Thread by @jseldin

NEW: 12 former senior intel official issue statement on "ill-considered & unprecedented remarks & actions by the White House" re former @CIA Dir. @JohnBrennan

"Insinuations and allegations of wrongdoing on the part of Brennan while in office are baseless," they say

"The president’s action regarding John Brennan and the threats of similar action against other former officials has nothing to do with who should and should not hold security clearances – and everything to do with an attempt to stifle free speech" per statement

"We have never before seen the approval or removal of security clearances used as a political tool...this action is quite clearly a signal to other former and current officials" the former intel officials say
re @POTUS revoking @JohnBrennan's security clearance

NEW: 12 former US intel officials issue statement calling @POTUS decision to strip former @CIA Dir @JohnBrennan of his security clearance "inappropriate and deeply regrettable"

"Decisions on security clearances should be based on national security concerns & not political views"

Statement signed by:
Former @CIA directors: William Webster, George Tenet, Porter Goss, @GenMhayden, Leon Panetta, Gen David Petraeus
Former CIA deputy directors: @jmclaughlinSAIS, Stephen Kappes, Mike Morrell, Avril Haines, @cohendavid
Former @ODNIgov Director James Clapper

UPDATE: Former @CIA Director Bob Gates has now added his name to the letter

UPDATE: Statement from former @CIA Director James Woolsey - says security clearances "should be granted or rescinded based on objective criteria", asks those deciding on to use "reasonable discourse"

No specific mention of @JohnBrennan or @POTUS

https://twitter.com/jonfranks/status/1030475410960723974

UPDATE: Two more former intelligence officials - @ODNIgov director Dennis Blair and former @CIA deputy director Bert Calland - add their name to the statement from former officials on @POTUS & security clearances

https://twitter.com/mvhaydencenter/status/1030516280338595841