President Donald Trump has revoked Joe Biden’s security clearance, along with access for key political figures, including Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton. Reports suggest this move follows a broader directive targeting political adversaries. Biden’s access to classified briefings has also been cut.

Trump revokes Biden’s security clearance amid political crackdown

Donald Trump has revoked Joe Biden’s security clearance, cutting off his access to intelligence briefings. This move mirrors Biden’s 2020 decision to remove Trump’s clearance.

Trump revokes Biden’s security clearance, ends intelligence briefings access

Robert Malley, the US special envoy to Iran, has reportedly been placed on unpaid leave starting Thursday. As per a CNN report citing multiple sources, the step was taken after Malley's security clearance was suspended earlier this year due to an investigation into his handling of classified material.&nbsp;

"I have been informed that my security clearance is under review. I have not been provided any further information, but I expect the investigation to be resolved favourably and soon. In the meantime, I am on leave," said Malley while talking to CNN.

<h2>The investigation</h2>

The State Department's diplomatic security initiated the investigation, which focused on potential mishandling of classified information.&nbsp;

An anonymous US official told CNN that while the investigation was ongoing, Malley remained in his position but was prohibited from accessing classified information.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-lauds-modi-for-make-in-india-initiative-says-no-harm-in-emulating-similar-exercise-in-russia-610334">Putin lauds Modi for 'Make in India' initiative, says no harm in emulating similar exercise in Russia</a>

The specific reasons for the suspension of his security clearance have not been disclosed, and there is no indication of a criminal probe related to the matter.

Reportedly, the decision to suspend Malley's security clearance was not widely communicated within the State Department or the Biden administration. Some officials were informed that Malley was dealing with personal matters, which explained his reduced involvement in the Iran portfolio.&nbsp;

<h2>Malley's replacement</h2>

Abram Paley has been designated as the acting Special Envoy for Iran, assuming responsibility for the Department's work.

On Thursday, State Department spokesperson Matt Miller confirmed to CNN that Malley was on leave.

"Rob Malley is on leave and Abram Paley is serving as&nbsp;acting Special Envoy for Iran and leading the Department’s work in this area," said Miller.

<h2>Malley and the role he played in US-Iran relations</h2>

Before his security clearance was suspended and he was placed on leave, Rob Malley had been actively involved in the Biden administration's attempts to revive the Iran nuclear deal.&nbsp;

This agreement poses a significant foreign policy challenge for the US. It was abandoned by former President Donald Trump.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-says-putin-somewhat-weakened-by-aborted-wagner-mutiny-610312">Donald Trump says Putin 'weakened' by Wagner mutiny, it's time to broker peace</a>

Malley, who served in the Clinton and Obama administrations, was part of the diplomatic team that negotiated the Iran nuclear deal under President Barack Obama.&nbsp;

Additionally, Malley had been at the forefront of efforts to secure the release of Americans who were wrongfully detained in Iran.&nbsp;

However, following the suspension of his security clearance and subsequent placement on leave, Malley's direct involvement in these diplomatic endeavours has been curtailed. Other officials, such as Brett McGurk, have assumed the responsibility of addressing the challenges surrounding Iran's nuclear programme and advancing negotiations.

Robert Malley, the US special envoy to Iran, has reportedly been placed on unpaid leave starting Thursday. As per a CNN report citing multiple sources, the step was taken after Malley's security clearance was suspended earlier this year due to an investigation into his handling of classified material.

