All articles tagged with #intelligence community
Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, revoked security clearances of at least 37 current and former officials, citing politicization and unprofessional conduct, amid ongoing disputes over Russia's 2016 election interference and efforts to discredit the intelligence community. Critics argue the move is politically motivated and undermines established laws.
Tulsi Gabbard released documents claiming a conspiracy by Obama officials to manufacture Russia interference in the 2016 election, but reviews and investigations show her claims are misleading and do not contradict the established conclusion that Russia interfered to help Trump, with no evidence of vote tampering or election outcome alteration.
Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and recent supporter of Donald Trump, is expected to face significant opposition in the Senate during her confirmation as the next director of national intelligence. Concerns about her lack of intelligence experience, views on Russia and Syria, and foreign travel are likely to be focal points during the vetting process. Despite holding a high-level security clearance from her military service, her nomination is seen as contentious, with some insiders doubting she has the necessary votes for approval.
Nearly 100 former national security officials have expressed concerns over President-elect Trump's nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, urging Senate leaders to hold closed-door hearings. The officials cite Gabbard's controversial 2017 trip to Syria and her sympathetic stance towards leaders like Assad and Putin as reasons to question her ability to provide unbiased intelligence. They also note her lack of experience for the role, which oversees 18 agencies including the CIA and FBI.
Donald Trump's selection of Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence has sparked controversy due to her lack of experience in the intelligence community and her strong anti-surveillance stance. Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman who recently joined the Republican Party, has been a vocal supporter of whistleblowers like Edward Snowden and Julian Assange, and has introduced legislation to limit government surveillance powers. Her views have drawn criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, with concerns about her alignment with foreign adversaries and her potential impact on U.S. intelligence operations.
Senator-elect Elissa Slotkin expressed concerns about President-elect Donald Trump's national security Cabinet picks, emphasizing the need for appointees to prioritize objective intelligence over political preferences. Slotkin, a former CIA officer, highlighted the importance of "speaking truth to power" and criticized potential nominees like Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard for possibly aligning too closely with Trump's views. She also noted concerns within the Pentagon about Hegseth's past comments on women in combat roles and his stance on diversity efforts. Slotkin, however, was more optimistic about Marco Rubio's nomination for Secretary of State.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) criticized President-elect Trump's nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, citing concerns over Gabbard's qualifications and her alignment with Russian narratives. Spanberger, a former CIA officer, urged Republicans to oppose the nomination, highlighting Gabbard's controversial past statements and actions, including her meeting with Syrian leader Bashar Assad and her stance on U.S. involvement in Ukraine. Gabbard, a former Democrat who became a Republican, faces significant opposition from lawmakers and national security officials.
The U.S. intelligence community is wary of a potential second Trump administration due to past tensions, but finds some relief in Trump's selection of John Ratcliffe as CIA Director. Ratcliffe, seen as a professional choice, is preferred over other potential candidates like Kash Patel, who is viewed with skepticism. Concerns persist about Trump's approach to intelligence, including his handling of classified information and potential job losses under his proposed "Schedule F" plan. The community remains divided, with some officials supporting Trump, while others fear the politicization of intelligence and its impact on national security.
A '60 Minutes' report suggests that Russian military intelligence Unit 29155 is likely behind the mysterious neurological symptoms known as "Havana Syndrome" that have affected US diplomats and spies for nearly a decade, contradicting the US intelligence community's previous assessment ruling out a foreign role. The report links the unit to the development of "non-lethal acoustic weapons" and tracks attacks on American personnel in various locations. Calls for congressional hearings have been made, and the US government has been urged to prioritize investigations and support for affected personnel.
Havana Syndrome, a mysterious illness affecting US officials since 2016, has led to over 1,500 reported cases with symptoms including dizziness, memory loss, and hearing issues. The cause remains unknown, with theories ranging from chemical attacks to energy weapons. While the CIA initially concluded a foreign actor was unlikely responsible, a recent "60 Minutes" report suggests Russia's involvement through its shadowy unit 29155. The US government is taking steps to address the issue, with Congress allocating funds and top officials making it a priority.
Rep. Adam Schiff expressed concerns about former President Trump's handling of classified information and suggested that the Intelligence Community should limit the information they share with him if he becomes the GOP nominee, citing Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents and criminal charges. Schiff, who is running for Senate in California, emphasized the need for caution in briefing Trump due to his past behavior.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has released a declassified Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) on foreign threats to the 2022 U.S. elections. The assessment, coordinated across the Intelligence Community, addresses the intentions and efforts of foreign actors to influence or interfere with the elections. The accompanying National Intelligence Council Memorandum (NICM) provides additional insights into other countries' activities during the election cycle.
Virologist Kristian Andersen, who is under investigation for allegedly misleading the public about the possibility of a lab origin of SARS-CoV-2, may have also misled the intelligence community. Andersen assured officials in a briefing organized by the State Department's intelligence analysts in early 2020 that the virus was natural, drawing from an influential letter he authored. The revelation comes amidst growing concerns that the letter aimed to suppress discussion of a lab accident as the origin of the pandemic. New evidence suggests that Andersen's briefing discouraged some officials from investigating the lab leak theory. Andersen is expected to testify before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee tomorrow.
Former President Donald Trump's disregard for the handling of classified information during his presidency has led to his indictment on 37 counts of "willful retention of national defense information." The indictment alleges that Trump stored classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and shared them with visitors, despite no longer being authorized to possess or retain them after leaving office. Trump's behavior towards classified information was consistent with his conduct as a businessman, according to experts.
The US government is tracking over 650 potential cases of UFOs, according to the director of the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office. While there is no evidence of extraterrestrial life, some cases could be evidence of potential technological advancements from foreign countries like Russia and China. The office is helping the Pentagon and intelligence community to identify emerging foreign technologies, including the high-altitude surveillance balloon from China that flew over US airspace in February.