Article snippet: MORE has escalated his feud with former intelligence officials. The move was widely seen as an effort by Trump to retaliate against one of his most fervent critics and it has triggered concerns about whether others in the national security community will be affected. The move is one that legal analysts say is unprecedented — marking the first instance of a president unilaterally intervening in a security clearance case of a former, high-level official. Experts agree that Trump, as commander in chief, is within his authority to make determinations regarding who has access to classified information. It sparked a maelstrom of criticism from former intelligence officials and Democrats, who accused the president of seeking to silence his political foes. Mark Zaid, a D.C.-based national security lawyer, said the decision could have a chilling effect on scores of individuals who need security clearances to perform their jobs. “It raises the concerns that if you are politically opposed to the president, your security clearance is in jeopardy,” Zaid said. “They may now be stifled from voicing privately their political opinion.” Some Republicans offered support for Trump’s move, however. There was also criticism of Brennan, who on social media and in cable television appearances has scorched the president with criticism. “On one hand, we are venturing into territory where you have an administration exacting retribution on its predecessor — and that isn’t a good precedent ... Link to the full article to read more