At President Donald Trump's request, Tulsi Gabbard has revoked the security clearances of 37 members of the intelligence community, accusing them of abusing their power for political purposes. 

The news was first reported by the New York Post.

“The President has directed that, effective immediately, the security clearances of the following 37 individuals are revoked,” the August 18 memo stated.

"Their access to classified systems, facilities, materials, and information is to be terminated forthwith. Any contracts or employment with the U.S. Government by these 37 individuals is hereby terminated. Any credentials held by these individuals must be surrendered to the appropriate security officers."

Gabbard yanks clearances

Trump previously revoked clearances from 51 former intelligence agents who signed an infamous letter on the eve of the 2020 presidential election that was used to discredit legitimate reporting on the Biden family's business dealings.

Some of the 37 individuals who just lost clearances worked on the 2017 intelligence assessment tying Trump's 2016 election victory and Russia, while others publicly supported Trump's first impeachment - an example of overt partisanship that became routine within the intelligence community during Trump's first term.

In recent weeks, Gabbard has declassified information detailing a "treasonous conspiracy" by President Obama and his national security team to manufacture the Russian collusion narrative, which clouded Trump's first term before he was ultimately vindicated by an exhaustive FBI investigation.

Two of the individuals targeted in Gabbard's latest move, ex-Principal Deputy DNI Stephanie O’Sullivan and Vinh Nguyen, worked under former intelligence director James Clapper, who has come into focus once again over his involvement in the Russiagate scandal.

According to emails recently declassified by Gabbard, Clapper urged the intelligence community to "compromise" standards when preparing its assessment of Russian interference in 2016 and called the effort a "team sport."

A privilege, not a right

Trump's efforts to hold rogue intelligence officials accountable have led to howls of protest, with critics accusing him of seeking retribution against his enemies.

But Gabbard is making it clear that intelligence officials who abuse their authority stand to lose their special privileges.

"Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right," Gabbard wrote in an X post.

"Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the interests of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold."

Attorney General Pam Bondi has opened a grand jury probe into Clapper and others involved in the Russiagate scandal, after Gabbard submitted criminal referrals to the Justice Department.