Former CIA analyst Philip Mudd got into a heated argument with Republican strategist Paris Dennard after Dennard suggested Mudd made "more money" from consulting firms because of his security clearance.
- Former CIA analyst Philip Mudd got into a heated argument with Republican strategist Paris Dennard on Friday after Dennard suggested Mudd made "more money" from consulting firms because of his security clearance.
- "Twenty-five years in the service and this is the s--t I get? Get out," Mudd said.
- The debate comes amid President Donald Trump's move to review and revoke the security clearances of former government officials who criticize him.
- The latest example came Wednesday, when the White House announced it had revoked former CIA director John Brennan's security clearance.
- The action sparked outrage among a number of former senior US intelligence officials.
Former CIA analyst Philip Mudd got into a heated argument with Republican strategist Paris Dennard on Friday, after Dennard suggested Mudd made "more money" from consulting firms because of his security clearance.
"Your contracts and your consulting gigs pay you a lot more money because of the access that you have," Dennard said, adding "I hope the president continues to do this," referring to the security clearance revocations.
Mudd did not appreciate Dennard's assertion.
"Profitable, Paris?," Mudd asked. "Let me ask you one question. How much do you think I'm paid to do that at the request of the US government? Give me one answer and you got ten seconds. How much?"
Dennard rebutted, "I'll ask you a question. How much are you paid for your ..."
But Mudd shot back, "Answer the question! I have no contracts with the US government that pay money. Zero."
"Phil, let's be honest. I'm not talking about your role with the federal government," Dennard said.
"The consulting firms that they form and that you all get is because you get more money ... for having the security clearance," Dennard added. "Stop acting like that doesn't happen. That's the truth!"
Former officials "whose personal and professional history affirmatively indicates loyalty to the United States" are able to retain their security clearances even after their tours of duty. If called upon by the government, these individuals are able to provide insight based on their years of experience, but may need to view sensitive information in order to provide an effective analysis.
But Mudd rejected the suggestion that he was living off the fat of the land because of his security clearance. Mudd holds positions at an asset-management group and a think-tank, as well as serving on the advisory board on the National Counterterrorism Center, according to his contributor profile.
"I have zero relationship with the private sector that involve my security clearance," Mudd said. "Zero. I get zero dollars from consulting companies that deal with the US government. Are we clear?"
"Well I will be clear in saying that everybody in Washington D.C. knows, if you don't want to be honest about [that], that's on you," Dennard replied. "But if you have a security clearance and you keep it, you get more money to have it."
Mudd became livid and stood up after Dennard's response.
"We're done, Jim," Mudd said, referring to CNN chief national security correspondent Jim Sciutto, who was anchoring the news program Friday night, and got caught the verbal cross-fire. "We're done. Get out!"
"It's not your show, so I'm staying right here," Dennard said. "Don't be so defensive about this."
"Twenty-five years in the service and this is the s--t I get? Get out!," Mudd said again.
The debate comes amid President Donald Trump's move to revoke the former CIA director John Brennan's security clearance on Wednesday, which sparked outrage among a number of former senior US intelligence officials. Trump reportedly expressed interest in revoking more security clearances from current and former officials who he believes either criticized him or were involved in the Russia investigation.
The White House originally said Trump revoked Brennan's security clearance because the former CIA chief, who frequently criticizes many of Trump's policies, displayed "erratic conduct and behavior."
"Mr. Brennan's lying and recent conduct, characterized by increasingly frenzied commentary, is wholly inconsistent with access to the nation's most closely held secrets and facilitates the very aim of our adversaries, which is to sow division and chaos," the White House said in a statement.
Brennan rebuffed that characterization and lobbed fiery rebuttals on social media and in The New York Times.
"Mr. Trump clearly has become more desperate to protect himself and those close to him, which is why he made the politically motivated decision to revoke my security clearance in an attempt to scare into silence others who might dare to challenge him," Brennan wrote in a New York Times opinion column.
But Dennard said he agreed with Trump's decision, saying he believes Brennan was too hard on the Trump administration.
"For those people who have been overtly political, or for those people who the president believes have done things that have been political as it relates to the Russia investigation ... or calling him treasonous by utilizing that intelligence information that they have," Dennard said, "the president is saying you people on this list should not have that security clearance."
Mudd countered Dennard by referencing former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who campaigned for Trump and called for the imprisoning former secretary of state and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Mudd noted that even after Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a Russian ambassador, his security clearance was suspended and not revoked.