Overview
- Kendall had his clearance revoked Friday and was barred from accessing classified information or holding sensitive positions, the Pentagon said in a public statement.
- Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the action followed an unauthorized disclosure to a media outlet about Air Force One’s capabilities though officials have not identified the specific classified material.
- Kendall says he is mystified, denies knowingly revealing classified information, and says no one has told him what he is alleged to have disclosed.
- Reporting earlier this month noted the Qatari-donated Boeing 747 used as a stopgap Air Force One left off some standard defensive systems, secure communications hardware, and support modifications because work was rushed.
- The move has intensified disputes over government pressure on reporters, past DOJ subpoenas tied to the coverage, partisan claims of political punishment, and questions about oversight of foreign gifts and rapid aircraft retrofits.