Clapper Responds To Possibility His Security Clearance Could Be Revoked — Petty Thing To Do

“The president is exploring the mechanisms to remove security clearance, because they’ve politicized and in some cases monetized their public service and security clearances,” Sanders said. “Making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia, or being influenced by Russia against the president is extremely inappropriate, and the fact that people with security clearances are making these baseless charges provides inappropriate legitimacy to accusations with zero evidence.”

One such official named by Sanders was former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. In a phone call to CNN made immediately after Sanders concluded the briefing, Clapper forcefully claimed that it was not he who is playing politics with the clearance, but rather, the White House.

“I think it’s, off the top of my head, kind of a sad commentary,” Clapper said. “For political reasons, this is a petty way of retribution, I suppose, for speaking out against the president — which I think, on the part of all of us, are borne out of genuine concerns about President Trump.”

He added, “I think this is just a very, very petty thing to do.”