OF PAUL MANAFORT, THE FIRST BIG TEST OF THE MUELLER ERA AS "THE
11th HOUR" GETS AWAY.
DAY 583 OF THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION. TODAY WE SAW THE RARE HYBRID IN
THE SHORT HISTORY OF THIS WHITE
HOUSE.
HOUSE. A BIG SHINY OBJECT, A GIANT
POLITICAL ATTRACTION DISTRACTING
THE ATTENTION AWAY FROM
OMAROSA’S BOOK.
OMAROSA’S BOOK. AN ACTION UNDER LINING THE
SUBJECT.
SUBJECT. TODAY PRESIDENT TRUMP EVOKE THE
SECURITY CLEARANCE OF JOHN
BRENNAN.
BRENNAN. WE SHOULD POINT OUT THESE DAYS
IS A SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY
ANALYST FOR NBC AND MSNBC IS
ALSO A CONSISTENT AND CRITIC OF
THIS PRESIDENT.
THIS PRESIDENT. HE WAS ALSO ONE OF THE FIRST
OFFICIALS TO SOUND THE ALARM ON
RUSSIANS MEDDLING IN THE 2016
ELECTION.
ELECTION. HERE IS THE PRESIDENT TONIGHT
QUOTING ONE OF THE SUPPORTERS
WHO APPEARED ON FOX NEWS.
JOHN BRENNAN IS A STAIN ON OUR
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. WE DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS.
HERE IS HOW THE WHITE HOUSE
PRESS SECRETARY LAID OUT THE
REASONS FOR STRIPPING BRENNAN’S
CLEARANCE WHILE THREATENING TO
TAKE SIMILAR ACTIONS AGAINST
OTHER TRUMP CRITICS.
>> ANY RELATED TO MR. BRENNAN
ARE OPPOSEPOSTED BY HIS ERRATIC
BEHAVIOR.
BEHAVIOR. I AM EVALUATING ACTIONS WITH
RESPECT TO THE FOLLOWING
INDIVIDUAL, JAMES CLAPPER, JAMES
COMEY AND MICHAEL HAYDEN AND
SALLEY YATES, PETER STRZOK AND
LISA PAGE.
LISA PAGE. >> NOT ONLY ARE THEY ALL TRUMP
CRITICS, SOME OF THOSE UNDER
EVALUATIONS ARE CLOSELY TIES TO
THE INVESTIGATION.
THE INVESTIGATION. DAN COATES WAS NOT AWARE IN
ADVANCE OF TODAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT
NOR WERE OTHER SENIOR
INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS.
INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS. THE WHITE HOUSE WAS ASKED FOR
EVIDENCE THAT JOHN BRENNAN HAD
ACTUALLY SOMEHOW ABUSED HIS
CLEARANCE BUT DECLINED TO
PROVIDE ANY.
PROVIDE ANY. >> DOES THIS ADMINISTRATION HAVE
ANY REASONS TO BELIEVE OR
EVIDENCE SUGGEST THAT BRENNAN
HAS USED MISUSED CLASSIFIED
INFORMATION?
INFORMATION? >> I LAID OUT THE REASONS THAT
WAS MADE IN THIS PARTICULAR
INSTANCE.
INSTANCE. WE’LL CONTINUE TO REVIEW IT.
>> YOU DID NOT SAY ANYTHING, YOU
DID NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE.
>> I AM TELLING YOU WHAT THE
DECISION WAS BASED ON IN THIS
CASE.
CASE. >> THE TODAY’S STATEMENT PULLING
BRENNAN’S SECURITY CLEARANCE WAS
DATED JULY 26.
IT WAS A BIG INDICATOR STANDING
BY TON SKID AND READY FOR WEEKS
AND PULLED OUT AND READY TODAY.
JOHN BRENNAN IS ONE OF THE STONE
COLD FACES IN THE PHOTO TAKEN ON
THE NIGHT OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS
KILLED.
KILLED. FINDING OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS A
HUGE PART OF HIS JOB OF 9/11.
BRENNAN MADE HIS POSTING MUCH OF
A CLANDESTINE, CIA STATION CHIEF
IN SAUDI ARABIA AND CIA CHIEF OF
STAFF AND DIRECTOR OF TERRORIST
THREAT INTEGRATION CENTER AND
WHITE HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY
ADVISER AND BRIEFED THREE
PRESIDENTS.
PRESIDENTS. >> BRENNAN HIMSELF SPOKE BY
PHONE WITH OUR NICOLE WALLACE.
>> I BELIEVE THAT MR. TRUMP
DECIDED TO TAKE THIS ACTION AND
HE HAS DONE WITH OTHERS TRY TO
INTIMIDATE OR SUPPRESS OF ANY
CRITICISM OF HIM OR HIS
ADMINISTRATION
ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION. HE BROKE MY SECURITY CLEARANCES
IS HIS WAY OF TRYING TO GET BACK
AT ME AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO
DETER ME AT ALL.
I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK
OUT.
