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Former Air Force Secretary to sue Trump over security clearance
Former US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has said he will sue the Trump administration to restore his security clearance, which was revoked on Friday. The administration claimed he disclosed sensitive information…
The Story in Brief
Former US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has said he will sue the Trump administration to restore his security clearance, which was revoked on Friday. The administration claimed he disclosed sensitive information about the Qatari-gifted jet now serving as Air Force One. Kendall, who served under President Joe Biden, told CNN on Monday he would fight back, saying the administration has a history of retaliating against critics. He has denied disclosing classified information.
National security attorney Mark Zaid, himself a target of Trump's clearance revocations, confirmed he is representing Kendall. The Trump administration has previously stripped clearances from dozens of former officials, including former President Joe Biden and members of his family, citing national interest. The revocation comes amid a broader effort to block reports about security flaws in the Qatari jet.
The Indian Opinion
The Trump administration's use of security clearance revocations as a political cudgel is hardly new, but the specific allegation against Frank Kendall, that he leaked details about the Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet, feels like a pretext. The jet's reported lack of advanced anti-missile technology is a genuine safety concern, yet the administration has tried to suppress reporting on it. Whether a court will see this as retaliation or a legitimate national security move will depend on whether Kendall can prove the clearance was pulled for his criticism, not for leaking. The key test: does the administration provide evidence of an actual leak under oath?
Source: thehindu.com
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