President Donald Trump revoked the security clearances of multiple high-profile political figures, including Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, Liz Cheney, and others who had either strongly criticized or opposed him.
A memo from the White House released on Friday stated: “It has been determined that it is no longer in the national interest for the following individuals to have access to classified information: Antony Blinken, Jacob Sullivan, Lisa Monaco, Mark Zaid, Norman Eisen, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, Andrew Weissmann, Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Cheney, Kamala Harris, Adam Kinzinger, Fiona Hill, Alexander Vindman, Joseph R. Biden Jr., and any other member of Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s family.” Earlier this month, the Director of National Intelligence announced the revocation of security clearances for several individuals mentioned in Trump’s memo, including those who had signed a controversial letter related to disinformation. She also stated that these individuals were barred from accessing classified materials.
Along with the loss of their security clearances, the individuals listed in the memorandum have had their unaccompanied access to secure U.S. government facilities revoked.
Additionally, the President’s Daily Briefing is no longer being provided to former President Biden. Some of the people affected by the memo responded by dismissing it in social media posts. Zaid and Eisen noted that their security clearances had been revoked multiple times before. Kinzinger, in a video, clarified that he retired from the military a year ago and no longer holds a clearance, humorously adding his opinion of the President.
This decision came shortly after Trump announced that Hunter and Ashley Biden would no longer receive Secret Service protection. Trump criticized the extended protection for Hunter Biden, noting the significant number of agents assigned to him. He wrote on social media: “Effective immediately, Hunter Biden will no longer receive Secret Service protection. Likewise, Ashley Biden, who has 13 agents, will be taken off the list.”
While federal law mandates life-long Secret Service protection for former presidents and their spouses, that protection ceases for other immediate family members when they leave office. Both Trump and Biden had extended protection to their children before leaving office, according to the Associated Press.
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