Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has stripped security clearances from dozens of former intelligence officials who dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian disinformation, fulfilling one of President Trump’s first executive orders in his second term.
Top Takeaways
- DNI Tulsi Gabbard has revoked security clearances for 51 signers of the Hunter Biden laptop “disinformation” letter, along with top Biden officials and Trump prosecutors.
- Former President Biden will no longer receive the President’s Daily Brief, a courtesy traditionally extended to former presidents.
- The action follows testimony that former intelligence officials wrongly characterized the laptop story as Russian disinformation during the 2020 election campaign.
- President Trump directed these revocations through an executive order on his first day back in office.
- Those affected include Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, New York AG Letitia James, and Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.
Security Clearances Revoked as Trump Administration Settles Scores
In a sweeping move that signals the Trump administration’s intent to hold former officials accountable, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the revocation of security clearances for dozens of current and former officials. Those affected include top aides to former President Joe Biden, intelligence officials who signed a letter dismissing the Hunter Biden laptop story as potential Russian disinformation, and legal officials who brought cases against Donald Trump during his time out of office.
Gabbard’s announcement specifically named several high-profile individuals, including former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and former Special Counsel team member Andrew Weissman. Perhaps most notably, the list includes all 51 signatories of the controversial letter regarding Hunter Biden’s laptop that emerged shortly before the 2020 election.
Biden Administration Officials and Trump Prosecutors Targeted
The security clearance revocations extend beyond intelligence officials to include legal officials who pursued cases against Trump. Both New York Attorney General Letitia James, who secured a civil judgment against Trump for fraud, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought criminal charges against the president, had their clearances revoked despite questions about whether they even possessed such clearances.
“I have revoked security clearances and barred access to classified information for Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Lisa Monaco, Mark Zaid, Norman Eisen, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, and Andrew Weissman, along with the 51 signers of the Hunter Biden ‘disinformation’ letter. The President’s Daily Brief is no longer being provided to former President Biden,” Gabbard posted on X.
A spokesperson for James dismissed the action, stating: “What security clearance? Anyway, this is just another attempt to distract from the real work the Attorney General is doing to defend the rights of New Yorkers and all Americans.” The revocations also notably include Mark Zaid, an attorney who has represented whistleblowers in national security cases against the first Trump administration.
Hunter Biden Laptop Controversy Returns to Spotlight
The revocations fulfill a key campaign promise by President Trump, who signed an executive order on his first day back in office directing these actions. The laptop controversy dates back to October 2020, when the New York Post published a story about emails found on a laptop allegedly belonging to Hunter Biden. Shortly afterward, 51 former intelligence officials signed a letter suggesting the story had “earmarks of a Russian information operation.”
Subsequent testimony from former FBI employees confirmed that the laptop was not disinformation. Former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell has testified that while Antony Blinken did not sign the letter, he was involved in events leading to its creation. Hunter Biden was later convicted of criminal tax and gun charges but received a pardon from his father before leaving office.