Robert Malley, the US special envoy to Iran, has reportedly been placed on unpaid leave starting Thursday. As per a CNN report citing multiple sources, the step was taken after Malley's security clearance was suspended earlier this year due to an investigation into his handling of classified material. "I have been informed that my security clearance is under review. I have not been provided any further information, but I expect the investigation to be resolved favourably and soon. In the meantime, I am on leave," said Malley while talking to CNN. The investigation The State Department's diplomatic security initiated the investigation, which focused on potential mishandling of classified information. An anonymous US official told CNN that while the investigation was ongoing, Malley remained in his position but was prohibited from accessing classified information. Also read | Putin lauds Modi for 'Make in India' initiative, says no harm in emulating similar exercise in Russia The specific reasons for the suspension of his security clearance have not been disclosed, and there is no indication of a criminal probe related to the matter. Reportedly, the decision to suspend Malley's security clearance was not widely communicated within the State Department or the Biden administration. Some officials were informed that Malley was dealing with personal matters, which explained his reduced involvement in the Iran portfolio. Malley's replacement Abram Paley has been designated as the acting Special Envoy for Iran, assuming responsibility for the Department's work. On Thursday, State Department spokesperson Matt Miller confirmed to CNN that Malley was on leave. "Rob Malley is on leave and Abram Paley is serving as acting Special Envoy for Iran and leading the Department’s work in this area," said Miller. Malley and the role he played in US-Iran relations Before his security clearance was suspended and he was placed on leave, Rob Malley had been actively involved in the Biden administration's attempts to revive the Iran nuclear deal. This agreement poses a significant foreign policy challenge for the US. It was abandoned by former President Donald Trump. Also read | Donald Trump says Putin 'weakened' by Wagner mutiny, it's time to broker peace Malley, who served in the Clinton and Obama administrations, was part of the diplomatic team that negotiated the Iran nuclear deal under President Barack Obama. Additionally, Malley had been at the forefront of efforts to secure the release of Americans who were wrongfully detained in Iran. However, following the suspension of his security clearance and subsequent placement on leave, Malley's direct involvement in these diplomatic endeavours has been curtailed. Other officials, such as Brett McGurk, have assumed the responsibility of addressing the challenges surrounding Iran's nuclear programme and advancing negotiations.

US envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, placed on unpaid leave over security clearance investigation

Donald Trump&#39;s personal lawyer in the Russia case Marc Kosowitz has responded to a stranger&#39;s email with&nbsp;bizarre and&nbsp;profane threats, according to an article by <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/marc-kasowitz-trump-lawyer-threat-emails-maddow" target="_blank">ProPublica</a>. The emails&#39; authenticity have been verified.

The man, a retired PR professional who requested anonymity, wrote an email to&nbsp;Kasich in response to an earlier ProPublica piece about Kasowitz with the subject heading: &quot;Resign now.&quot;

The original piece about Trump&#39;s lawyer in the Russia case, Kasowitz,&nbsp;is important: It was about the lawyer not seeking a security clearance, despite the Trump-Russia case involving large amounts of classified material.&nbsp;

ProPublica claimed that experts believed Kasowitz may have trouble getting such a security clearance, because of what multiple sources described as a recent history of alcohol abuse. In addition, former employees said he engaged in behaviour that made them uncomfortable.&nbsp;

The security clearance background check also considers &quot;any information relevant to strength of character, honesty, discretion, sound judgement [and] reliability.&quot;

A spokesperson for Kasovich said the lawyer &quot;had not struggled with alcoholism&quot; and disputed a couple other aspects of the first ProPublica&nbsp;story.

&nbsp;

The emails

In response to the stranger&#39;s email, Kasowitz wrote a series of progressively longer, angrier emails over a half hour period between 9:30-10pm Eastern time. First was a two word response:&nbsp;&quot;F*ck you.&quot;

The second one read: &quot;I&#39;m on you now. You are f*cking with me now Let&#39;s see who you are Watch your back , b*tch.&quot;

To this, the man responded: &quot;Thank you for your kind reply. I may&nbsp;be in touch as appropriate.&quot;

&quot;___ call me ____ if you want a conversation. I will have it with you. You are such a piece of sh*t. Call me. Don&#39;t be afraid, you piece of sh*t. Stand up. If you don&#39;t call, you&#39;re just afraid. Call me.&nbsp;

