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Topics: US News, Politics, Donald Trump
Lucy Devine
President Trump has reportedly ordered security clearances be removed from a number of Democrat officials, after claiming Joe Biden 'could not be trusted'.
Earlier this week, Trump said he would be revoking the former president's security clearance and access to daily intelligence briefings, claiming that he can't 'be trusted'.
The president wrote on his Truth Social platform: "There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information."
Trump claimed Biden had done the same to him when he came into office back in 2021, which was the first time an ex-president was blocked from the intelligence briefings.
"He instructed the Intelligence Community (IC) to stop the 45th President of the United States (ME!) from accessing details on National Security, a courtesy provided to former Presidents," Trump wrote, adding: "The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from 'poor memory' and, even in his 'prime', could not be trusted with sensitive information.
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"I will always protect our National Security."
At the time, Biden said Trump's 'erratic behaviour' was the deciding factor behind the move, explaining: "What value is giving him an intelligence briefing? What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?"
According to The New York Post, Trump is now set to remove security clearances from a list of other Democrats, including Antony Blinken, ex-Secretary of State.
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“Bad guy. Take away his passes,” Trump told the Post earlier this week. “This is to take away every right they have [revoking security clearances] including they can’t go into [federal] buildings.”
Also included in the list of officials is New York Attorney General Letitia James - who launched a civil fraud case against Trump last year, in which he was ordered to pay more than $450 million - and Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, who prosecuted Trump last year.
The move could prevent the officials from carrying out certain duties, as well as entering prisons or courthouses.
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However, attorney Bob Costello explained it's 'more an insult and a slap in the face than a real deterrent'.
Other names on the list reportedly include Biden’s former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan; former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco; prosecutor Andrew Weissman; lawyer Mark Zaid and Norm Eisen, who was special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during Trump's impeachment.
UNILAD has reached out to Trump's reps for comment, and previously reached out to Biden's reps.