Former FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeySteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Judge will not dismiss McCabe's case against DOJ Democrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate MORE hit back at President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE for revoking 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’s security clearance, saying Trump is “sending a message that he will punish people who disagree with him and reward those who praise him.”

Comey said in a statement posted to Twitter on Wednesday evening that in a democracy “security clearances should not be used as pawns in a petty political game to distract voters from even bigger problems.”

The former FBI director also criticized Trump for praising “despots and dictators like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and [North Korean leader] Kim Jong Un” and attacking people like “a war hero like [Sen.] John McCain John Sidney McCainAnalysis: Biden victory, Democratic sweep would bring biggest boost to economy The Memo: Trump's strengths complicate election picture Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE [R-Ariz.], members of our country’s free press, and devoted public servants like John Brennan.”

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“American voters must not shrug off or be distracted from the terrible behaviors of his president, who lies to the American people every day, encourages racism, is a misogynist, and always puts his own interests above those of the United State of America,” Comey wrote.

“Politicians enabling this president should be held accountable in future elections,” he continued. “We are each responsible for what we way as well as for our silence.”

The White House announced earlier Wednesday that Trump had revoked Brennan's security clearance in a move widely regarded as retaliatory against the vocal Trump critic.

The president, in a statement, claimed Brennan was using his former government official status to make “unfounded and outrageous” charges about his administration.

“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 facilities, the very aim of our adversaries, which is to sow division and chaos,” Trump said in a statement read by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders during Wednesday's press briefing.

Sanders denied that the move was in response to Brennan's criticism; many Trump critics, including Democratic lawmakers, asserted that it was.

Brennan fired back after the decision was announced, saying Trump was trying "to intimidate and suppress any criticism of him or his administration" but adding that the move would not silence him.

Comey has also been highly critical of the president, targeting Trump in a book published earlier this year. Trump fired Comey last year.