Former CIA directors and another half dozen of America’s most senior spies have issued an unprecedented condemnation of President Donald Trump, after his decision to blacklist their colleague John Brennan. Former officials often retain security clearance after leaving office to allow their successors to consult them on issues of the day. After the White House said Brennan — a notable Trump critic — had been stripped of clearance due to his “erratic” behavior, Trump admitted it was because of his criticism and comments on the Trump campaign’s ties with Russia. “I call it the rigged witch hunt, [it] is a sham,” Trump was quoted as saying in the interview. But most of Trump’s Republican allies have defended the move or refused to condemn it publicly.

Source: Punch August 17, 2018 16:30 UTC