The Dangers in the Trump-Brennan Confrontation - Lawfare

The confrontation between Trump and former CIA Director John Brennan and those who have rallied behind him is problematic. Having been relentlessly and fraudulently denounced as partisan hack by Trump former high government officials fall into his web. Their principled criticism gets painted as part of the Deep State conspiracy against the illegitimate President. - gwc

The Dangers in the Trump-Brennan Confrontation - Lawfare

by Jack Goldsmith (Harvard Law School, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel from 2003-2004)

***In this light, it is hard to know precisely what the former senior intelligence officials who wish to defend the intelligence community should be doing. I think that the decision is personal and contextual and that silence (like that of William McRaven and Robert Gates, until recently, and President Obama’s) is an appropriate option. But for those who feel that speaking out is best, my modest advice would be as follows. 

First, avoid appearing on television in a panel of other senior former intelligence professionals for group criticism of the president. 

Second, be scrupulous in maintaining a temperate, sober tone. 

Third, if you worked on Russian election meddling during the Obama administration, avoid stating any conclusions about the president and that meddling, and always be unambiguously clear that whatever judgments you make are not based on information you saw in government. 

Fourth, avoid attacking the president on substantive matters outside your expertise.