President Donald Trump's latest executive action targets former Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and other high-ranking officials in a sweeping security clearance revocation.
According to The Daily Caller, Trump ordered the removal of security clearances and federal building access for eight current and former officials, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
The move follows Trump's decision to revoke former President Joe Biden's security clearance and end his daily intelligence briefings, citing concerns about cognitive decline. The president's actions reflect a broader pattern of confronting officials involved in various legal and political challenges against him.
Blinken's security clearance revocation stems from his role in the October 2020 letter signed by 51 former intelligence officials regarding Hunter Biden's laptop. The former Secretary of State helped orchestrate the missive that suggested Russian disinformation was behind the laptop story, as revealed by former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morrell to lawmakers.
Trump expressed his views on Blinken's situation with direct language. He stated:
Bad guy. Take away his passes. This is to take away every right they have [revoking security clearances] including they can't go into [federal] buildings.
The decision affects multiple officials connected to various investigations and legal actions against Trump, including Jake Sullivan, Biden's former National Security Advisor who promoted claims about Trump's alleged Russian bank connections.
The president's order particularly impacts New York officials James and Bragg, who have been at the forefront of legal actions against Trump. While largely symbolic, the revocation could impede their ability to work within federal facilities.
James recently secured a civil lawsuit victory against Trump regarding allegations of inflated net worth for loan advantages. She has also taken legal action against the administration concerning Department of Government Efficiency executive Elon Musk's access to sensitive information.
Bragg's office successfully prosecuted Trump in 2024 for falsifying business records related to hush money payments, resulting in a conviction. The Manhattan District Attorney's role in Trump's legal challenges has made him a significant target of the president's recent actions.
The revocation extends to several other prominent figures, including Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, who coordinated the DOJ's January 6 Capitol riot prosecutions. Andrew Weissman, who led Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian collusion, also lost his clearance.
Two additional officials faced similar consequences: Mark Zaid, who represented the CIA whistleblower in Trump's 2019 impeachment, and Norm Eisen, who served as special counsel to House Democrats during the same impeachment proceedings.
Trump's moves against these officials demonstrate his continued effort to confront those involved in various investigations and legal actions against him throughout his political career.
President Trump's sweeping revocation of security clearances affects eight current and former officials, targeting those involved in investigations and legal actions against him. The move, which includes both federal and state officials like Blinken, James, and Bragg, represents a significant shift in access to sensitive information and federal facilities. While some aspects of the order are symbolic, particularly for state officials, the action demonstrates Trump's willingness to use presidential authority to respond to perceived adversaries within the government system.
