House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) criticized acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell in a letter on Tuesday for his management changes to the intelligence community and demanded that he address some of Schiff’s concerns.
Schiff laid out his concerns that Grenell’s changes were made without consulting Congress and that he was restricting intelligence on election security that members of Congress should be aware of.
“I am writing to express my concern that you are pursuing organizational and personnel changes at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) without consulting and seeking authorization from Congress and in a manner that undermines critical intelligence functions,” Rep. Schiff wrote.
Schiff also wrote that he was concerned over President Trump’s decision to fire Michael Atkinson, the now-former inspector general for the intelligence community. Atkinson alerted Congress to the anonymous whistleblower complaint about President Trump’s July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which ultimately spun off the impeachment saga.
“The Committee is reviewing the circumstances of Mr. Atkinson’s dismissal, including whether his termination was intended to curb any ongoing investigations or reviews being undertaken by his office,” Schiff wrote.
He asked the acting Director of National Intelligence to provide a written certification to his committee that he would not interfere with the work of future officials in that role and that he certify he has never interfered in the work of Thomas Monheim, the now acting inspector general of the intelligence community. Continued Below
The House and Senate each received separate briefings from top administration officials around potential election interference in 2020 on March 10. Schiff accused Grenell on Tuesday of allowing his staff to “interfere with the production and briefing of intelligence information” on election security that was given to Congress, reported The Hill.
“If accurate, this politicization of intelligence would constitute a grave breach of your duty as Acting DNI to preserve the independence of the IC, protect the integrity of U.S. elections, and keep the Congress fully and currently informed of intelligence activities,” Schiff wrote.
Richard Grenell called out Schiff Tuesday on Twitter shortly after the letter was made public, writing: “His letter was sent to the press before it was sent to me. These press leaks politicizing the intelligence community must stop.” Continued Below
Richard Grennell’s official tweet:
His letter was sent to the press before it was sent to me. These press leaks politicizing the intelligence community must stop. https://t.co/hdWIzGWvZr
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) April 7, 2020
Rep. Adam Schiff’s official letter:
New: Intel Chair Schiff sent a letter today to acting DNI @RichardGrenell raising concern he is reorganizing w/o receiving congressional authorization. Asks him to produce info to committee by April 16. pic.twitter.com/neHfLdptdx
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) April 7, 2020
(H/T The Hill)
