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WEB DESK
Former CIA director John Brennan said he was considering legal action against President Donald Trump and also called on Congress to prevent Trump from abusing his authority.
Brennan said Trump abused his power past week when he stripped the former CIA chief of his security clearance, which gave him access to classified briefings.
Speaking on a televised public affairs program on Sunday, Brennan said losing his security clearance didn’t hurt him personally but slammed the president for punishing — and threatening to punish — people who disagree with him.
The former intelligence chief said he’d spoken to several lawyers about possible legal action against the president, who said he had a list of people who were at risk of losing their security clearance.
Brennan said he would do whatever he could “to try to prevent these abuses in the future.” He said, “If it means going to court, I will do that.”
More than 75 former intelligence officials have criticized Trump’s decision to withdraw Brennan’s security clearance, saying they had the constitutional right to express themselves without fear of punishment.
Brennan also called on Congress to stand-up and block the president from abusing his authority.
In the early 1970s President Richard Nixon drew up such a list as his presidency began to unravel amid the Watergate scandal that ultimately led to his downfall.
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. https://t.co/TNzOxhP9ux
— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) August 15, 2018