WASHINGTON (AFP) – Binawi ni US President Donald Trump nitong Miyerkules ang security clearance para kay dating Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan, at binalaan ang iba pang prominenteng kritiko na nanganganib din silang ma-blacklist. Sa hindi pangkaraniwang direktiba, sinabi ni Trump na si Brennan – dating station chief sa Riyadh na umangat para pamunuan ang kinatatakutang spy agency – ay naging ‘’erratic.’’

Si Brennan ay madalas na kritiko ni Trump. Ilang oras lamang bago inilabas ni Trump ang kautusan, inakusahan ng dating CIA chief ang Republican leader na bigong mamuhay “to minimum standards of decency, civility, & probity.’’

Matapos maisapubliko ang sorpresang desisyon ni Trump sa White House briefing, kaagad na bumuwelta si Brennan at inakusahanan ang pangulo na tinatangkang busalan ang free speech sa ‘’politically motivated’’ action na aniya ay dapat na ikabahala ng lahat ng Amerikano.

Sinabi ng White House na walo pang ibang opisyal ang maaaring mabawian ng clearances, kabilang sina dating director of national intelligence James Clapper, dating CIA director at four-star general Michael Hayden at ex-FBI director James Comey.

Inakusahan sila – nang hindi nagdedetalye – ng pamumulitika at pinagkakaperahan ang public service at security clearances.

‘’Historically, former heads of intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been allowed to retain access to classified information after their government service so that they can consult with their successors,’’ saad sa pahayag ni Trump. ‘’At this point in my administration, any benefits that senior officials might glean from consultations with Mr Brennan are now outweighed by the risk posed by his erratic conduct and behavior.’’