U.S. President Donald Trump issued a memorandum late Friday revoking security clearances and access to classified information for a host of former opponents, including Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, Joseph R. Biden Jr., and "any other member of Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s family," The New York Times reports, UNN writes.
Details
Trump said as early as February that he planned to deny his predecessor access to classified intelligence briefings. "It was revenge - Biden did the same to him after he left office in the days after the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol," the publication writes.
The Friday memo named various individuals who were at one point or another associated with Trump. Some of them had already been mentioned by Trump officials as people who would soon have their security clearances revoked, so their inclusion in the Friday memo was not a surprise. However, Harris and Clinton, as noted, appear to be newcomers to the list. "Collectively, the list of names reads like a list of enemies," the publication writes.
There were two top New York law enforcement officials, Letitia James (New York Attorney General) and Alvin L. Bragg (Manhattan District Attorney), both of whom have taken on Trump.
There were prominent figures from the first impeachment brought against Trump in 2019. Names included in the Friday memo: Fiona Hill, a leading foreign policy expert who testified during the impeachment hearings; Alexander Vindman, a lieutenant colonel who also testified; and Norman Eisen, a lawyer who oversaw that impeachment.
And there were the only two Republicans who served on the January 6 attack investigation committee, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.
"I also instruct all heads of executive departments and agencies to withdraw unaccompanied access to secure U.S. government facilities for these individuals," Trump's memorandum said. "These actions include, but are not limited to, receiving classified briefings, such as the President's Daily Brief, and access to classified information held by any member of the intelligence community by virtue of such individuals' prior service in Congress."
The revocation is largely a symbolic act, but it could prevent the individuals in question from entering federal buildings or obtaining classified materials, the publication writes.
"Since returning to office, Trump has used memorandums like the one he issued on Friday to get back at those who have tried to hold him accountable or otherwise crossed him. The memorandums have been varied. Earlier this week, he issued a memorandum rescinding security measures for Biden's adult children, Ashley and Hunter," the publication said.
Last month, Trump revoked security clearances for Anthony J. Blinken, the former secretary of state, and Jake Sullivan, the former national security advisor (both of whom were named again in the Friday memo).
Trump also stripped his former aides of security. Hours after taking office, he targeted John Bolton, his former national security advisor "turned enemy." Trump later did the same to Mike Pompeo, his former secretary of state, and former aide Brian Hook.
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