In a bold move signaling a continued crackdown on political adversaries, President Donald Trump has ordered security clearances revoked for a new list of opponents, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The decision follows Trump’s recent move to strip President Joe Biden of access to classified intelligence and federal buildings, a step he justified by declaring, “I don’t trust him.”
Trump’s latest target is former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, whom he accused of orchestrating the controversial “Dirty 51” letter, a document signed by ex-intelligence officials suggesting Hunter Biden’s laptop was Russian disinformation. In an exclusive interview with The Post, Trump confirmed Blinken’s security clearance would be revoked under the same presidential directive that previously targeted Biden and the 51 former intelligence officials.
“Bad guy. Take away his passes,” Trump reportedly said, emphasizing that the measure would bar those affected from entering federal buildings.
Joining Blinken on Trump’s hit list are James and Bragg, two New York officials who have spearheaded legal actions against him. James led a civil fraud case against Trump over alleged financial misrepresentations, while Bragg prosecuted the former president in the high-profile “hush money” case. While the revocation of security clearances may not significantly impact their ability to perform their roles, it could limit their access to key law enforcement and judicial facilities, including Manhattan’s federal courthouses and FBI offices.
Legal experts view the action as largely symbolic. “It’s more an insult and a slap in the face than a real deterrent,” said Bob Costello, a former Manhattan federal prosecutor who testified in Trump’s defense during his hush-money trial.
Additional officials targeted by Trump’s directive include:
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s former National Security Advisor, who played a role in Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and was linked to the Trump-Russia investigation.
Lisa Monaco, Deputy Attorney General under Biden, involved in overseeing Trump-related legal probes and the Department of Justice’s response to the January 6 riot.
Andrew Weissmann, a lead prosecutor in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Trump-Russia investigation and a frequent Trump critic on MSNBC.
Mark Zaid, an attorney known for representing the whistleblower in Trump’s 2019 impeachment inquiry.
Norm Eisen, a Democratic legal strategist who helped craft Trump’s impeachment case in the House Judiciary Committee.
According to Trump’s former attorney Tim Parlatore, while the directive is largely symbolic and difficult to enforce against state officials, it could have serious implications for figures like Zaid. “It will have a major impact on Zaid’s legal practice because he fashions himself as a national security lawyer,” Parlatore noted, referencing Zaid’s history of challenging Republican administrations.
Last week, Trump also terminated Biden’s access to intelligence briefings traditionally afforded to former presidents. Defending the move, he told The Post, “I don’t trust him. He’s not worthy of trust… To safeguard national security.”
Despite these measures, Trump stated that his administration has no immediate plans to investigate Biden but hinted that future probes remain a possibility. “I wouldn’t do it specifically. If something comes up, he’s certainly prime time for investigation,” he said, blaming Biden’s policies for crime and immigration issues.
The sweeping security clearance revocations mark yet another dramatic escalation in Trump’s campaign to hold perceived political enemies accountable, signaling an unrelenting posture as he moves further into his latest term
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