Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard announced the immediate revocation of security clearances for 37 current and former intelligence officials who allegedly abused their positions by politicizing intelligence operations against former President Donald Trump.
The sweeping action targets officials who “abused public trust by politicizing and manipulating” classified information, according to an Aug. 18 memo from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence obtained by the New York Post.
Among those affected are several key figures who participated in the controversial 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment examining Russian influence during the 2016 presidential election, an Obama-administration ordered report now facing intense scrutiny for its alleged political motivations.
“The President has directed that, effective immediately, the security clearances of the following 37 individuals are revoked,” the ODNI memo stated.
“Their access to classified systems, facilities, materials, and information is to be terminated forthwith.”
The directive extends beyond clearance revocation, also terminating any government contracts or employment arrangements with the named individuals and requiring surrender of all credentials to appropriate security officers within the intelligence community.
Former Principal Deputy DNI Stephanie O’Sullivan faces clearance revocation for her role during the Obama administration under then-DNI James Clapper while the intelligence community was producing the now-discredited 2017 assessment that would later fuel years of investigations.
Vinh Nguyen, who had been serving in the Trump administration as the National Security Agency’s first chief artificial intelligence officer, also lost his clearance due to his involvement in the controversial report, which Real Clear Investigations first revealed earlier this month.
The ODNI memo identifies multiple violations among the 37 officials, including politicizing or weaponizing intelligence for partisan purposes, failing to safeguard classified information according to established protocols and not adhering to established tradecraft standards that govern intelligence operations.
Several of the affected officials also signed a September 2019 statement supporting House Democrats’ first impeachment inquiry into President Trump, adding another layer of alleged political involvement to their intelligence work and raising questions about their objectivity.
“Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right,” Gabbard stated in her official announcement, per the Post.
“Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the interests of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold.”
The intelligence director emphasized the critical need for constitutional adherence within the intelligence apparatus, stating that “Our Intelligence Community must be committed to upholding the values and principles enshrined in the US Constitution, and maintain a laser-like focus on our mission of ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people.”
Gabbard has been systematically declassifying records related to the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment since taking office, revealing what she characterizes as a “treasonous conspiracy” by senior Obama administration officials working “to subvert President Trump’s 2016 victory.”
These declassified documents demonstrate that then-CIA Director John Brennan, FBI Director James Comey and DNI James Clapper spearheaded the effort to produce the assessment with an emphasis on Moscow’s electoral involvement and alleged preference for candidate Trump over Hillary Clinton.
Among other notable officials losing clearances is Samantha Vinograd, who served as assistant secretary for counterterrorism, threat prevention and law enforcement policy at the Department of Homeland Security under President Biden and previously worked on Obama’s National Security Council in various capacities.
Vinograd had also signed an open letter during the 2016 campaign asking Trump to disclose his business interests, according to reports from The New York Times, demonstrating a pattern of political opposition to the Republican candidate.
The post Massive Intel Purge: Gabbard Terminates Access for 37 Anti-Trump Officials appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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