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Former CIA Director John Brennan says Trump is "drunk on power"

"The fact that he's using a security clearance of a former CIA director as a pawn in his public relations strategy I think is just so reflective of somebody who, quite frankly, I don't want to use this term maybe, but he's drunk on power," Brennan told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.
Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Former CIA director John Brennan (2nd L) and former director of National Intelligence James Clapper (R) arrive at a closed hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee May 16, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

There's a growing firestorm over President Trump's decision to revoke former CIA Director John Brennan's security clearance. Now, there are plans to cancel the clearances for other officials. The White House has drafted additional documents revoking the security clearances of current and former officials, and Mr. Trump is ready to sign them, according to The Washington Post, which cited senior administration officials.

Brennan, a fierce critic of the president, has been firing back at Mr. Trump.

"The fact that he's using a security clearance of a former CIA director as a pawn in his public relations strategy I think is just so reflective of somebody who, quite frankly, I don't want to use this term maybe, but he's drunk on power," Brennan told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on Friday.

Brennan made the remark as more than 70 former intelligence officials spoke out against the president's decision to revoke Brennan's clearance, CBS News correspondent Errol Barnett reported. Brennan said the move was retaliation for criticism of the president's policies and character, like a tweet from July, when Brennan called Mr. Trump's performance at a press conference with Russian leader Vladimir Putin "nothing short of treasonous."

Read more on cbsnews.com.

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