Florida Democratic Representative Val Demings said Saturday she believes former President Donald Trump would sell US intelligence briefings if given the opportunity.
“I believe this former president, and I believe it with all my heart, would use intelligence as a bargaining chip or sell it to the highest bidder,” Demings said during an interview on MSNBC.
“We don’t trust our former president, and so do many of our allies around the world,” added Demings, who serves on the House’s judiciary, homeland security and intelligence committees.
Demings’ comments come after President Joe Biden said it is “unnecessary” for Trump to continue to receive intelligence briefings following his departure from office.
As a courtesy, former presidents are often given the opportunity to receive ongoing intelligence under the supervision of the new commander in chief.
But in a new interview with CBS News, Biden said Trump’s “erratic behavior” would be reason enough to dissuade him from receiving the briefings.
“I just think he doesn’t need the intelligence briefings. What is the value of giving him an intelligence briefing? What impact does he have at all, other than the fact that he might slip and say something? ‘ the president said during the interview that airs on Sunday.
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Demings said Trump proved during his tenure that he was an untrustworthy source by nesting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
We saw this president in action for four years. We saw him on stage with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki and basically doing everything except asking the Russian dictator for his autograph. We saw him on the phone with the Russian dictator. and refuse to ask him about bounties given on the heads of American soldiers, ”she said.
“We’ve seen him cuddle up with Kim Jong Un from North Korea,” she added. “There is no circumstance that the former president should receive any information. Not now or, frankly, in the future. ‘
The only situation that an intelligence briefing would produce, Deming added, would be if the government had information that could be used to protect the former president’s security.
Even then, that information should be “clearly and narrowly defined,” she said.
Demings’ comments come days before Trump’s hearing on charges in the Senate is due to take place.
The former president was impeached a second time by the House of Representatives last month on charges of “inciting insurrection” after a violent mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6.
“Donald Trump has been impeached and will hopefully be sentenced for his role in instigating a riot on January 6,” Deming added Saturday. The question has arisen, ‘Should he receive intelligence briefings?’ The answer, based on the opinion of this member of the intelligence committee, is ‘no’. ”
Newsweek reached out to Demings for additional comment but was not heard back in time for publication.