Nicolle Wallace speaks with former FBI officials Chuck Rosenberg, Frank Figliuzzi, and Peter Strzok on the breaking news that a top aide to John Durham, who is running an investigation into the origins of the Russia investigation, has resigned at least partly over concerns the team was getting pressured for political reasons by attorney general Bill Barr.
Who is really surprised to hear about this? Turns out that our intelligence people have been pressured to spin their findings to "downplay" the terror threat from white nationalists and Russian interference in our elections.
I wonder if Barr realizes that these guys are keeping data on the pressure, which is in most cases, a felony.
Homeland Security whistle-blower says he was pressured to alter intelligence on Russia and white supremacists to match Trump preferences WASHINGTON (AP) — An official at the Department of Homeland Security said in a whistle-blower complaint released Wednesday that he was pressured by agency leaders to suppress details in his intelligence reports that President Donald Trump might find objectionable, including intelligence on Russian interference in the election and the threat posed by white supremacists.
Brian Murphy says in a whistle-blower complaint filed with the agency’s inspector general that he was demoted for refusing to alter his intelligence reports in an “illegal and improper” manner.
The former FBI agent and Marine Corps veteran had served as principal deputy under secretary in the Office of Intelligence and Analysis.
In August, he was demoted to assistant to the deputy under secretary for DHS Management.
“Mr. Murphy is, put simply, a dedicated public servant who has had a laudable career prior to the recent events that have led to the submission of this package to the OIG,” his complaint states. “Prior to his current circumstances, he had never had so much as a negative fitness report in his professional career with the U.S. Government.”
In his complaint, he alleges that former DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen; the current acting secretary Chad Wolf; and his deputy, Ken Cuccinelli, repeatedly pressed him to change intelligence assessments in ways that would support administration policies or avoid offending the president. ... In one example, he said Nielsen and her deputies pressed him to exaggerate the number of migrants with links to terrorism who have been detained at the southwest border. Murphy said she falsely used a higher figure in testimony to Congress.
The complaint says Wolf directed Murphy to cease providing intelligence assessments on the threat of Russian interference to the U.S. because it “made the President look bad.” Murphy said he declined because it would be a violation of his duties not to do it.
The complaint outlined several other occasions when Murphy was pressured to amend details within intelligence reports that didn't match with policy objectives of President Donald Trump.
In December 2019, Murphy submitted intelligence reports on US asylum standards that outlined corruption, violence, and economic malaise Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador
The point at which an administration feels obliged to change intelligence information to protect the president, is the point at which our national security becomes secondary to a politician's political ambitions.
A number of people need to be in jail over this one. Get out there and vote in November, or as early as you can.
