WASHINGTON – On Monday, Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee questioned the Trump administration regarding its decision to revoke the security clearances of 37 individuals currently or formerly involved in national security.
In their communication to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the Democrats requested detailed explanations for each clearance revocation and inquired if the standard review processes were adhered to.
They also sought to understand whether those impacted were informed beforehand and evaluated how the removal of clearances might affect national security.
So many revocations either reflects deep problems with government vetting or suggests the process has become politicized, the lawmakers wrote.
“Your actions have critically impacted the United States’ national security,” the Democrats stated. “Congress must be assured that the intelligence community’s functions are not being politicized nor is the clearance process being manipulated for political motives.”
Gabbard responded, asserting that the revocations were due to the officials either engaging in political efforts or not fulfilling professional standards.
Her agency’s representative indicated that every relevant government body was informed about the revocations, ensuring no undercover operatives were compromised.
In a memo detailing the revocations, Gabbard accused those singled out of having engaged in the “politicization or weaponization of intelligence” to advance personal or partisan goals, failing to safeguard classified information, failing to “adhere to professional analytic tradecraft standards” and other unspecified “detrimental” conduct.
Gabbard’s memo did not offer evidence to back up the accusations.
The letter from the Democratic lawmakers seeks responses by Sept. 19. It was signed by U.S. Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, as well as the 11 other Democratic lawmakers serving on the panel.
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