MSNBC host Joe Scarborough on Tuesday slammed President Trump shortly after his administration announced he is exploring the removal of the security clearance from top Obama-era intelligence officials who have been publicly critical of him.
“This is the most corrupt administration in modern history,” Scarborough said on his show “Morning Joe,” and cited examples of ways he believes Trump has monetized his administration. Scarborough mocked the White House’s accusations against former CIA Director John Brennan and other top Obama-era intelligence officials they they have “politicized and in some cases monetized their public service and security clearances.”
Scarborough named the time White house Trump’s senior adviser Kellyanne Conway promoted Ivanka Trump’s line of clothing and implored viewers to “go buy Ivanka’s stuff” on live television and the Secret Service hotel bills at Mar-a-Lago.
“Of course the list could go on and on and on,” Scarborough said.
{mosads}The MSNBC host’s decision to rattle off his list came on the heels of White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sander’s announcement on Monday that Trump is considering removing the security clearance from former CIA Director John Brennan and other top Obama-era intelligence officials.
Brennan and other former officials have been publicly critical of Trump’s comments about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
“They’ve politicized and in some cases monetized their public service and security clearances,” Sanders said during the daily press briefing. “Making baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia or being influenced by Russia against the president is extremely inappropriate and the fact that people with security clearances are making these baseless charges provides inappropriate legitimacy to accusations with zero evidence.”
Scarborough defended the idea that Brennan and others have monetized their past experience.
“Now it’s true — and it has been true — the private sector does reward high-level officials for their expertise and access after years of service,” said Scarborough. “But as we said, the key word is ‘after’ years of service.”