Commentator Doug Wead’s new book Inside Trump’s White House: The Real Story of His Presidency claims that top CIA employees did not like how “President Barack Obama’s administration micromanaged intelligence matters” and showed too much concern “with political correctness.”
CIA
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Impeachment: “Thank God for the Deep State” Says Former Acting CIA Director John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin, the former acting director of the CIA, made an astonishing remark this week during an event also attended by John Brennan and Andrew McCabe. When asked about impeachment efforts against Trump, he praised the deep state.
The “Whistleblower Complaint” isn’t a whistleblower complaint, it’s a closing argument
When the so-called Whistleblower Complaint was released this morning, my first impression was that this was a very professionally-done document, likely crafted by a lawyer.
USS Cole Mastermind Likely Killed in Airstrike
A US official told CNN today that an airstrike probably killed al-Qaeda terrorist Jamel Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al-Badawi, the mastermind behind the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000.
The attack killed 17 sailors and injured 39 others. Many believe the terrorist attack “foreshadowed the attack on the US less than one...
Trump is Not Trying to Silence Brennan, He’s Using Him as a Political Foil
Monday, Trump attorney Rudy Guiliani publicly dared former CIA Director John Brennan to make good on his threats and file suit.
Trump Revokes Brennan’s Security Clearance, Considers Revoking Clearance From Others Who Allegedly Leaked to the Press
Wednesday, the White House announced former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance had been revoked.
Brennan is no fan of Trump.
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Ex-CIA Worker Indicted for Leaking Classified Information About the Agency’s Hacking Tools
A grand jury indicted ex-CIA employee Joshua Schulte for stealing and leaking classified information to an organization.
The indictment does not name the organization, but Politico and The New York Times reported the organization is Wikileaks.
Haspel Sworn In as First Female CIA Director
Gina Haspel made history today when she became the first female CIA director. From Fox News:
Haspel was confirmed Thursday as CIA director, becoming the first woman to lead the agency after overcoming initial Democratic opposition regarding her role in post-9/11 interrogation and detention practices.
Haspel, who previously served as deputy director and...
Second Democrat Announces Support For Haspel Nomination As CIA Director
A second Democrat senator has announced his support for President Trump’s pick to head the CIA. Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN) issued a statement in support of Gina Haspel. In doing so, he joins Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) in saying they support her nomination. Both senators are facing potentially tough reelections this...
Why Is McCain Speaking Out Against Haspel Confirmation After Voting For Brennan’s?
As we’ve been covering here at LI, Gina Haspel is President Trump’s pick to head the CIA. She has been blasted for her role in overseeing then-legal and -authorized enhanced interrogation techniques against Islamist terrorists.
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has issued a statement in which he urges the Senate not to confirm...
California’s US Senators’ tortuous exchanges with CIA Director Nominee
Rumor has it that President Donald Trump is soon going to send Mike Pompeo on another rescue mission.
The target? CIA Director nominee Gina Haspel, who had to undergo two tortuous exchanges with the US senators from California during her confirmation hearing.
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Who elected John Brennan?
The pace of media frenzy and #TheResistance howling has picked up lately, particularly in the wake of the firing of Andrew McCabe.
But this frenzy is just a variation on a theme.
Rand Paul Still a No on Haspel Despite Retracted Torture Report
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has decided to still oppose CIA Deputy Director Gina Haspel as director of the spy agency despite the fact ProPublica retracted a report that claimed she supervised and participated in torture in 2002.
ProPublica retracts story on alleged participation in torture by Trump’s CIA pick Gina Haspel
After President Donald Trump nominated CIA Deputy Director Gina Haspel to takeover as director, stories from a year ago circulated about how she was in charge of a secret CIA prison in Thailand that tortured al-Qaeda suspects. The reports contained claims that she even participated.
I even blogged about it, mainly because...
Trump’s CIA Director Pick Gina Haspel Will Likely Face Questions About Role in Torture
President Donald Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson this morning and nominated CIA Director Mike Pompeo to take over that role. He also nominated CIA Deputy Director Gina Haspel to lead the spy agency.
If confirmed, Haspel will become the first woman CIA director. However, she may face a rocky road...
Trump Fires Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Nominates CIA Director Mike Pompeo as Replacement
President Donald Trump has fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and will nominate CIA Director Mike Pompeo as his replacement.
The State Department’s statement said that Tillerson does not know why Trump let him go.
