Speaker Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 At indoor rally, Pence says election runs through Wisconsin Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates MORE (R-Wis.) suggested President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE is “trolling” several former top intelligence officials by threatening to revoke their security clearance.

“I think he’s trolling people, honestly,” Ryan told reporters on Tuesday. “This is something that is in the purview of the executive branch. I think some of these people have lost their clearance already; some people keep their clearances.

“That’s something that the executive branch deals with. That’s not really in our purview,” he added.

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A day earlier, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the Trump administration is considering revoking the security clearance for a number of former officials. Those officials, who served in top levels of the Obama administration, have been highly critical of Trump.

The list of possible targets includes former CIA Director John Brennan John Owen BrennanJournalism or partisanship? The media's mistakes of 2016 continue in 2020 Comey on Clinton tweet: 'I regret only being involved in the 2016 election' Ex-CIA Director Brennan questioned for 8 hours in Durham review of Russia probe MORE; former FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyDemocrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate Book: FBI sex crimes investigator helped trigger October 2016 public probe of Clinton emails Trump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa MORE; James Clapper James Robert ClapperOn China, Biden is no Nixon — and no Trump The Hill's 12:30 Report - Speculation over Biden's running mate announcement Trump slams former intelligence officials to explain 'reluctance to embrace' agencies MORE, former director of national intelligence; retired Gen. Michael Hayden, another former director of the CIA; former national security adviser Susan Rice; and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe Andrew George McCabeGraham: Comey to testify about FBI's Russia probe, Mueller declined invitation Barr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' GOP votes to authorize subpoenas, depositions in Obama-era probe MORE.