In a move that’s sure to ruffle feathers and maybe get some chuckles from those who enjoy watching the political theater, President Trump has decided to revoke security clearances for several notable Democrats. It’s kind of like taking away their secret club membership where they could peek at classified intel. Among those who suddenly find themselves out of the loop are former President Biden, his right-hand woman Kamala Harris, and, yes, even the perennial political figure, Hillary Clinton. Also added to the list are New York Attorney General Letitia James and former prosecutor Andrew Weissmann. If it sounds like a roster of folks who aren’t exactly fans of Trump, that’s probably not a coincidence.
Trump, ever the maverick, justified his decision by claiming that it’s simply not in the national interest for these individuals to have access to sensitive information. After all, who would have thought folks who are, let’s say, not on his Christmas card list, would still be in the loop with top-secret material? According to the current president, it’s all within his powers. As elected leader, he gets to decide who gets to know what. This move, predictably, has brewed up quite the storm with media outlets and politicians alike chiming in, but hey, if they don’t like it, they can run for president themselves.
The sudden revocation might seem severe, but the rationale is not without precedent. Once people leave government service, there’s this nifty little expectation that they won’t need to snoop around in classified dossiers anymore. Generally, it’s viewed as unnecessary, unless of course, someone works on a super-special case where they need to be kept in the loop. In those instances, clearances can be reinstated, but even then, it feels more like borrowing a library book than a permanent return to the spy game.
Amidst the backlash, some have argued that the move might have an element of hypocrisy. Critics point out the eyebrow-raising story of classified documents making their way to Mar-a-Lago – a tale the media delights in revisiting. But let’s not forget, political opponents have had their fair share of document mishaps, too. This debacle serves as a stark reminder that people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, or in this case, misplace sensitive files.
If any of these folks have a burning need to access classified information, they can always make their case. Just imagine Hillary Clinton or the others sitting in a courtroom explaining why they still need a peek behind the curtain. It almost sounds like a plot for a political drama. Until then, the former holders of these clearances may have to content themselves with living without the whispers and secrets of Washington’s inner sanctum. For the rest of us, it’s just another day of politics as usual.
