Donald Trump has reminded us that one of Richard Nixon’s lasting legacies is alive and so dangerously well in the White House.
Get a load of this: The president is seeking to yank the top-secret security clearances of several former top intelligence officials. They are former CIA Directors John Brennan and Michael Hayden, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former FBI Director James Comey.
What do these men have in common? They’re all critical of the president. Have they released classified information in their criticism of Donald Trump? No.
Yet the president has concocted a phony pretext for stripping these men of their clearances.
Just as President Nixon formulated his infamous enemies list to target his critics, it appears Donald Trump is following suit.
It’s been a long-standing tradition for these individuals — all of whom provided valuable national security service to the nation — to maintain their clearances. The aim was to provide an extra level of security to the defense of the nation.
All these men have done in recent months is exercise their First Amendment rights of political expression. They have spoken their minds but have not given up a scintilla of information that should be guarded with utmost secrecy.
This is tantamount to a presidential enemies list — 2.0. Who’s next? DNI Dan Coats? FBI Director Christopher Wray?
Donald Trump well might be exhibiting symptoms of going bonkers.
Richard Nixon would be proud of this presidential successor.