OUT. HE FEARS INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD
DAMAGE HIM, DAMAGE HIS BRANDING
FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
LOOK AT THE WAY HE’S BEEN
REFERRING TO ROB MUELLER.
MUELLER IS AN ICON AND DOING HIS
BEST TO INVESTIGATE IN THE
INVESTIGATION AND MUELLER’S TEAM
IS REPRESENCEABLEHENCEABLE.
IS REPRESENCEABLEHENCEABLE. MR. TRUMP IS GETTING MORE
CONCERNED AND MORE AND MORE
DESPERATE AND FRIGHTEN AS CLOSER
AND CLOSER MAG ANIFICATIONY MAGN
THOSE AROUND HIM HAD BEEN
INVOLVED IN.
INVOLVED IN. >> TWO OTHER INTEL CHIEFS WHOSE
CLEARANCES ARE UNDER REVIEWED
AND ALSO SPOKE OUT.
>> IF YOU STAND UP AND SAY
THINGS THAT UPSETS THE PRESIDENT
OR WHICH HE DISAGREES, HE’LL
PUNISH YOU.
PUNISH YOU. THAT’S A HORRIBLE MESSAGE TO BE
SENDING TO FOLKS WHO ARE THERE
TO TELL YOU OBJECTIVE TRUTH.
THE BIGGER ISSUE HERE, CHRIS, TO
ME IS WHAT THIS IMPLIES, THE
IMPLICATIONS OF THIS FOR THE
FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE OTHER
QUESTION I HAVE IS YOU KNOW
WHERE DOES THIS END?
>> BOTH OF THOSE TWO GENTLEMEN
HAVE 50 PLUS YEARS EXPERIENCE.
LET’S BRING IN OUR LEAD OFF
PANEL FOR A BUSY WEDNESDAY
NIGHT.
NIGHT. ANDREA MITCHELL, OUR
CORRESPONDENT, HOST OF "ANDREA
MITCHELL REPORTS" WEEKDAYS ON
THIS NETWORK.
THIS NETWORK. CLINT IS WITH US AS WELL, A
MEMBER OF THE JOINT TERRORISM
TASK FORCE.
TASK FORCE. WELCOME TO YOU BOTH AND GOOD
EVENING ANDREA, YOU GET TO
DEFINE THIS.
DEFINE THIS. IS THIS A GIANT, SHINY OBJECT OR
AN ACTION OF DEEP CONSEQUENCES
OR BOTH?
OR BOTH? >> IT IS BOTH.
AND YOU RECOGNIZE A BRIGHT SHINY
OBJECT, THE TIMING CLEARLY THIS
WAS DATED JULY 26th OR AT LEAST
TODAY OF A DISTRACTION OF
OMAROSA AND ALL THE REST OF
REALITY TV SHOW THAT THE WHITE
HOUSE HAVE BECOME.
THERE ARE REAL IMPLICATIONS O F
THIS, FIRST AMENDMENT AS JIM
CLAPPER SUGGESTED AND MIKE
CAYDEN SAYS NOT JUST OUTSIDE
COMMENTATORS, THEY ARE TOUGH AND
THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN
DECISIONS OF WHAT TO DO BUT THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY WHO ARE
ALSO TOUGH.
ALSO TOUGH. THEY HAVE TO STAND UP TO THIS
PRESIDENT NOW THAT THEY SEE THE
REPURR
REPURR REPERCUSSIONS.
REPERCUSSIONS. ONE OF THOSE IS POSSIBLE FUTURES
SECURITY CLEARANCES.
SECURITY CLEARANCES. THAT WAS ENOUGH TO PUT HIM ON
THE LIST.
THE LIST. IT IS REALLY REMARKABLE AND
UNPRECEDENTED AND THE IRONY HERE
SADLY IS THAT THE WHOLE REASON
THAT MIKE HAYDEN HELPED
ESTABLISH THE PRESIDENT, THE
FORMER CIA DIRECTOR WOULD KEEP
THEIR CLEARANCES, IS TO HELP NEW
ADMINISTRATIONS TO BE ABLE
QUICKLY TALK TO THEIR
PREDECESSORS AND FIND OUT IF
SOMETHING IS UNUSUAL OR IF YOU
KNOW ALARMING OR SOMETHING IN
PAKISTAN OR SAUDI ARABIA.
THAT’S THE WHOLE POINT THAT THEY
ARE ABLE TO QUICKLY WITHOUT
HAVING TO GO THROUGH A LONG
CLEARANCE PROCESS TALK TO
SOMEONE LIKE JOHN BRENNAN AND
WHAT ABOUT THIS GUY THAT WE JUST
PICKED UP OR WHAT ABOUT HIS
RELATIVES OR WHAT SHOULD WE BE
ALERT TO OR WHAT YOU THINK
HAPPENED IN SAUDIS?
>> PETER BAKER, THERE IS REASONS
TO BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT
HAS PULLED A LESTER HOLT AND
HERE IS WHAT I MEAN BY THAT.
WE HAVE HIS FAMOUS COMMENT AS
LESTER LOOKED AT AND OF COURSE
HE WAS GOING TO FIRE COMEY.
