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herding cats

(20,056 posts)
Wed Jan 20, 2021, 10:01 PM Jan 2021

Former GOP operative Michael Ellis placed on administrative leave from NSA top lawyer job

Source: Washington Post

The director of the National Security Agency, who was ordered over the weekend to install a former GOP political operative as the agency’s top lawyer, on Wednesday placed that individual on administrative leave, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.

The NSA director, Gen. Paul Nakasone, placed Michael Ellis, a former Trump White House official, on leave pending an inquiry by the Pentagon inspector general into the circumstances of his selection as NSA general counsel, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the matter’s sensitivity.

Nakasone was ordered on Saturday by then acting defense secretary Christopher C. Miller to install Ellis by 6 p.m. Ellis officially started the job on Tuesday.

Ellis, then a political appointee, had been named to the post in November after a civil service competition. But he had not taken up the job pending completion of administrative requirements and concerns by Nakasone about, among other things, whether Ellis’s selection was consistent with personnel policies that apply to senior career officials in the intelligence community.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/former-gop-operative-michael-ellis-placed-on-administrative-leave-from-nsa-top-lawyer-job/2021/01/20/3bd154e6-5b83-11eb-b8bd-ee36b1cd18bf_story.html

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Former GOP operative Michael Ellis placed on administrative leave from NSA top lawyer job (Original Post) herding cats Jan 2021 OP
shortest stint in history choie Jan 2021 #1
Clever, like a mule!!! nt Mopar151 Jan 2021 #2
readying the transfer to "Obscuristan" no doubt hlthe2b Jan 2021 #3
Man, not even a tenth of a 'mooch. ZZenith Jan 2021 #4
"tenth of a mooch"...ROFLOL!!! AZ8theist Jan 2021 #13
You really really have to wonder WHY he was put in that position at the 11th hour. groundloop Jan 2021 #5
Trump's eyes and ears in intelligence kiri Jan 2021 #15
Trump probably won't... appmanga Jan 2021 #17
Very interesting. edbermac Jan 2021 #6
1/11 of a Scaramucci... magicarpet Jan 2021 #7
Maybe to keep Trump informed of Biden Admin progress in connecting NCjack Jan 2021 #8
This message was self-deleted by its author NCjack Jan 2021 #9
Good Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jan 2021 #10
Dump moles bucolic_frolic Jan 2021 #11
I would not have released him... Mawspam2 Jan 2021 #12
Very smart move. Would not trust this guy as far as I can spit. IsItJustMe Jan 2021 #14
Don't let the grandpa image fool you about Joe. GulfCoast66 Jan 2021 #16
GTFO!!! orangecrush Jan 2021 #18
So glad to hear that. That appointment really bothered me ecstatic Jan 2021 #19

groundloop

(13,916 posts)
5. You really really have to wonder WHY he was put in that position at the 11th hour.
Wed Jan 20, 2021, 10:08 PM
Jan 2021

We'll likely never know, but since Benedict Donald was involved it almost certainly had to be nefarious.

kiri

(967 posts)
15. Trump's eyes and ears in intelligence
Thu Jan 21, 2021, 12:16 AM
Jan 2021

Although Trump will continue to get daily intelligence reports--as do all exPresidents--Trump wanted a loyalist to feed him secret dirt he could use against enemies, e.g. democrats. Trump's official power is lessened, but his power to leak and do mischief and be vindictive is undiminished.

appmanga

(1,535 posts)
17. Trump probably won't...
Thu Jan 21, 2021, 12:38 AM
Jan 2021

...because this is a courtesy, not a law. I'm hoping Biden will follow Trump's lead and revoke the security clearances from Jared, Ivanka, and any of his other stooges that didn't go through proper vetting.

magicarpet

(19,425 posts)
7. 1/11 of a Scaramucci...
Wed Jan 20, 2021, 10:11 PM
Jan 2021

A least he posted a few blips on the radar screen. Full pension and health insurance for life ... then retire him.

NCjack

(10,297 posts)
8. Maybe to keep Trump informed of Biden Admin progress in connecting
Wed Jan 20, 2021, 10:19 PM
Jan 2021

Trump to Russia. Money laundries, meddling in U.S. elections, how Trump cheated the 2016 election to become prez, and how Trump cheated the 2024 election but it was not enough.

Response to herding cats (Original post)

Mawspam2

(1,117 posts)
12. I would not have released him...
Wed Jan 20, 2021, 11:21 PM
Jan 2021

...I would have reassigned him to a windowless room with a desk, wobbly chair, no duties, no phone, and no internet at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Make him quit so we don't have to pay him.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
16. Don't let the grandpa image fool you about Joe.
Thu Jan 21, 2021, 12:23 AM
Jan 2021

I mean, yeah, he is a great family man. But after a life in politics he knows how to bring the hurt.

He knows how the system works and can cut you off at the knees if need be.

And let’s not even discuss Nancy.

I like nice guys as my leaders. Especially when they can be bad-asses when need be.

ecstatic

(35,135 posts)
19. So glad to hear that. That appointment really bothered me
Thu Jan 21, 2021, 02:06 AM
Jan 2021

when I heard about it (thanks, Rachel).

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