Ex-CIA chief Michael Hayden says loss of clearance would have marginal impact

Trump has indicated that Hayden could possibly lose clearance

President Trump has said several former staffers, including former CIA chief Michael Hayden, could potentially lose their security clearance. On Wednesday, Trump revoked former CIA chief John Brennan’s clearance.

Speaking with The Hill, former CIA head Michael Hayden said: "If I were to lose my clearance, it would have a marginal impact on the work I do.”

"For example I am on the proxy board of an American subsidiary of an Irish company to ensure that in doing its work it respects the classification rules of the United States.”

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"If my memory is correct,” Hayden added, “I visited the agency once to get a background briefing on Africa about nine years ago. All my other visits were either to attend a ceremony, at the request of the agency or to research my book (every word of which had to be cleared by CIA and NSA)."

On Wednesday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders delivered a statement from President Trump that indicated former CIA head John Brennan’s security clearance was being revoked.

"I have a unique constitutional responsibility to protect the nation's classified information, including by controlling access to it,” the statement read. “Today, in fulfilling that responsibility, I have decided to revoke the security clearance of John Brennan, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency.”

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"Mr. Brennan's lying and recent conduct characterized by increasingly frenzied commentary is wholly inconsistent with access to the nation's most closely held secrets."

Following Trump’s announcement, Brennan tweeted: “This action is part of a broader effort by Mr. Trump to suppress freedom of speech & punish critics. It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out. My principles are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent.”

In a New York Times opinion column, Brennan further responded: “Mr. Trump clearly has become more desperate to protect himself and those close to him, which is why he made the politically motivated decision to revoke my security clearance in an attempt to scare into silence others who might dare to challenge him.”