all the perfect that I need. Thank you 🙏🏾
Kate – I need some sleep. I read your “lying grifters” as “flying fritters”. Which might even make sense, going along with your “Sweet Potato Saddam”.
All I can say today is, I’M EXHAUSTED 😩. Someone make it 🛑. HES GOING TO HAVE 66% of the country on suicide watch. This behavior of the dotard and the Republicans are driving most of us 😝.
I know. Right there with you. I went to a last minute get together with a few friends last night and after a couple hours someone said “can you believe we’ve gone this long without talking about Trump?” It was nice while it lasted, lol.
I try to avoid Trump news on the weekends, but as soon as I get home on Sunday nights, I catch up on what I missed. I can’t believe I survive one day without talking about Trump
I just got back from a spa weekend with my sister, and the ignorance was such bliss. Having a few days out of the loop was soooooo good for my soul and well being.
Someone is playing the game of “Distraction” again….
These “shiny objects ” being thrown every day prove how desperate they are to distract
Now that some are pointing out how he and his crew are profiting, wait for the “Smoky Eyes was mistaken/I never said that” new deflection.
Projection and deflection, every single day.
I know this is going to end, i just don’t know how. And that is the frightening part.
Not well, I’m sure.
It should be funny, but honestly, this should frighten a lot of people. These ex-officials are often used for advice and cooperation due to their experience and understanding of situations. So not only are you cutting off a resource, but you’re isolating the government from criticism. Punishing political opponents is a straight up dictator move. The press should be very worried.
Trump doesn’t realize that though. All he knows is that they are criticizing him and they worked for Obama. Most of the people Trump hires don’t have a clue what their jobs are, so we need these ex-officials to stick around
They’re also used as witnesses in cases brought by or defended by the DOJ. This would prevent them from doing so
Oooh, very good point. I wasn’t aware that ability would be removed if their access was taken away. Scary times we live in.
He can flail about all he wants. Jury selection for Manafort’s trial is still proceeding.
Monetizing their positions? A Trump is accusing these career civil servants of monetizing their positions? The only people I see doing that are the Idiot in Chief, Just Jared, and Princess Barbie herself. Sorry, I left out Uday and Qusay. This “first family” is definitely first in finding ways to benefit financially from the Idiot’s stolen office. From the hotels to Barbie’s clothing lines, to friendly loans, this grifting family knows how to take every last penny possible from the American taxpayers. Yet Sarah has the nerve to stand at her podium of power and accuse patriots of monetizing their positions. FFS! Well, at least she’s retiring, so we’ll get someone new to lie to us! Bring back the Mooch. He was at least entertaining.
What? She’s retiring? She’s, what, a very old looking 35? I guess that’s the new euphemism for “I’ve had enough”.
I know this is a gossip site but I can’t describe how much I appreciate these political postings and comments. I’ve been very depressed since Trump was elected and now obsessively listen to MSNBC, CNN, NPR. Sometimes I jump to FOX to see what kind of shittles they’re covering. Especially when there’s breaking news about Trump or his ilk. The past 20 months have brought out the worst in some people. It seems like the bad guys keep “winning” and get away with some of the worst policies. Sometimes I worry about our humanity. But I always feel better after reading these posts and comments. It gives me hope and I don’t feel so alone.
Thank you so much Mimi that means a lot to hear. I tweeted your comment: https://twitter.com/celebitchy/status/1021797631864045568
Hang in there, MiMi. We’re all in this together. I have a lot of faith in Robert Mueller to help bring some sanity back. Oh, and a massive blue tidal wave in November would help too.
You’re not alone. I can’t believe how overly obsessed I am with this. The first and last thing I do every day is check on political news, and I never turn off CNN or MSNBC when I’m home during the week. The Trump disaster has cost me to lose lots of friends when I can’t ignore how much I disagree with them, and I’m not a mean person, but I really lose my temper when it comes to arguing with Trumpsters. It’s really helpful coming here to see people on my side and knowing I’m not alone
CNN: Ivanka Trump shuttling down fashion company
Oh darn! I guess I missed out on having an “Ivanka”. *sniffle*
Party on the veranda! Wear your cheapest designer knock offs and we’ll enjoy champagne popsicles as we “architect” our way through the dilemma of what to do with all those Chinese trademarks? Princess Nagini’s clothing line is dead!
