James Clapper takes a swipe at Ex-CIA Director John Brennan over his problematic anti-Trump trash talk

Chuck Ross, DCNF DCNF

James Clapper, the director of national intelligence under former President Barack Obama, took a swipe at former CIA Director John Brennan on Sunday, saying that his former colleague’s anti-Trump rhetoric has become “an issue in and of itself.”

“Do you think that John Brennan’s hyperbole is an issue here, is one of the reasons we’re having this crisis?” CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Clapper during a panel discussion about President Donald Trump’s decision to revoke Brennan’s security clearance.

“I think it is,” said Clapper, a CNN analyst. “John is sort of like a freight train and he’s gonna say what’s on his mind.”

“John and his rhetoric have become an issue in and of itself,” he added.

Trump revoked Brennan’s security clearance on Wednesday.

“Historically, former heads of intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been allowed to retain access to classified information after their government service so that they can consult with their successors regarding matters about which they may have special insight and as a professional courtesy,” Trump said in a statement. (RELATED: Brennan Accuses Trump Of Treason Following Helsinki Summit)

“Neither of these justifications supports Mr. Brennan’s continued access to classified information,” he said.

Brennan has been among the most vocal Obama administration critics of Trump. He has accused the Republican of being “treasonous.”

The administration is also considering revoking security clearances for Clapper, former FBI Director James Comey, Michael Hayden, Sally Yates, Susan Rice, Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page and Bruce Ohr.

Despite his criticism on Sunday, Clapper was among 12 former intelligence community officials who issued a letter on Thursday in support of Brennan.

“You don’t have to agree with what John Brennan says (and, again, not all of us do) to agree with his right to say it, subject to his obligation to protect classified information,” the retired officials wrote.

Follow Chuck on Twitter

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!

Success! Thank you for donating. Please share BPR content to help combat the lies.

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

PLEASE JOIN OUR NEW COMMENT SYSTEM! We love hearing from our readers and invite you to join us for feedback and great conversation. If you've commented with us before, we'll need you to re-input your email address for this. The public will not see it and we do not share it.

Latest Articles