The statement signed by the former directors and deputy directors of the CIA and the open letter signed by retired Adm. William H. McRaven, head of the Special Operations Command during the 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden, are remarkable. We witness thirteen men who have led our intelligence services and a retired admiral of the US Navy inform the president of the United States that his actions essentially violate the oath of office imposed on him when he was inaugurated.
Excerpt:
In times of crisis, the leaders of the military and intelligence communities try to put aside their differences, often many and sundry, and work together for the good of the country. That’s what’s happening today with a remarkable group of retired generals, admirals and spymasters who have signed up for the resistance, telling the president of the United States, in so many words, that he is not a king.
Thirteen former leaders of the Pentagon, the C.I.A. and the F.B.I. have signed an open letter standing foursquare against President Trump, in favor of freedom of speech and, crucially, for the administration of justice. They have served presidents going back to Richard M. Nixon mostly without publicly criticizing the political conduct of a sitting commander in chief — until now.
They rebuked Mr. Trump for revoking the security clearance of John Brennan, the C.I.A. director under President Obama, in retaliation for his scalding condemnations and, ominously, for his role in “the rigged witch hunt” — the investigation into Russia’s attempt to fix the 2016 election, now in the hands of Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel. The president’s latest attempt to punish or silence everyone connected with the case, along with his fiercest critics in political life, will not be his last.
You don’t need a secret decoder ring to see what’s happening here. John Brennan, who knows whereof he speaks, believes that the president is a threat to the security of the United States — a counterintelligence threat, no less, in thrall to President Vladimir Putin of Russia. The president attacks him, severing Mr. Brennan’s access to classified information. The deans of national security rise up to defend him — and, by implication, intelligence officers and federal investigators who are closing in on the White House.
They are sending a message to active-duty generals and admirals, soldiers and spies. Remember your oath to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Think twice before following this man’s orders in a crisis. You might first consider throwing down your stars.
Here’s the statement (or open letter) signed by the twelve former CIA heads:
As former senior intelligence officials, we feel compelled to respond in the wake of the ill-considered and unprecedented remarks and actions by the White House regarding the removal of John Brennan’s security clearances. We know John to be an enormously talented, capable, and patriotic individual who devoted his adult life to the service of this nation. Insinuations and allegations of wrongdoing on the part of Brennan while in office are baseless. Since leaving government service John has chosen to speak out sharply regarding what he sees as threats to our national security. Some of the undersigned have done so as well. Others among us have elected to take a different course and be more circumspect in our public pronouncements. Regardless, we all agree that the president’s action regarding John Brennan and the threats of similar action against other former officials has nothing to do with who should and should not hold security clearances – and everything to do with an attempt to stifle free speech. You don’t have to agree with what John Brennan says (and, again, not all of us do) to agree with his right to say it, subject to his obligation to protect classified information. We have never before seen the approval or removal of security clearances used as a political tool, as was done in this case. Beyond that, this action is quite clearly a signal to other former and current officials. As individuals who have cherished and helped preserve the right of Americans to free speech – even when that right has been used to criticize us – that signal is inappropriate and deeply regrettable. Decisions on security clearances should be based on national security concerns and not political views.
Look at her face. If reporters actually forcefully pushed back on this shit, like White House correspondent for Playboy Brian Karem (???), maybe we’d get somewhere. Instead, day after day, the White House press corps quietly allows the White House to push them around and then makes mildly annoyed remarks about how unfair it is on Twitter.
I cannot believe PLAYBOY correspondents have more of a spine than CNfuckingN
The Playboy correspondent is less likely to lose his job because of it, you think hugh hefner or cooper sanders actually gives a shit about whether or not Trump is happy with them? Do you think it would actually matter to playboy if they weren’t allowed a correspondent at the white house? Playboy isn’t in competition with anyone there. They’re not competiting with CNN and Fox News, their job isn’t going to suddenly disappear if it takes them a couple more days to get the news. Whereas if a CNN correspondent got kicked out, and the white house refused to issue new credentials to their reporters they’d lose a massive market share, that reporter would be fired, and they’d pretty much never be able to work in the industry again because they’d be labeled “a risk”.
