Trump removes Antony Blinken, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg’s security clearances among others
President Trump has made the decision to revoke security clearances for a number of prominent Democrats, including former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. These individuals have been vocal critics of Trump and his administration.
In addition to Blinken, Bragg, and James, Trump has also stripped security clearances from other Democratic figures, such as former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Biden’s Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and attorneys Andrew Weissmann, Mark Zaid, and Norm Eisen.
This move comes just one day after Trump took the unprecedented step of revoking former President Joe Biden’s security clearance and access to presidential daily briefs. Typically, ex-presidents are granted continued access to classified information, but Trump has chosen to break with this tradition.
In a statement posted on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump justified his decision by pointing to a precedent set by Biden himself. According to Trump, Biden instructed the Intelligence Community in 2021 to prevent Trump from accessing certain national security details, a courtesy that is typically extended to former presidents.
The decision to revoke security clearances for these prominent Democrats has sparked controversy and debate. Critics argue that Trump is using his power to punish political opponents and silence dissenting voices. Supporters, on the other hand, see it as a necessary step to protect sensitive information and prevent leaks.
Regardless of one’s stance on the issue, it is clear that Trump’s actions have once again ignited tensions in the already polarized political landscape. The fallout from this decision is likely to reverberate for some time to come.
