Former CIA Director John Brennan Friday night accused President Donald Trump of being "drunk on power" after a Washington Post report that the White House has drafted documents to revoke security clearances for current and former officials who the president says should be punished for criticizing him or taking a part in the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
"This is just another demonstration of his irresponsibility in terms of holding that office,' Brennan told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, in his first televised interview after Trump revoked his security clearance.
Friday evening, The Post, quoting an unnamed senior White House official, said Trump wants to sign "most, if not all" of the revocation orders. However, communications officials, including press secretary Sarah Sanders and new deputy chief of staff Bill Shine have discussed releasing the orders when they'll distract from unfavorable news stories.
"The fact that he's using a security clearance of a former CIA director as a pawn in his public relations strategy, I think, is just so reflective of somebody who, I quite frankly, don't want to use this term maybe, but he's drunk on power," said Brennan.
"I think he's abusing the powers of that office," Brennan added. "I think right now this country is in a crisis in terms of what Mr. Trump has done and is liable to do. Are the Republicans on the Hill who have given him a pass, are they going to wait for a disaster to happen before they actually find their backbones and spines to speak up against somebody who clearly, clearly is not carrying out his responsibilities with any sense of purpose and common sense from the standpoint of a national security?"
Brennan said he also wants to know what Trump will do on the foreign front, in a "wag the dog" scenario as things get increasingly difficult for him."
"How desperate will he become?" asked Brennan. "What else is he going to do to distract attention?"
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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