{"id":932918,"date":"2021-10-28T14:29:35","date_gmt":"2021-10-28T18:29:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=932918"},"modified":"2021-10-28T14:29:38","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T18:29:38","slug":"devin-nunes-blasts-nsa-director-paul-nakasone-over-political-targeting-of-former-trump-official-michael-ellis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/devin-nunes-blasts-nsa-director-paul-nakasone-over-political-targeting-of-former-trump-official-michael-ellis\/","title":{"rendered":"Devin Nunes Blasts NSA Director Paul Nakasone over Political Targeting of Former Trump Official Michael Ellis"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdevin-nunes-blasts-nsa-director-paul-nakasone-over-political-targeting-of-former-trump-official-michael-ellis%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=932918&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"subheading\">House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Devin Nunes (R-CA) on Wednesday grilled National Security Agency Director Army Gen. Paul Nakasone over his actions that prevented a former Trump administration official from taking a position at the NSA.<\/p>\n<p>Michael Ellis, a Navy Reserve intelligence officer and Yale Law School graduate, was hired as the general counsel at the NSA \u2014 a non-partisan career civil service position \u2014 during the Trump administration in November 2020.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>After successfully going through a strenuous vetting process by other long-serving non-partisan civil servants and given a security clearance to begin serving in the position, Nakasone placed Ellis on administrative leave just hours after President Joe Biden was inaugurated.<\/p>\n<p>News reports said Nakasone did so pending the outcome of an inquiry by the Department of Defense inspector general (DOD IG) into the circumstances of his hiring, but it was after Democrat lawmakers had requested the DOD IG inquiry and vehemently opposed Ellis taking the job. Ellis ultimately resigned.<\/p>\n<p>But last week, the DOD IG concluded there was no wrongdoing associated with Ellis\u2019s hiring at the NSA. The DOD IG\u2019s final report&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dodig.mil\/reports.html\/Article\/2817738\/review-of-the-selection-process-and-administrative-leave-of-the-former-national\/\">said<\/a>: \u201cWe concluded that there was no improper influence or failure to comply with DoD guidance in the process and decision to select Mr. Ellis as the NSA GC.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>Nunes confronted Nakasone with those DOD IG report results during a House Intelligence Committee hearing Wednesday:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"9\">\n<p>The IG report details that you went to great lengths to oppose the hiring of Ellis. The report reveals that former DOD General Counsel Paul Ney told you in an email that some of your concerns about Ellis \u2018had no basis in fact,\u2019 and other concerns \u2018appear to be inappropriately injecting partisan politics.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"attachment_15336787\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" readability=\"44\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/11-19-19-Ranking-member-Rep-Devin-Nunes-RCA-AP.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15336787\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/11-19-19-Ranking-member-Rep-Devin-Nunes-RCA-AP.jpg\" alt=\"Ranking member Rep. Devin Nunes of Calif., listens to Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, and National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, during a public impeachment hearing of President Donald Trump&#039;s efforts to tie U.S. aid for Ukraine to investigations of his political opponents. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ranking member Rep. Devin Nunes of Calif., listens to Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, and National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, during a public impeachment hearing of President Donald Trump\u2019s efforts to tie U.S. aid for Ukraine to investigations of his political opponents. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Nunes added that the IG report found that Nakasone had asked the Office of Personnel Management to review Ellis\u2019s hiring, but the OPM told him they did not do that and the previous NSA general counsel did not undergo an OPM review.<\/p>\n<p>Nunes said the IG report also found that after then-Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller directed Nakasone to appoint Ellis, he did so but then placed Ellis on administrative leave, citing the need to wait for the results of the IG investigation into whether he was improperly appointed.<\/p>\n<p>Nunes noted that the allegations of&nbsp;improper political influence of Ellis\u2019s hiring came from anonymous sources to the <em>Washington Post<\/em> who were \u201cclose to\u201d Nakasone.<\/p>\n<p>Nunes stated:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<blockquote readability=\"17\">\n<p>So what happened here was someone close to you planted a fake news story, claiming the [Trump] White House improperly pressured the NSA to hire Lieutenant Commander Ellis. Then as detailed by the inspector general, Democrats in Congress cited the story to gin up an IG investigation.<\/p>\n<p>And then you cited the investigation to sabotage Lieutenant Commander Ellis\u2019s hiring. It\u2019s a cute trick. So you were being forced to hire Ellis against your will. And you were improperly trying to delay his hiring by citing an IG investigation. Then just two days after acting secretary of defense directs you to hire Ellis and a miraculous coincidence, a timing, your deputy, Mr. Barnes informs you of two allegations that Ellis had mishandled classified information.