Who’s bringing the champagne popsicles? Goody, does that mean the child laborers can finally go home?
Let’s hope the find employment and better working conditions somewhere else.
Putting in plug for voting here! Triple quadruple check registration, get a pal or 10 to vote, donate a little if you can (also for folks outside your district), and when you vote to a straight g*da*n democratic ticket! Also wouldn’t hurt to bug your Senator(s) about Kavanaugh- no appointments until mueller clears 45, period, no exceptions! 5calls.org and texting “resist” to 50409 can help!
Kavanaugh also wrote that he thinks the SCOTUS was wrong to vote to demand the tapes from Nixon during Watergate. Going against what practically everybody else has ever believed.
Trump didn’t choose him to destroy Roe vs. Doe. He chose him to try to save his own skin, to insist that a President is above the law.
Well, now that the tariffs are driving the farmers out of business they will to be apply for assistance, and he’s proposing to use emergency funds to bail them out by giving them $15b of our guard earn money, when all he needs to do is call off the tariffs.
The madness continues, #45 sent out a tweet today saying the Russians will meddle in the November election in the Dems favor because Putin wants the Dems to win. #45 says it’s because he has been to hard on Russia. He wanted to know why BO did not do something about the meddling in the election. Now that he says he knows they will be meddling what is he going to do? Help us Jesus or whom ever we prey to, please 🙏🙏🙏🙏for us. Btw, the new poll came out today and his poll # dropped to 38-58 % so I suspect he is likely to start a war tonight, with everybody.
If people can’t see the truth in this they are deluded. Orange turd and GOP were the ones who went to Ru$$ia to lick the Pudding. Not the Dems. I find it hard to believe people would buy into this narrative.
Cheeto Benito is notorious for projecting; i.e., he accuses others of what he has done or will do. I don’t think Putin and his hacker brigade would ever rig a US election in the Democrats favor — he wants to destroy liberalism outright. So, Dolt 45 is tweeting about election meddling to project his/Putin’s intent to do just that in November, AND/OR to use as an excuse for a massive purge of the voter rolls (which they’re already doing).
I’m alarmed that he invited Putin to come to the US in **November** — that means right before or after the election. So, the meeting agenda will be either a) finalizing plans to rig the election, or b) toasting their victory. The thought that the GOP could possibly GAIN ground due to vote rigging/suppression makes me physically ill.
So, as others have posted, we all need to double-, triple-, and quadruple-check our voter registration status. We also need to bone up on the rules and procedures for casting a provisional ballot, as well as initiating a recount. If you can spare the time, sign up to be a poll watcher, election judge, or voter registrar.
I’m watching CNN and Brook Baldwin is asking her guest, “do you think the President is compromised?. I have been saying he’s compromised for the longest time, the man is unraveling in front of our eyes now that he knows there are tapes out there. Btw, where are his taxes. Why were over one hundred children were snatched from their parents and no one knows where the parents are, and the news is saying they may NEVER get back with their parents. Someone has to stop 🛑 this madness.
I just want to vent my frustration over the pat responses I get from my senators when I contact them about any of these issues. They always send me an impersonal and obviously generic letter that usually manages to not answer directly some of the specific complaints I have. We are broken
What a bunch of a$$holes (that includes Aunt Lydia – that picture is appropriate). Comey and McCabe were fired. I doubt they still have clearances. The only one who has and has had for years is Clapper. He’s had it since Kennedy regime. But ok, throw away all that knowledge since this Nazis know how to butt lick Pudding.
This angers me so much.
A former Ambassador said that mostly those clearances are just kept in case the government needs their advice or knowledge about a situation that involves classified info.
Now consider that Trump never asks for advice and is allergic to knowledge.
Therefore removal of their clearances is meaningless and obviously a political intimidation tactic – so it also won’t affect their future employment.
If we survive the Trump Era and get a sensible POTUS again some time, their clearances will be restored.
Plus…Trump would love to remove Obama and Biden’s clearances. With his transparent need to wipe away anything relating to Obama, it must be killing him that he and Biden retain them. Just think, the Orange Menace wants to strip the knowledgeable people of their clearances, but Princess Barbie and Just Jared will keep theirs.