Dem: Trump revoking Brennan’s security clearance is ‘Moscow politics’

A Democratic lawmaker on Wednesday called President Trump’s decision to revoke former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance “Moscow politics.”

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) defended Brennan as “a patriot” in a tweet following the announcement.

“Anybody that disagrees with Trump finds themselves on a hit list. John Brennan is a patriot,” Pascrell tweeted. “His faith to America is unwavering. We have a leader now who won’t tolerate difference in opinion. This is Moscow politics, in and out.”

Anybody that disagrees with Trump finds themselves on a hit list. John Brennan is a patriot. His faith to America is unwavering. We have a leader now who won’t tolerate difference in opinion. This is Moscow politics, in and out. https://t.co/OpWmq4ydRF

— Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) August 15, 2018

Trump announced Wednesday, through a statement read by press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, that he was revoking Brennan’s clearance as a matter of national security.

{mosads}Trump accused Brennan, a frequent critic of his administration, of using his status to make “unfounded and outrageous” comments about him.

“Mr. Brennan’s lying and recent conduct characterized by increasingly frenzied commentary is wholly inconsistent with access to the nation’s most closely held secrets and facilities, the very aim of our adversaries, which is to sow division and chaos,” Trump said in the statement.

Trump is reviewing the security clearance status of a number of other former officials who have criticized him, including former FBI Director James Comey, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former national security adviser Susan Rice.

Former administration officials typically keep their security clearances in order to provide advice to their successors.