Whistleblower details alleged politicization of intelligence at DHS

[brooklynite]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by applegrove (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: ABC News

The former chief of intelligence at the Department of Homeland Security has filed a whistleblower complaint describing repeated instances in which he claims the Trump administration sought to “censor or manipulate” intelligence for political purposes.

ABC News has obtained a copy of the complaint, filed Tuesday with the DHS inspector general by Brian Murphy, a former acting chief of the agency’s intelligence branch. It alleges a pattern of behavior ranging from “attempted abuse of authority” to possible violations of federal law perpetrated by some of the administration’s senior-most figures in law enforcement and intelligence.

According to Murphy, those leaders attempted to “censor or manipulate the intelligence information” connected to Russia’s interference in U.S. elections, the threat posed by domestic white supremacy groups, and statistics about terrorist entries along the southern border.

Over the course of 24 pages, Murphy describes an environment in which senior officials – including former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, current acting Secretary Chad Wolf, and current Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli – scrambled to gather and prepare intelligence reports that aligned with President Donald Trump’s political message and public remarks.


Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/whistleblower-details-alleged-politicization-intelligence-dhs/story?id=72904622

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This complaint concerns retaliatory actions taken or threatened to be taken against a long- time public servant, Brian Murphy (“Mr. Murphy”). The retaliatory actions were taken and/or threatened to be taken in light of at least five sets of protected disclosures made by Mr. Murphy between March 2018 and August 2020. The protected disclosures that prompted the retaliatory personnel actions at issue primarily focused on the compilation of intelligence reports and threat assessments that conflicted with policy objectives set forth by the White House and senior Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) personnel.

As set forth below, the identified protected communications were made through Mr. Murphy’s chain of command, as well as to the DHS Office of Inspector General (“OIG”). Notably, Mr. Murphy made protected communications to his immediate supervisor and some of the very Responsible Management Officials (“RMOs”) who ultimately took (or threatened to take) retaliatory action against Mr. Murphy.

A thorough investigation will establish that the actions taken or threatened to be taken against Mr. Murphy were done in reprisal for his protected disclosures. Therefore, we respectfully request that DHS OIG promptly institute the required investigation. The relief requested is set forth below.

https://intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/murphy_wb_dhs_oig_complaint9.8.20.pdf

[2naSalit]

1. K&R

[OKNancy]

2. One thing after another

It never ends. Will this get forgotten like all the other crap in this hell of an administration?

[yaesu]

3. more for the "sorry, but nothing can be done about it" file. nt

[TeamPooka]

4. Hang 'em all.

[applegrove]

5. After discussion with hosts ... LOCKING

Alert: duplicate post

Here is a previous story on the same topic posted earlier:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142578839

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