Libertarian Leaning Member of Senate "Applauds" Trump's Revoking Brennan's Security Clearance

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President Donald Trump has announced that he has revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director, John Brennan. The vast majority of those in politics and the media are up in arms over the decision and seem to be coming to the former Director’s support.

Brennan himself took to Twitter addressing the President: “It’s astounding how often you fail to live up to minimum standards of decency, civility, & probity. Seems like you will never understand what it means to be president, nor what it takes to be a good, decent, & honest person. So disheartening, so dangerous for our Nation.” He went on to say “This action is part of a broader effort by Mr. Trump to suppress freedom of speech & punish critics. 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.”

Many leading Democrats have spoken out on behalf of Brennan. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) stated “This might be a convenient way to distract attention, say from a damaging news story or two. But politicizing the way we guard our nation’s secrets just to punish the President’s critics is a dangerous precedent.”

Over in the US House, Rep. Adam Schiff, the leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, went so far as to say the president’s action is “unlawful.” He went on to say on Twitter, “In adding John Brennan to his enemies list, Trump demonstrates again how deeply insecure and vindictive he is — two character flaws dangerous in any president. An enemies list is ugly, undemocratic and un-American,” Schiff tweeted. “I also believe this action to silence a critic is unlawful.”

Republican members of both Houses of Congress have been largely quiet about the President’s actions. However, there is one notable exception. U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) released the following statement after the White House announced President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan:

“I applaud President Trump for his revoking of John Brennan’s security clearance. I urged the President to do this. I filibustered Brennan’s nomination to head the CIA in 2013, and his behavior in government and out of it demonstrate why he should not be allowed near classified information. He participated in a shredding of constitutional rights, lied to Congress, and has been monetizing and making partisan political use of his clearance since his departure.”

Sen. Paul has a reputation as one of the most libertarian minded members of the Senate.

The “free speech” argument is fairly thin. If Brennan has a “free speech” right to have this level of clearance, so would every other law abiding US citizen. There are additional criteria required to enjoy the right of such a security clearance. At least one member of the Senate has been alarmed about Brennan’s use of that security since (at least) 2013, when he was nominated for CIA Director.

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