WELL, TONIGHT IN AN INTERVIEW
WITH THE WALL STREET JOURNAL,
THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE WAS GOING
TO DO THIS LAST WEEK BUT IT WAS
TOO HECTIC AND FERGORGETTING HE
ON VACATION AND THERE IS THIS.
"I CALL IT A RIGGED WITCH HUNT,
IT IS A SHAM.
MR. TRUMP SAID IN AN INTERVIEW.
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE,"
DOES THAT BLOW ANY PROSCESS OR
RIGGER THAT THEY TRIED TO
UNDERSCORE TODAY IN THE BRIEFING
RADIOM
RADIOM ROOM.
ROOM. >> HE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THE
CRITERIA THAT PEOPLE START
INVESTIGATIONS ON HIM AND PEOPLE
THAT ARE OUT TO GET HIM.
THIS IS NOT OBVIOUSLY CONCERN OF
TL USE OF CLASSIFIED
INFORMATION, THEY DON’T HAVE ANY
EVIDENCE THAT THEY MADE PUBLIC
ABOUT ANY MISUSED OR CLASSIFIED
INFORMATION.
INFORMATION. THEY MAY HAVE HANDLED JOHN
BRENNAN IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT THAT.
IT IS ABOUT THE LIST.
ONE AFTER OTHER PEOPLE THAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE CLEAR HE
CONSIDERS TO BE HIS ENEMY.
HE WENT AFTER THEM ON TWITTER
AND PUBLIC SETTINGS IN ALL SORTS
OF WAY.
OF WAY. THIS IS A LIST OF PEOPLE HE WANS
WANTS PUNISHED.
WANTS PUNISHED. >> CLINT, WE HAVE BY MY ACCOUNT
OF 50 MINUTES REMAINING IN
TODAY, EAST COAST TIME, SO
KNOWING WE STILL HAVE 50 MINUTES
AND I WILL SAY THIS ANDRISKS, IF
TODAY IN AMERICA, IT IS A DAY OF
FREE TERRORIST ATTACK IN THIS
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. IT STANDS TO REASON THAT YOU
WOULD WANT ALL OF THESE
OFFICIALS WHO DEVOTED THEIR
LIVES AND CAREERS TO THE INTEL
BUSINESS TO ALL HAVE THEIR
SECURITY CLEARANCES SO THEY CAN
BE OF COUNSEL TO THE PEOPLE
TAKING ON THAT ENORMOUS BURDEN.
>> CORRECT?
>> CORRECT? >> IT IS CORRECT.
>> IT IS CALLED ELIGIBLE FOR
ACCESS.
ACCESS. I DOUBT THE PRESIDENT UNDERSTAND
THE DISTINCTION.
THE DISTINCTION. YOU READ ON DIFFERENT TOPICS.
>> YOU ARE NOT AT HOME FOLLOWING
ALL THE INTEL SO YOU CAN BE
RIGHT IN.
RIGHT IN. >> ONCE YOU ARE RIGHT IN YOU
HAVE ACCESS TO INTELLIGENCE.
THAT’S WHAT THEY DO AT FORMER,
THEY PUT THEM ELIGIBLE FOR
ACCESS.
ACCESS. THIS ALLOWS THEM TO COME BACK
IN.
IN. LET’S SAY YOU ARE NEGOTIATING
WHERE YOU HAVE SANCTIONS COMING
UP AND NUCLEAR OPTIONS THAT RUYO
ARE TRYING TO RESTRICT.
YOU WOULD WANT TO BRING BACK
PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN TALKING TO
THESE CHARACTERS, THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OR WHOEVER THEY ARE
TALKING SO THEY CAN INTERPHASE
AND GET SOME UNDERSTANDING.
A LOT OF THE FORMERS INTEL
OFFICIALS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS, SOME OF THEM HAVE
GONE INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
YOU HEAR THEM TALKING ABOUT OH,
THEY’RE TRYING TO PROFIT FROM
THEIR CLEARANCE, NO, THAT’S KEY
FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL
DIMENSIONS RIGHT NOW IN CYBER
SECURITY.
SECURITY. THERE IS ONLY A FEW PEOPLE IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT CAN
INTERPHASE WITH THE GOVERNMENT
ON CYBER SECURITY.
THEY HAVE BEEN IN VALUABLE THE
PAST FEW YEARS.
THESE LINKAGES ARE CREDIBLE FOR
THE GOOD OF OUR SECURITY.
>> I AM THINKING THE FORMER FBI
OFFICIAL WHEFE HAVE ON THE AIR,
IS IN THE WEB BUSINESS PRIVATELY
AND IF THEY NEED HIM BACK, THEY
KNOW HE’S REPUTABLE AND SERVE
HIS COUNTRY IF THEY NEED TO READ
HIM IN ON A PROBLEM.
>> NOT ONLY THAT BUT HE
UNDERSTANDS ALL THE PARTICIPANTS
AND THE PROCEDURES.
>> SHAWN HENRY.
>> HE KNOWS HOW THE GOVERNMENT