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Nunes then grilled Nakasone on who the two sources were who made the \u201callegations\u201d to his deputy.&nbsp;Nakasone claimed he did not know and he would look into it.<\/p>\n<p>Nunes told Nakasone the two sources came from Nakasone\u2019s own office. He summarized:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<blockquote readability=\"22\">\n<p>So you\u2019re forced to hire Ellis, your attempts to stop him failed. And it is suddenly brought to your attention that allegations were made against Mr. Ellis by two people. And I\u2019ll fill you in \u2014 both of whom work for you. Yet on January 19th, Ellis shows up for work and he receives a security clearance. Then the next day, shortly after President Biden is sworn in you place Ellis on administrative leave. So on January 19th, you\u2019re aware of the supposed security incidents and you approve Lieutenant Commander Ellis\u2019s clearance. And then the next day, just after the Biden team is installed, you decide that Ellis is no longer fit to serve. The IG report says you dropped the investigation of Ellis after he withdrew as NSA general counsel. So you open an investigation based on allegations made by your subordinates. Then you drop the probe so that no one ever finds out if there\u2019s any evidence to support them.<\/p>\n<p>To sum up, you found various pretexts, including a fake news story planted by someone close to you to get rid of Ellis. You ruined the career of a lieutenant commander, naval officer for political reasons. You accused him of handling mishandling classified information. So hopefully you can get those names to the committee.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Nakasone did not push back against Nunes\u2019s summary of events, despite Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) giving him an opportunity to respond to Nunes.<\/p>\n<p>Ellis had first joined the Trump administration in March 2017, as a special assistant to the president and the NSC\u2019s deputy legal adviser.<\/p>\n<p>Prior to that, he had served as the general counsel on the House intelligence Committee under then-chairman Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA). Ellis had worked on the committee since 2015, and before that had worked as counsel for the committee\u2019s previous chairman, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), from 2013 to 2015.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>As Breitbart News <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/01\/23\/democrats-attempt-to-purge-civil-servant-from-job-over-prior-work-for-nunes-trump-administration\/\">previously reported<\/a>, Democrats were vehemently opposed to Ellis\u2019s hiring after it was announced in November 2020.&nbsp;Democrat Sens. Mark Warner (VA) and Jack Reed (RI)&nbsp;<a class=\"x5l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2021\/01\/20\/politics\/michael-ellis-administrative-leave\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">requested<\/a> the Pentagon inspector general investigate his hiring, according to CNN.<\/p>\n<p>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) also&nbsp;<a class=\"x5l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.speaker.gov\/sites\/speaker.house.gov\/files\/20210117_Letter_ActingSecretaryMiller.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">wrote<\/a> a letter to former acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller three days before the inauguration asking him to \u201ccease plans to improperly install\u201d Ellis at the NSA.<\/p>\n<p>And House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) went on CBS News\u2019s <em>Face the Nation<\/em> that same day to claim the Trump administration was attempting to \u201cembed people in the civil servants who are political and partisan actors who don\u2019t belong there.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_11843372\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" readability=\"32\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/schiff-angry-pursed-lips-AP.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11843372\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/schiff-angry-pursed-lips-AP.jpg\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>According to CNN and other establishment media reports, Democrats\u2019 concerns were that Ellis allegedly overruled career officials when reviewing former National Security Adviser John Bolton\u2019s book for classified information, that he was allegedly in the room when ex-NSC staffer Alexander Vindman reported his concerns about former President Donald Trump\u2019s call to the Ukrainian president, and his alleged role in informing Nunes that U.S. intelligence had swept up Trump\u2019s campaign team during foreign surveillance.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Follow Breitbart News\u2019s Kristina Wong on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/kristina_wong\">Twitter<\/a>&nbsp;or on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kristinawongreporting\">Facebook<\/a>.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Devin Nunes (R-CA) on Wednesday grilled National Security Agency Director Army Gen. Paul Nakasone over his actions that prevented a former Trump administration official from &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-932918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/932918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=932918"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/932918\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=932918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=932918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=932918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}