Chairman Thompson Writes Acting DHS Secretary Wolf on Election Security Post ODNI Staff Shakeup
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Chad Wolf, Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on election security in the wake of the ODNI staff shakeup. In the letter, Chairman Thompson demands DHS remain forthcoming, honest, and candid about election security threats.
Letter excerpts:
“I am concerned, however, that the President’s recent decision to remove certain ODNI officials for providing comprehensive intelligence information to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence may make officials across the Federal government - including at DHS - reluctant to share important election security information with Congress, or publicly accept the conclusions of the Intelligence Community. That cannot happen. The American people are depending on the executive branch to work effectively with Congress to protect elections from foreign interference. Candor must be the hallmark of that effort.”
“I understand that you and others responsible for DHS’ elections security efforts may be operating under the cloud of fear that the President will retaliate against those who provide Congress honest intelligence assessments that he perceives as unflattering to him or his ability to win re-election unaided. I expect, however, that those fears will not affect the information DHS shares with Congress or its public messaging about foreign threats to U.S. elections.”
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