so i want to give you the latest line from the white house. here is what they will explain and not explain. >> we don't discuss security clearances. i'm not even going to discuss my own. but i will tell you that the president has the absolute right to do what was described. >> he has the right, but is what he did right? what is the risk? sir? >> well, i was amused by, you know, her statement that the white house doesn't discuss security clearances. well, they sure discussed it a lot when they were threatening to take away clearances of certain critics. but she is right. the whole clearance process from identifying people that need access to background investigations, to adjudication, to granting a clearance, is a purely executive branch function. the president is head of the executive branch, does have the prerogative to grant a clearance or to take it away.