In a move that showcased his protective stance on national security, former US President Trump has withdrew security clearance from a range of key figures who were privy to classified documents. This included Vice President Kamala Harris and other members of the Biden family. Such an extraordinary decision sheds new light on the worrying uncertainties regarding their capabilities to handle national security paired with an undermining hint towards their credibility.
Within this group of individuals stripped from their privileges were also noteworthy anti-Trump figures and critics. The gravity of this decision was not lost on those witnessing from the hemispheres of both the political and legal world. Trump’s message seemed very clear: allegations from these discredited individuals would no longer hold sizable weight in the public eye.
Trump cited the ‘national interest’ as the primary motivator behind these measures. Interesting to note here how ‘national interest’ was being protected against the incompetence of Biden’s close allies and appointees. This includes his entire family and leading officials within his network such as Kamala Harris. Seems like a well-rounded counter-response to the apparent recklessness shown by them.
The newly issued directive, bearing an air of solemn duty, left no stone unturned in Kardashian sweeping action. It also mentioned terminating unescorted access to secure government facilities for the implicated parties. What does this suggest about the level of confidence the former administration had in these people? A very curious point for many.
Prominent figures from the current Biden administration were also among the casualties of this sweeping security sanitization. High-tier names like Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco had their clearances unceremoniously withdrawn. It’s hard to see how this doesn’t act as a biting critique of these officials’ fitness for their posts.
To refract more light onto the nature of this bold maneuver, Trump didn’t spare former loyalists who turned against him either. Figures such as Fiona Hill and Alexander Vindman had their clearances swiped as well, with the nostalgic reminder of their testimonies during Trump’s 2019 impeachment trial. A retaliation, or a justified step? The court of public opinion, as always, remains divided.
Further widening the impact of Trump’s directive were high-profile Republican critics Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger who had to surrender their clearances too. These two Republicans played significant roles in the investigation of Trump’s involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack and voted for his second impeachment. It seems like they are getting a taste of their own medicine.
An interesting aspect of Trump’s decision was the inclusion of various legal figures who had pursued cases against him. For some, their past aggression towards Trump had now positioned them on the receiving end of controversial security clearance revocations. It seems that for these lawyers, their opposition to Trump’s presidency came with unexpected consequences.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who led multiple lawsuits against Trump’s businesses, no longer had her clearance. It’s intriguing to notice how the tables have turned and the pursuer has become the pursued. Another name on this list of discredited lawyers included Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney who prosecuted Trump’s hush money case.
The former federal prosecutor, Andrew Weissmann, instrumental in several investigations into Trump’s first term, also lost his clearance. Perhaps proving the age-old adage that one’s actions from the past have a way of catching up to one’s present. Moreover, attorney Norm Eisen, who led lawsuits against Trump’s federal workforce policies, was struck by the same fate.
As part of this purge, Whistleblower attorney Mark Zaid lost his security status too. Zaid protested claiming he was never provided with proper notice despite being informed thrice. However, can we forget his anti-Trump rhetoric and disregard for due notice in the past?