On the recordSeptember 5, 2018
Mr. Speaker, last month, President Trump stripped former CIA Director John Brennan of his security clearance. That was not done because Director Brennan posed a threat to national security. No, it was done to silence a political opponent. Mr. Speaker, all Americans agree that the President should not be able to order the IRS to initiate an audit against a rival, and we should all be able to agree that he may not use his authority to revoke a security clearance. Yet the President has announced that he intends to invalidate the clearances of other current and former officials who disagree with his policies. That is why I introduced H.R. 6680 with my colleagues, Mr. Lieu and Ranking Member Schiff of the Intelligence Committee, that will prevent the administration from revoking security clearances for political reasons. My bill would give agency officials the basis to push back on White House demands that more clearances be revoked outside of judicial processes and protocols. Mr. Speaker, granting, denying, or revoking security clearances for political retribution or the stifling of political dissent is un- American, and it should never be tolerated or allowed. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. ____________________





