WASHINGTON: Former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to revoke the security clearances of more than 50 ex-intelligence officials who had cast doubt on the Hunter Biden laptop controversy, likening it to a “Russian information operation” in 2020.
The move, announced Monday, underscores Trump’s continued clashes with the intelligence community and is seen as a response to critics from his presidency. Legal experts predict the decision could spark lawsuits, with affected officials likely to challenge its legality.
The list includes prominent names such as James Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence, and John Brennan, former CIA chief. Both served under President Barack Obama and were vocal critics of Trump. Also named is John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, who has publicly criticized the former president in the past.
Mark Zaid, a lawyer representing several of those impacted, said the move appears symbolic. “This isn’t about security—it’s about politics. We are prepared to contest this in court,” he said.
The controversy traces back to a letter signed by over 50 former intelligence officials ahead of the 2020 presidential election. The letter suggested the release of Hunter Biden’s emails, allegedly retrieved from a laptop, bore hallmarks of a “Russian disinformation campaign.”
Although the letter’s signatories acknowledged they couldn’t verify the authenticity of the emails, their warnings influenced public discourse around the election. Trump’s then-intelligence chief, John Ratcliffe, dismissed the claims, saying no evidence linked the emails to Russia.
The emails, first published by The New York Post, were shared by Trump ally Rudy Giuliani and detailed Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings. Subsequent investigations into Hunter Biden led to tax and firearm charges, but President Joe Biden recently pardoned his son.
Typically, security clearances are revoked on a case-by-case basis, following internal reviews. Trump’s sweeping executive order breaks with precedent, raising questions about its procedural integrity and potential political motivations.
Trump has frequently accused intelligence agencies of bias, especially during probes into alleged Russian interference in his 2016 campaign. This decision continues his efforts to challenge the institutions he has long criticized.
As lawsuits loom, the move highlights the enduring tensions between Trump and the intelligence community, ensuring further legal and political battles ahead.
