When non-elected officials (or former officials) get too big for their britches by publicly attacking a sitting elected official. One can't publicly attack the person without diminishing the power of office that they hold. That's why some elected officials get to have political tools like the granting of security clearances. It helps to keep those who weren't elected from effecting a popular coup by taking away their access to government resources.
They have a right to free speech; but, they don't have a right to a security clearance which is a prerequisite for holding many jobs in government and as a government contractor. The emotionally stable ones will take their grievances through back channels to other elected officials and not air their dirty laundry in public for worldwide scrutiny. The emotionally erratic ones who court public opinion for their self aggrandizement are a bad risk for holding an active security clearance.
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