President Donald Trump is considering revoking the security clearances of four Obama-era intelligence and law enforcement officials, along with that of a former spy chief during the White House terms of George W. Bush.

Former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence (DNI) James Clapper, former FBI Director James Comey, former national security adviser Susan Rice, former National Security Agency (NSA) Director Gen. Michael Hayden (ret.), and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe could all lose their security clearances, according to White House press secretary Sarah Sanders (shown above at lectern).

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Trump administration officials argue that the named individuals politicized their public service signing on quickly with cable news contracts and book deals.

“Not only is the president looking to take away Brennan’s security clearance — he’s also looking into the security clearances of Comey, Clapper, Hayden, Rice and McCabe,” Sanders said during a press conference. “The president is exploring the mechanisms to remove security clearance because they’ve politicized and, in some cases, monetized their public service and security clearance.”

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Sanders added that the former senior officials have made baseless accusations of improper contact with Russia. She argued the security clearances provide inappropriate legitimacy to baseless charges that lack evidence. Democrats have accused the president of improper collusion with Russian interests during the election of 2016.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) met with the president prior to the press conference to advocate for their clearances to be revoked. Sanders made her comments in response to a question about the meeting. Paul has expressed concern and tweeted a question on whether Brennan is monetizing his security clearance.

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Trump has most recently been attacked for his summit meeting July 16 with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Democrats were quick to denounce him for appearing to dismiss an intelligence community assessment on Russian election interference. Trump later clarified that he intended to say he agrees with the intelligence community.

John Brennan has repeatedly blasted Trump since Monday, accusing him of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” part of the constitutional standard for impeachment, and also of allegedly committing treason in supporting Putin. John McLaughin, former acting CIA director, claimed the president sided with the enemy.