happening to john brennan and might dial back what they're saying in order to not risk offending the president. nobody wants to offend the president, but when you're no longer in gho longer in government, you have a right to give your opinion. if it's an opinion which doesn't stand up, let the white house respond to that from the lectern at the briefing room but not by taking away their clearances. >> are you concerned beyond an attempt to stifle free speech that this is also about undermining the credibility of the russia investigation? you heard the president just there again make that charge. but several of the folks on this list, john brennan, head of the cia at the time the assessment was done that russia interfered in the election. part of that assessment was that it was to hurt hillary clinton and help donald trump, an issue the president has never been particularly fond of. james clapper was the director of national intelligence. he's on that list. james comey, of course, was the director of the fbi. he's been fired. he's on that list. are you concerned this is part of the president's intention here? >> i suspect it probably is. i think there's not a single reason why they did what they did. that's certainly part of the