Brennan was one of 51 intel officials who signed a letter claiming Hunter Biden’s laptop had the ‘earmarks’ of a Russian operation
Ex-CIA Director John Brennan responded to the revocation of his security clearance on Tuesday, accusing President Donald Trump of “misrepresenting the facts” regarding the Hunter Biden laptop story.
Trump issued an executive order that stripped the security clearances of 51 former intelligence officials who had signed a 2020 letter suggesting that the laptop’s release bore “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.” Many of the signatories were publicly aligned with Joe Biden’s campaign against Trump at the time.
In the letter, the officials acknowledged they couldn’t confirm whether the emails were genuine and didn’t have evidence of Russian involvement, but expressed strong suspicions that the Russian government may have played a role.
Brennan, one of the signatories, called the executive order “bizarre” and said Trump had distorted the contents of the letter.
Trump’s order accused the former intelligence officials of engaging in “misleading and inappropriate political coordination” with Biden’s 2020 campaign, and of falsely claiming that the Hunter Biden laptop story was part of a Russian disinformation campaign.
Brennan responded on MSNBC, saying, “He misrepresented the facts in that executive order. It said that we suggested the Hunter Biden laptop story was Russian disinformation, but we never said that. We said it had the hallmarks of a Russian information operation, including the mixing of accurate information with falsehoods.”
He continued, “This is just another attempt by Trump to retaliate against those who have criticized him, which, I think, is entirely legitimate.”
Other prominent figures affected by the executive order include former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director Michael Hayden, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, and former National Security Advisor John Bolton.
Just days after the letter was released, Biden referenced it during the final 2020 presidential debate to defend himself against Trump’s accusations. “There are 50 former national intelligence folks who said that what he’s accusing me of is part of a Russian plan,” Biden said.
In 2023, it was revealed that the Department of Justice had been aware since December 2019 that Hunter Biden’s laptop contained “reliable evidence” and had not been “manipulated in any way.”
Brennan noted that Trump had previously signaled he would revoke his clearance back in 2018, but it had not been taken away at that time.
“The only reason I still had a clearance, as I have had for years since leaving government service, was for the benefit of the government,” Brennan explained. “It was to facilitate classified discussions, should the CIA or any agency need to consult with me, or other former directors and members of the intelligence community.”
Brennan has been a frequent critic of Trump, regularly appearing on MSNBC as a senior national security analyst. In a February 2024 interview, Brennan accused Russia of using Republican politicians “as tools.”