Sens. Bob Corker and Susan Collins are among Capitol Hill Republicans who disagree with the president’s move to strip former CIA Director John Brennan of his security clearance. “I don’t like it at all,“ Corker said. “It just feels like sort of a … banana republic kind of thing.” | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo Some Republicans uneasy with Trump cutting off Brennan

Some Republican senators are panning President Donald Trump’s move to yank former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance, warning about the precedent it will set for national security.

Even as much of the GOP either backs the president or professes ignorance of Trump’s decision to revoke Brennan’s clearance and threaten future action against other critics, Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee and Susan Collins of Maine said they disagreed with the move. Collins, a member of the Intelligence Committee, criticized Brennan as “far too political” but said that unless he disclosed classified information she didn’t “see the grounds" for revoking his security clearance.


“It’s unwise. Because generally, recently retired intelligence officials have a lot to contribute to the analysis that is being done,” Collins told reporters.

“Without having some kind of tangible reasons for doing so, which there may be that I’m not aware of, I don’t like it at all. It just feels like sort of a … banana republic kind of thing,” said Corker, the retiring Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, repeating the "banana republic" line two more times in an exasperated tone. “I don’t like it.”

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In a statement read by his press secretary, Trump said that he made his decision because of Brennan’s “unfounded and outrageous allegations” about the administration made in the media. But even senators that back up Trump on his authority to make security clearance decisions said there is little evidence he was doing so other than as payback for Brennan’s public criticism.

“It’s clear that’s how it got on the president’s radar screen,” said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas), another Intelligence Committee member. He added that it was “entirely appropriate” for Trump to take action against Brennan.

But Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said it wasn’t enough for Brennan to be simply targeted as a critic: “That’s not a reason.” Hatch suggested more "serious accusations" would be required to cut off Brennan's intelligence access.

And some members of both parties warned that Trump’s move could have national security implications. Former top intelligence officials are used frequently as resources for current national security teams as they navigate domestic and international crises.

“I have to see the basis for it. I think there are plenty examples of officials from administrations in both parties who have that clearance. And I think it’s a good thing to get counsel and advice,” said Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio).

And with Trump mulling action against the clearances of more than a half-dozen other current former officials, some senators are worried about precedent that the president is setting.

“It was almost, in effect, ... a Nixonian enemies list,” said Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee. “It is not the way our national security and intelligence has worked for decades, where we ask intelligence professionals to speak truth to power.”

Warner said he needs to talk to Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) about whether there is any action Congress can or should take. But he doubted whether the GOP would be willing to challenge Trump on the matter.

Indeed, it was clear that the bulk of the party is siding with Trump in a tit-for-tat with a former CIA director whose confirmation few Senate Republicans voted for in 2013.

“I’m not a big fan of Mr. Brennan. I think he has cheapened the status of our national security intelligentsia in this country,” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.).

“I have wondered for years and years why people … are in civilian life, they’ve been in civilian life, and they still have all these clearances. Maybe they need them for a year of transition. But in perpetuity? That’s more than being generous,” said Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), a former Intelligence chairman.

Elana Schor contributed to this report.