Former CIA Director John Brennan appeared on Meet the Press on Sunday, and told host Chuck Todd that he could possibly fight President Trump in court over the revoking of Brennan’s security clearance, that he doesn’t believe his speech up to this point has been political or politically motivated, and that he stands by his prior assessment of Trump as treasonous.
“You have been more outspoken than any former official. It may be why many Republican legislators feel comfortable taking the president’s side, they believe your comments have been over the top,” said Todd. “Do you regret essentially accusing the president of treason? Do you regret some of the things you have said?”
“Well I called his behavior treasonous, which is to betray one’s trust, and to aid and abet the enemy, and I stand very much by that claim,” Brennan answered.
On the idea of treason in the form of conspiracy or collusion, Brennan was less forceful.
“I think all Americans need to wait for Robert Mueller to be able to finalize his investigation and to determine whether or not there was any criminal activity that was taking place there,” he said. “But I have spoken out against Mr. Trump’s lack of decency, civility, honesty, and character, and I will continue to do that.”
President Donald Trump said Monday that he hopes former CIA Director John Brennan will bring forward a lawsuit against the Trump administration for revoking his security clearance last week.
“I hope John Brennan, the worst CIA Director in our country’s history, brings a lawsuit. It will then be very easy to get all of his records, texts, emails and documents to show not only the poor job he did, but how he was involved with the Mueller Rigged Witch Hunt. He won’t sue!” Trump tweeted Monday.
Brennan said Sunday that he was willing to pursue legal action against Trump, telling NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he’s “going to do whatever I can personally to try to prevent these abuses in the future, and if it means going to court, I will do that.”
Trump revoked Brennan’s security clearance Wednesday, saying Brennan’s history “calls into question his objectivity and credibility.” The President later connected his decision to revoke Brennan’s clearance with the former CIA director’s involvement in the Russia investigation, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Brennan has been a harsh critic of the Trump administration, going so far as to call Trump’s actions alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin in a news conference after their summit in Helsinki, Finland, “nothing short of treasonous.”
In a second tweet on Monday, Trump said, “Everybody wants to keep their Security Clearance, it’s worth great prestige and big dollars, even board seats, and that is why certain people are coming forward to protect Brennan. It certainly isn’t because of the good job he did! He is a political ‘hack.'”
The White House has not provided any evidence that suggests Brennan leveraged his security clearance for personal financial gain.