Lewandowski blasts backlash over Trump security clearance retractions: ‘It’s fake outrage’

Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on Sunday decried members of the intelligence community and the news media for what he said was “fake outrage” over President Trump’s decision to terminate former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance.

Lewandowski told radio host John Catsimatidis in an interview on AM 970 in New York that there was no reason for Brennan to be “privy” to national secrets given he no longer holds a government position.

{mosads}“It’s fake outrage. What secrets do we think former Director of Central Intelligence Brennan still has to be privy to?” Lewandowski said. “And what communication [is there where] he is required to have a top-secret security clearance that he still needs to have with the current administration?”

Lewandowski went on to accuse Brennan of “profiteering” off of the information he had access to with his security clearance.

“He is a paid political pundit for television. And any information that he is receiving on top-secret issues should no longer be relayed to him,” Lewandowski said. “He should not have access to classified information. And he takes that information and he probably is profiteering off of it by sitting on boards and other places that he can utilize the information for material gain.”

Lewandowski’s remarks closely echo those made by Trump in his statement announcing Brennan’s clearance being revoked.

In the statement, which was read by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders during Wednesday’s briefing, Trump claimed that Brennan and other officials with their clearances under review had “monetized their public service and security clearances.”

Brennan fired back at those accusations on Twitter, warning the Trump administration that he would not “relent” in his criticism of the White House in the face of his clearance being revoked.

“This action is part of a broader effort by Mr. Trump to suppress freedom of speech & punish critics,” he wrote later Wednesday. “It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out. My principles are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent.”