Former CIA Director John Brennan
John Owen BrennanWashington 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 issued fresh criticism of President Trump
Donald John TrumpEx-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 on Friday night, calling him “drunk on power” after he revoked Brennan's security clearance this week.
“I think right now, this country is in a crisis in terms of what Mr. Trump has done and is liable to do,” Brennan told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow.
“And so, are the Republicans on the Hill — who have given him a pass — going to wait for a disaster to happen before they actually find their backbones and spines, to speak up against somebody who clearly, clearly is not carrying out his responsibilities with any sense of purpose and common sense from the standpoint of national security,” Brennan added.
Brennan to @Maddow: Are the Republicans on the Hill ... going to wait for a disaster to happen before they actually find their backbones to speak up against somebody who clearly is not carrying out his responsibilities with any sense of purpose and common sense? pic.twitter.com/zzp8N1dA5s
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) August 18, 2018
Brennan also told Maddow that he was considering his legal options after Trump pulled his security clearance, saying he wanted "to prevent this type of abuse by Donald Trump in the future.”
Trump sent shockwaves through the intelligence community on Wednesday when he revoked Brennan’s clearance, with the White House signaling that it is preparing to revoke the clearance of several other former intelligence officials as well.
Numerous former intelligence officials and national security heads have decried Trump's move as retaliation against Brennan, who is a frequent critic of the president.
The White House denied that revoking the clearance was a retaliatory move, saying it was done in response to Brennan’s “lying” and “increasingly frenzied commentary.”
