Tag

#CIA

4 incidents

Updated May 1, 2019 Corruption & Self-Dealing
Major Abuse of Power

Jared Kushner Security Clearance: Trump Overruled CIA, NSA, FBI Concerns

Kushner had 40 contacts with foreign nationals from more than 20 countries that he failed to disclose on his original security clearance form — submitting three amended versions before all contacts were documented. Career security officials recommended denying or limiting Kushner's clearance; Trump overruled them in May 2018. A White House personnel security director told a congressional committee that she had been pressured to grant the clearance against her professional judgment. Both Trump and Ivanka publicly denied Trump had intervened, before the New York Times reported he had personally ordered the clearance.

Sources
3
Kushnersecurity-clearanceCIAfirst-termcorruption
Updated February 26, 2021 Foreign Policy & War
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Khashoggi Assassination: Trump Defends MBS, Suppresses CIA Findings, Blocks Accountability

Khashoggi, a permanent U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist, entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage. He was killed and his body dismembered by a 15-member Saudi team that included members of MBS's personal security detail. Turkish intelligence recorded audio of the killing and shared it with the CIA. The CIA concluded MBS ordered the operation. Trump's November 2018 statement defending Saudi Arabia cited the CIA assessment as uncertain and emphasized arms sales: '$450 billion of jobs, 450 billion dollars.' Trump resisted congressional pressure for Magnitsky Act sanctions against MBS. The administration characterized MBS's culpability as inconclusive despite CIA findings.

Sources
4
KhashoggiMBSSaudi-Arabiafirst-termforeign-policy
Updated February 15, 2019 Foreign Policy & War
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Khashoggi Assassination: Trump Covered for Saudi Crown Prince Despite CIA Conclusion

Khashoggi, a permanent U.S. resident and Washington Post contributor, entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain marriage documents and was killed by a Saudi hit squad. Turkish intelligence recordings documented the killing. The CIA assessed with high confidence that MBS had ordered it. Trump's response was to prioritize the Saudi relationship over accountability: he repeatedly questioned the CIA's conclusion, cited a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, and issued an unprecedented presidential statement that effectively exonerated MBS by saying even if he was responsible, the U.S. would stand by Saudi Arabia. A bipartisan Senate resolution holding MBS responsible was passed; Trump threatened to veto related legislation.

Sources
4
KhashoggiSaudi-ArabiaMBSpress-freedomfirst-term
Updated January 17, 2021 Rule of Law
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Intelligence Community Attacks: CIA Briefings Undermined, Officials Publicly Attacked

Trump's attacks on the intelligence community followed a pattern: dispute assessments that reflected poorly on him or contradicted foreign governments he was cultivating, attack the officials who provided them, reward officials who shaped assessments to his preferences, and revoke credentials of critics. He disputed the CIA's assessments of Saudi Crown Prince MBS's role in the Khashoggi murder, Russian interference in the 2016 election, North Korean nuclear progress, and Iranian nuclear program compliance. He revoked the security clearances of six former senior officials — all critics — and installed loyalists in acting DNI and other positions.

Sources
3
intelligenceCIArule-of-lawfirst-termBrennan