Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard last week revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former intelligence officials—among them a senior undercover officer who has led the Central Intelligence Agency’s Russia analysis—according to documents and officials cited by the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. The move came four days after President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin at an Aug. 15 summit in Alaska. CIA Director John Ratcliffe had recently approved a prestigious European posting for the officer, who has spent years on Moscow-related issues. With her clearance pulled, her assignment and career prospects have effectively ended. Agency officials said they were informed only hours before the list was released publicly and were not consulted on the decision, calling the action a potential risk to clandestine cover procedures and relations with foreign partners. Several people on the roster had participated in U.S. assessments of Russian election interference or had signed a 2019 letter supporting Trump’s impeachment. A spokesperson for Gabbard said the clearances were withdrawn to prevent individuals who had “weaponized” or “leaked” classified information from continuing to access sensitive material. The CIA has not commented publicly on whether it will contest the revocations.
Tulsi Gabbard Yanked a Top Undercover CIA Agent's Clearance — Without Telling CIA: Report https://t.co/vSqmudiK3j
Tulsi Gabbard included an undercover, Russia-focused CIA officer on a public list of people stripped of security clearances because she did not know his role (despite it being part of her job) nor coordinate with the Agency (also part of her job). https://t.co/qXGLTFqxjD
Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, surprised Central Intelligence Agency officials last week when she included an UNDERCOVER senior CIA officer on a roster of 37 current and former officials she stripped of security clearances. https://t.co/b61ZHtTj02