In a striking development, former U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearances of former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and several other key aides associated with President Joe Biden.
According to reports from the New York Post, a pro-Trump right-wing tabloid, Trump made the decision during an exclusive interview. He referred to Blinken as a \"bad guy\" and stated, \"Take away his passes,\" effectively barring him from accessing classified information and federal facilities.
Beyond Blinken, Trump announced similar actions against seven other Democrats, including Jake Sullivan, who previously served as Biden's national security adviser and was a chief foreign policy adviser to Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election.
The list also includes New York Attorney General Letitia James, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and Biden's Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. These individuals have all been involved in investigations related to Trump at various points.
The revocation of Biden's security clearances by Trump follows his own removal of Biden's clearances last Friday. Additionally, Trump's daily intelligence briefings have been discontinued.
Trump criticized Biden for setting a precedent in 2021 when he instructed the intelligence community to prevent Trump from accessing national security details, a courtesy typically extended to former presidents even after they leave office. Trump contends that Biden established this stance due to concerns over his \"erratic behavior\" and the potential for disclosing sensitive information.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