Full on props to Brian Karem for standing up to that bullshit, but don’t disparage other people for not sacrificing their futures and livelihoods for it. It’s a tough time for everyone right now, and reporters for traditional news media have it hella tough too, especially if they’ve been assigned to the white house.
Trump on Wednesday announced on Twitter that he will nominate Christopher A. Wray as the new director of the FBI.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on CBS This Morning that the nomination was an effort to distract from James Comey’s upcoming testimony.
Wray is a lawyer who served as assistant attorney general in the DOJ’s criminal division under President George W. Bush.
He currently serves as a partner at the law firm King & Spalding, and was New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s personal lawyer during the Bridgegatescandal. Read more (6/7/17)
Attorney General Jeff Sessions allegedly proposed his possible resignation to Trump in a recent meeting amid an increasingly fraught working relationship, ABC News reported Tuesday, citing anonymous sources close to the president.
According to the ABC report, Trump remains so angry with Sessions over the latter’s decision to recuse himself from all matters related to ongoing investigations into Trump’s widely rumored ties with Russia that he “lashed out repeatedly at the attorney general in private meetings.“
Sources told ABC News the president personally blames Sessions for the expanding scandal, which now counts multiple congressional inquiries, a special counsel and an FBI investigation. Read more (6/6/17)
As former FBI Director James Comey testified (or gave his beginning statements, however the hearing works) today, Donny-boy nominated a replacement for Comey, who’s a lawyer who’s been involved with Russia’s government-owned oil company Rosneft.
Allegedly, acting Attorney General Jeff Sessions—a man who had recused himself from involvement in the ongoing investigation into Russian ties, having revealed that he had met with Russian diplomats during the campaign without the consent or knowledge of Congress—has suggested he should resign now.
All of this, coming after the resignation of National Security Adviser Eric Flynn amidst allegations of his own Russian ties, revelations that Trump’s tax returns from several years ago included investments and land-holdings given to him from Russia, the past career of Chief Campaign Organizer Paul Manafort lobbying on behalf of Russia in Ukraine before the Crimea Annexation, Trump’s giving a Russian delegation sensitive information considered confidential even to allies like the UK and a National Security Agency contractor’s leaking of information to the media, which supposedly shows proof of Russian ties.
But given the administrations frequent lies and changing of stories throughout these first five months and the firing of both the previous Attorney General after her refusal to implement the Muslim Ban and James Comey after the investigation took off, there will be resistance from Donny-boy and Friends. Congress better do the right thing or face unemployment after the Mid-Term Elections of 2018.
Trump’s concerns over the personal loyalty of potential appointees, as well as business entanglements and reluctance by some to join a scandal-ridden administration, have resulted in a slow process to fill top slots at the Pentagon, with just five of 53 spots currently filled.
McClatchy DC reported on Monday that officials at the Pentagon like Christine Wormuth, the former head of policy at the agency under Barack Obama, said even minor public criticism of the president, like negative social media posts, is now viewed as disqualifying.
The problem isn’t delays in the Senate, whose approval is required to confirm appointments, but in securing qualified candidates without any major issues. Read more (6/6/17)
Citing anonymous sources close to Trump, the Times reported that Trump blames Sessions for many of the White House’s ongoing troubles.
The Times pointed to several of Trump’s tweets from early Monday, which seemed to suggest a worsening relationship with the DOJ
Trump is also reportedly upset with Sessions over his recusal from investigations into the alleged Russian hacking of the November election.
Sessions’ recusal paved the way for the appointment of a special counsel, former FBI Director Robert Mueller, to helm the investigation.
According to the Times, Trump felt “blindsided” by Sessions’ recusal decision and “unleashed his fury” on Oval Office aides after receiving the news. Read more (6/6/17)
Urocyon's Jaunts 2.0 