John Bolton, the National Security Adviser and a man with an outstanding mustache, has openly suggested that John Brennan, the former CIA Director, may have misused some type of classified information. This could be the result of “unprecedented leaks” from the Trump administration and it may push big changes in the ways that security clearances are dealt with in the future.

This is big news in the midst of the drama between President Trump and John Brennan because Brennan just had his clearances revoked and it seems like he’s on a warpath towards Trump. It’s so bad that Brennan might even take legal action over losing his security clearances because his name and reputation are “being pulled through the mud now” according to him, via Fox News.

Bolton’s breaking news comes from his trip to Israel, his first while working for the Trump administration, and he was there to talk about national security issues with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bolton would also speak to other top officials.

Bolton was questioned about it, challenged even, and he responded.

Fox News stated: “Whether [Brennan] actually used classified information, I think people will be able to determine, but I think that’s a serious problem,” Bolton said. “There is a line, and I think it’s clear some people can cross it.

“My opinion is that he was politicizing intelligence,” Bolton added, saying Brennan had failed to keep intact the “wall of separation between intelligence and policy.”

Host Martha Raddatz ultimately challenged Bolton: “You’re not sure whether John Brennan used classified information? You have no specific examples.”

Bolton replied, “I think a number of people have commented that [Brennan] couldn’t be in the position he’s in of criticizing President Trump and his so-called collusion with Russia unless he did use classified information. But I don’t know the specifics.”

President Trump revoked Brennan’s security clearance on Wednesday, saying he had politicized his security clearance and misled Congress about CIA spying in the Senate.

A larger review of who can retain security clearances after leaving the federal government may be warranted, Bolton added.”

This is sure to throw hot coals in the burning fire of drama that will most definitely get Brennan worked up as soon as he sees this. Brennan is probably not going to like what Bolton just said about him. However, Bolton needs to come up with some more evidence to prove his case.

One spot where Bolton is totally accurate is where he talks about how security clearances are handled once someone leaves the federal government. Many may ask – what’s the point of someone having special clearances if they no longer work for the government? That’s a great question. As a former federal employee of the Internal Revenue Service, I was required to turn in my identification upon leaving the job.

Many jobs do not grant former employees any special benefits. If you worked at Burger King but then quit the job a few months ago, then does that mean you can walk back into Burger King and start helping yourself to some chicken nuggets? Not at all. The loss of privileges upon leaving the job goes all the way down to the minimum wage level. It’s nothing new and it’s a shock that people who leave the White House or government jobs have clearances when it’s not fully clear why they still need them after their job is up.

Bolton also talked about four countries who might be meddling in the 2018 elections.

“National security adviser John Bolton says in addition to Russia, there’s “sufficient national security concern” that China, Iran, and North Korea are meddling in the 2018 U.S. elections.

“Those are the four countries that we’re most concerned about”

Bolton wouldn’t get into specifics, but he claimed that those are the four countries we’re most concerned about when it comes to the 2018 U.S elections.

 

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