President Donald Trump indeed has the authority to pull security clearances of former government officials, but doing so is an "off base" political move that can be seen as "problematic for the country" since both former President Richard Nixon and Joseph McCarthy-era had an "enemies list," retired Adm. Mike Mullen said Sunday.
"It's creating a list of political enemies," Mullen told "Fox News Sunday." "Doing this would really be off base.
"That historically has proven incredibly problematic for the country."
Mullen, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the George W. Bush and Barak Obama administrations, did admit former CIA Director John Brennan's post-government path "puts him in a much more politicized position," which "does more damage" for the intelligence community.
"I think he has been incredibly critical of the president, and I think that has put him in a political place, which actually does more damage for the intel community, which is apolitical, even as he's retired," Mullen told host Chris Wallace. "I really don't support him being as critical of the president as he is."
Mullen added both Brennan – who had his security clearance pulled this week – "has the right to speak" and President Trump "has the right to pull security clearances."
"I don't think there's any question the president has the right to pull security clearances, Mullen told Wallace. "That authority is very clear. . . .
"I am concerned about the whole issue of free speech, and as long as John is not revealing classified information that he shouldn't, I certainly think he has the right to speak."
Mullen, who also has retained his own security clearance, has admitted the classified access has been historically permitted for former officials to use their expertise and experience "to be able to advise on critical issues over time."
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