In the final email, Kasowitz&nbsp;remarked on the man&#39;s supposed Jewish heritage. Kasowitz is also Jewish. He also went on to threaten him:

&quot;I&#39;m Jewish. I presume you are too. Stop being afraid. Call me. Or give me your number and I will call you. I already know where you live, I&#39;m on you. You might as well call me. You&#39;ll see me.&nbsp;I promise. Bro.&quot;

The man sent it to the FBI because he was worried, but experts are reportedly divided over whether this could put Trump&#39;s lawyer in legal jeopardy.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Kasowitz&#39;s response:

The report included an update with a response from Kasovich&#39;s spokesman:

&ldquo;Mr. Kasowitz, who is tied up with client matters, said he intends to apologize to the writer of the email referenced in today&rsquo;s ProPublica story.&nbsp;While no excuse, the email came at the end of a very long day that at 10 p.m. was not yet over.&nbsp;&nbsp;&lsquo;The person sending that email is entitled to his opinion and I should not have responded in that inappropriate manner,&rsquo; Mr. Kasowitz said.&nbsp; &lsquo;I intend to send him an email stating just that.&nbsp; This is one of those times where one wishes he could reverse the clock, but of course I can&rsquo;t.&rsquo;&rdquo;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Marc Kasowitz: '...I already know where you live, I'm on you. You might as well call me. You'll see me.?I promise. Bro'

Donald Trump's personal lawyer in the Russia case Marc Kosowitz has responded to a stranger's email with bizarre and profane threats, according to an article by ProPublica. The emails' authenticity have been verified. The man, a retired PR professional who requested anonymity, wrote an email to Kasich in response to an earlier ProPublica piece about Kasowitz with the subject heading: "Resign now." The original piece about Trump's lawyer in the Russia case, Kasowitz, is important: It was about the lawyer not seeking a security clearance, despite the Trump-Russia case involving large amounts of classified material. ProPublica claimed that experts believed Kasowitz may have trouble getting such a security clearance, because of what multiple sources described as a recent history of alcohol abuse. In addition, former employees said he engaged in behaviour that made them uncomfortable. The security clearance background check also considers "any information relevant to strength of character, honesty, discretion, sound judgement [and] reliability." A spokesperson for Kasovich said the lawyer "had not struggled with alcoholism" and disputed a couple other aspects of the first ProPublica story. The emails In response to the stranger's email, Kasowitz wrote a series of progressively longer, angrier emails over a half hour period between 9:30-10pm Eastern time. First was a two word response: "F*ck you." The second one read: "I'm on you now. You are f*cking with me now Let's see who you are Watch your back , b*tch." To this, the man responded: "Thank you for your kind reply. I may be in touch as appropriate." "___ call me ____ if you want a conversation. I will have it with you. You are such a piece of sh*t. Call me. Don't be afraid, you piece of sh*t. Stand up. If you don't call, you're just afraid. Call me. In the final email, Kasowitz remarked on the man's supposed Jewish heritage. Kasowitz is also Jewish. He also went on to threaten him: "I'm Jewish. I presume you are too. Stop being afraid. Call me. Or give me your number and I will call you. I already know where you live, I'm on you. You might as well call me. You'll see me. I promise. Bro." The man sent it to the FBI because he was worried, but experts are reportedly divided over whether this could put Trump's lawyer in legal jeopardy. Kasowitz's response: The report included an update with a response from Kasovich's spokesman: “Mr. Kasowitz, who is tied up with client matters, said he intends to apologize to the writer of the email referenced in today’s ProPublica story. While no excuse, the email came at the end of a very long day that at 10 p.m. was not yet over. ‘The person sending that email is entitled to his opinion and I should not have responded in that inappropriate manner,’ Mr. Kasowitz said. ‘I intend to send him an email stating just that. This is one of those times where one wishes he could reverse the clock, but of course I can’t.’”

Trump lawyer in Russia case threatens stranger in email: 'Watch your back, b*tch'

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