Transcript for Trump gives new reason for stripping Brennan's clearance

President trump under fire after taking aim at America's intelligence community and his unprecedented decision to revoke John Brennan's security clearance. President trump lashing out at former national security officials, blaming them for launching the Russia investigation. John Brennan firing back today, calling president trump's claims of no collusion hogwash. And tonight, a new secret recording of a member of the trump family and an offer you can hear on the recording. Here's ABC's chief white house correspondent Jonathan Karl tonight. Reporter: At a cabinet meeting today, president trump refused to answer questions abouhis decision to revoke the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan. Mr. President, is it appropriate for you to punish your critics? Reporter: In his initial statement read by press secretary Sarah Sanders, the president said his decision was prompted by Brennan's, quote, erratic conduct. 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. Reporter: Sanders said a range of other trump critics could be stripped of their clearances, too, and for the Sam reasons. But in an interview with "The Wall Street journal," the present offered an entirely different explanation, saying he was going after those former top national security officials because of the Russia investigation. "I call it the rigged witch hunt. It is a sham," he said. "And these people led it! So I think it's something that had to be done." Mr. Brennan is a life-long intelligence officer who served democratic and Republican administrations, including as deputy CIA director for George W. Bush. During the transition, he was among those who briefed then-president-elect trump on Russia's interference in the 2016 election. He's since become one of the president's harshest critics, branding as treasonous the July news conference with Vladimir Putin, where trump said Putin gave an extremely strong and powerful denial of Russian interference in the election. It is betrayal of the nation. He's giving aid and comfort to the enemy, and it needs to stop Reporter: And just this morning, Brennan wrote in "The New York Times," "Mr. Trump's claims of no collusion are, in a word, hogwash." Among those coming to Brennan's defense is retired admiral William Mcraven. A widely respected special operations officer who oversaw the raid that killed Osama bin laden. He penned a letter to the president "The Washington post" today saying, "I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance, as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency." With all this happening, the white house is now dealing with yet another secretly recorded tape from the president's former senior adviser turned critic, omarosa Manigault Newman. This one is of a conversation she had with the president's daughter-in-law, Lara trump, shortly after she was fired. Lara trump offering her a job on the campaign, but making it clear she would be expected to say only positive things about the president. It sounds a little like, obviously, that there are some things you've got in the back pocket to pull out. Clearly, if you come on board the campaign, like, we can't have -- we got to -- Oh, god, no. Everybody positive. Right? Reporter: Lara trump goes on to tell omarosa how much she would be paid. $180,000 a year. So I know you were making 179 at the white house, and I think we can work something out where we keep you right along those lines. Jon Karl with us tonight, again live at the white house. And amid this recording, Jon, you're getting word tonight that president trump's campaign lawyer has now sent a letter to the publisher of omarosa's new book? Reporter: They're trying to get Simon and Schuster to stop pupally case of the book, citing the nondisclosure agreement that omarosa signed with the campaign. Simon and Schuster is not having it, they are responded, "Your letter is nothing more than an obvious attempt to silence legitimate criticism of the president." So, they will not pull that book, David. All right, Jon Karl, thank you. There were also breaking

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