WH asks ODNI for list of top U.S. spies as Trump prepares to install loyalist sock puppet

[Miles Archer]

The Trump administration is taking inventory of many of America’s top spies, The Daily Beast has learned. The White House recently asked the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) for a list of all its employees at the federal government’s top pay scale who have worked there for 90 days or more, according to two sources familiar with the request.

The request appears to be part of the White House’s search for a temporary director of national intelligence—a prospect that raises concerns in some quarters about political influence over the Intelligence Community.

The request, which specifically asks for people in ODNI at the GS-15 level (the pay grade for most top government employees, including supervisors) or higher, comes as ODNI’s leadership faces turmoil. Earlier this week, President Trump tweeted that Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats will step down on August 15, and that he plans to nominate Republican Rep. John Ratcliffe for the post. But Ratcliffe faces a contentious confirmation process that’s all but certain to stretch past the 15th, and the White House needs someone to take the DNI role in the meantime.

According to federal law, ODNI’s senate-confirmed second-in-command—the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, currently Sue Gordon—steps in if the DNI departs. Gordon, who has spent decades in the Intelligence Community, is revered there and on Capitol Hill. But as a career intelligence official, she isn’t viewed as Team MAGA. And the White House is reportedly eyeing ways to put someone they trust in the top role after Coats departs.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/white-house-asks-for-list-of-top-intel-officials-amid-intelligence-shakeup

[dalton99a]

1. Putin wants to know.

[shanti]

13. He has a direct pipeline to

EVERYTHING we do behind the scenes now. With his intelligence background, it's frightening.

[Wounded Bear]

2. Anything Trump sees, Putin sees...

Repubs can't be trusted. Remember Valerie Plame? They joyously outed her for political gain.

The White House has become a sieve for secure information.

Fucking Trump.

[dalton99a]

3. +1. The worst traitor in American history.

[Deb]

4. I am a top spy.

There, now only 9 more to go.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. The Republican voter is so fucking stupid.

Trump is having private conversations with Putin, and now he wants to put in a loyal partisan in a position that can access the names of our top spies.

Jesus. FoxNews is a Russian propaganda machine if they don't report this to their audience.

[Enoki33]

6. Reminder: When asked by a reporter many years ago if he entered

politics which political party he would choose, tRump gleefully said Republican as they were the most stupid. Added he could easily fool them as he could go on TV specifically to lie and they would believe him. There must be a tape of that interview somewhere, and l wish the media would dig it up.

[Habibi]

9. The media fact-checked the claim

and found it to be false: https://www.politifact.com/facebook-fact-checks/statements/2018/dec/18/blog-posting/no-donald-trump-did-not-call-republican-voters-dum/

[Enoki33]

12. Thanks for enlightening.

[dhill926]

7. so since trump is busy watching Fox all day...

and licking his fried chicken splattered fingers...who is coming up with all this. Miller?

[Blue_true]

15. Putin or Putin allies. Trump is systematically trying to destroy US Intelligence.

He is not smart enough to do that on his own, but Putin and Putin selected henchmen and women are. There likely is a bug in Trump's ear telling him what to do.

[bigbrother05]

8. Obvious that they (WH) are just making it up as they go

Any semi-competent organization looks at its successor list and identifies slots that need to change/adjust before such a situation arises.

If they don't think she is Team MAGA, why did they leave her in the slot that takes over by law? 2+ years in and they still can't shoot straight.

[JHB]

11. Shooting straight, in this sense, requires staff to handle it...

...and he's notorious for inadequate staffing. Too obsessed with loyalty, so he keeps his circle tight... too tight to do a good job at anything even if he wanted to. Which he doesn't.

[Roland99]

10. No good can come of this

[Mc Mike]

14. I guess that explains the last phone call between Rump and putin.

Rump got his orders.

[Blue_true]

16. I just wonder whether some group deep in intelligence is monitoring

the Putin/Trump relationship, like tapping shit? Trump clearly seems to be focused on destroying US Intelligence, only Putin would have reason to try to do that.

[Mc Mike]

18. He's trying to destroy FBI counterintel, too. And FBI enforcement vs organized crime,

and FBI enforcement against far right extremist terrorism. He's trying to destroy the courts, too. He's trying to destroy the 4th estate, freedom of the press and free speech oversight over him.

Our intel is factionalized, not monolithic. It's a shame that the hard right factions seem to do whatever insane thing they want to do, and the other groups don't appear to make a lot of progress in countering them.

I wonder if he used his non-secure phone to talk to vlad, there are longstanding reports that Gen. Kelly was trying to stop him from using it, since foreign govs were using stingray technology in DC to listen in to his calls. I can think of a dozen allied nations' intel services who should be listening in to that putin puppet's phone calls, and they probably are.

[Volaris]

17. Jesus Christ, he wants the NOC List.

NO. ...
Just NO!

Fuck you,Donald, you Putin Cuck.

[kentuck]

19. He got it!

And gave it to Putin?

What to do! What to do!