Trump Sets the Nixon-era Stage: For Impeachment, Resignation, or Who Knows What Else

Trump's “Enemies List” revenge to silence those who criticize him

(No other reason just raw spite and abuse of power)

Trump’s “Enemies List” scoreboard for surely it is: 1 down – 9 to go…

Great rundown from WTOP (Washington’s Top News) in part):

Trump has acted on a threat to revoke the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan, citing a constitutional responsibility to protect classified information. Brennan, who served in the Obama administration, had become an increasingly sharp critic of Trump’s. 

Trump also says he is reviewing security clearances for nine other individuals. Some have been publicly critical of the president, while others are linked to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference, which Trump calls “a witch hunt.” 

The 10 individuals, their backgrounds, and notes on each:

JOHN BRENNAN: In a written statement, Trump cited “erratic conduct and behavior” by President Barack Obama’s CIA director as justification for revoking Brennan’s security clearance. Trump also accused Brennan of “lying” and “wild outbursts.” At a news conference last month in Finland, Trump stood alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and openly questioned U.S. intelligence agencies’ conclusions that Moscow tried to influence the 2016 election in his favor. Afterward, Brennan criticized Trump’s performance as “nothing short of treasonous” and accused him of being “wholly in the pocket of Putin.”

Brennan has sense tweeted his response to Trump’s decision to revoke his security clearance: “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.”

Others listed at the linked site.

FYI to this story and the question raised from the Washington Post: What does Brennan or other former officials he need a security clearance for anyway? 

He no longer works for the government. Why does he need access to government secrets? 

A: When senior officials leave government — on good terms there has been an informal standard of continuing to grant clearance for the rest of their careers. Those clearances go through a review process every five years. 

More examples and answers to a lot of questions people are asking at the linked story about this issue — a good read — check it out.

My 2 cents: Good for Mr. Brennan, others, and growing number of people chiming in about this latest madness from Trump – for surely it is both mad and madness as never before (except may way back with Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre.”

Recall that was when Nixon in October 1973 fired Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox, and after anger from others, he accepted the resignations of AG Elliot Richardson and Deputy AG William Ruckelshaus.

Under pressure and the House impeachment proceedings, Nixon resigned, and rightly so. 

Now, here we go again today with massive abuse of power by Trump who is trying any way he can to stop free speech from critics and ultimately stop the Mueller investigation, therefore blocking the truth from prevailing. Just like Nixon attempted and failed, so will Trump fail. Why?

If Trump is innocent as he professes, then why all these steps to show guilt? Just let play out – oh, I see, he is guilty…. Oops. 

It's just like Trump's hush money: It is not used to hide a lie - it is paid to conceal the truth.

Stay tuned.

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