Clapper: 'Very petty' that Trump is considering revoking security clearances

Former Director of National Intelligence James ClapperJames Robert Clapper Clapper: The walls are closing in on Trump Former CIA Director Brennan to appear on Bill Maher's 'Real Time' Friday night Hill.TV poll: 40 percent think Trump has right to revoke security clearances over political statements MORE on Monday slammed President TrumpDonald John Trump Ex-Playboy model accuses GOP fundraiser Elliott Broidy of physical abuse: reports Cohen seeks to vacate hush-money deal with Stormy Daniels Stormy Daniels says she broke into 'sobs' when she heard about Cohen's plea MORE for considering a revocation of his and other former intelligence officials' security clearances, calling it a "petty thing to do."

"The security clearance has nothing to do with how I, or any of us, feel about the president," Clapper said on CNN, where he is a contributor, moments after White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that Trump is considering taking away security clearances from him and other Obama administration officials who have been vocal critics of Trump since he took office.

"I don’t get the briefings, I don’t have access to any classified information," Clapper said, calling the continuing clearance a "courtesy" for former intelligence officials.

"I don’t know what to say," he added. "I think this is just a very, very petty — a petty thing to do. And that’s about all I’ll say about it."

Clapper added that, typically, an official would go through a formal process in which their security clearance would be revoked or suspended because of an allegation of misuse or wrongdoing. He noted that the president does have the authority to unilaterally revoke clearances.

"If he chooses to do it for political reasons, well, that’s — I think that’s a terrible precedent and I think that’s a very sad commentary," Clapper said. "And it’s an abuse of the system."

During Monday's press briefing, Sanders said Trump is exploring removing the security clearance of Clapper, former CIA directors John BrennanJohn Owen Brennan Washington establishment increasingly trashes the principle of loyalty Brennan: ‘I see all the warning signs of a looming disaster,’ as does anonymous op-ed author Kaepernick shares first Nike video ad MORE and Michael Hayden, former national security adviser Susan Rice and former FBI Director James ComeyJames Brien Comey The Mueller probe's troubling reliance on journalists as sources Far-right activist interrupts Twitter hearing Trump: I could show you 100 photos of Mueller, Comey 'hugging and kissing each other' MORE.

She also named former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabeAndrew George McCabe Bruce Ohr's efforts to secretly reshape the Trump probe started earlier in summer '16 The Mueller probe's troubling reliance on journalists as sources Closing ranks around Brennan sends the wrong message MORE, whose clearance was revoked when he was dismissed from the agency earlier this year.

All of the individuals named by Sanders served in the Obama administration, though Hayden also served in the George W. Bush administration and Comey served briefly in the Trump administration.

Sanders accused the former officials of “politicizing” and “monetizing” their public service.

"Making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia, or being influenced by Russia, against the president is extremely inappropriate," she said. "And the fact that people with security clearances are making these baseless charges provides inappropriate legitimacy to accusations with zero evidence."

Her comments followed a tweet from Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard Paul CNN's Chris Cuomo mocks Rand Paul's call for lie detector tests: 'Crazy days' Trump advisers discussed using lie-detector tests to find anonymous op-ed author: report Trump allies want Congress to find anonymous op-ed author MORE (R-Ky.) that suggested Brennan should have his security clearance revoked.