Latest in Intelligence Oversight

Intelligence Oversight

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence Responds to the House Intelligence Committee

General Counsel for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Jason Klitenic, released two responses to letters from House Permanent Special Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) Committee Chairman Adam Schiff regarding the on-going standoff between the two over an intelligence community whistleblower complaint. In his replies, Klitenic asserts that ODNI believes that they have no statutory obligation to share the information in question with the Committee.

Intelligence Oversight

Unpacking the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Complaint

Last week saw an important development in the continuing erosion of governmental checks and balances. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff subpoenaed Acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Joseph Maguire and wrote a blistering letter accusing Maguire of violating the law by withholding a whistleblower’s complaint from the Intelligence Committee.

Intelligence Oversight

Senate Intelligence Committee Report on Russian Active Measures: Part One

The Senate Intelligence Committee released a redacted report on Russian active measures campaigns in the 2016 election. This document, reportedly the first of five volumes, is titled, “Volume 1: Russian Efforts Against Election Infrastructure with Additional Views.” The complete document is available here and below.

Intelligence Oversight

In Praise of Alex Joel

It’s recently been announced that Alex Joel, who has served as the civil liberties protection officer in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) for 14 years, is leaving the ODNI. I had the privilege of working closely with Alex, and learning from him, during some turbulent times for the intelligence community. At a time when the intelligence community is under attack, it is appropriate to honor Alex as an exemplar of the dedicated public servants who work in U.S. intelligence agencies.

Intelligence Oversight

Annual Polling Confirms Sustained Public Confidence in U.S. Intelligence

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs recently published results from the second round of an annual poll, sponsored by the Texas National Security Network at the University of Texas at Austin, which aims to shed light on Americans’ perceptions of the intelligence community. The data collected in 2018—including survey methodology and limited policy analysis—are available here.

Subscribe to Lawfare

EmailRSSKindle