Former US Attorney Flags 'Disturbing' Trump Change to Intelligence Community That 'May Fly Under The Radar'

The removal of Democrats from the Private and Civil Liberties Board has rendered to oversight board inoperable

By
President Donald Trump
President Donald Trump IBT

A former U.S. Attorney is sounding the alarm about a decision from the Trump administration that he argues may "fly under the radar" but could heavily impact the intelligence community: the removal of three Democrats from the Private and Civil Liberties Board (PCLOB).

Concretely, Andrew Weissmann, who was an Assistant U.S. Attorney between 1991 and 2002 and the FBI Special Counsel, said in a piece in Just Security the move renders the 5-member oversight border inoperable, with four vacant seats and a single member who can't take any action at the moment.

Weissmann described the PCLOB as an "independent agency whose mission is the oversight of the intelligence community" through a bipartisan board. He said the body is "indispensable and important" for conducting "valuable oversight" as it "asked tough questions (regardless of party) and conducted thorough reviews."

Weissmann went on to say that considering Trump believes the FBI and the overall intelligence community need greater oversight, the decision goes against that premise. Moreover, Trump won't be able to replace all panel members with loyalists, as at least two of them will have to be Democrats.

However, he concluded with a hypothesis: "A more ominous reading of what is afoot, is that now that he is in charge, Trump in fact wants less not more oversight. Accountability was for the Democratic administration, not his. Bottom line is that as of now there is one less independent body of smart, experienced people to root out wrongdoing and abuse."

Originally published on Latin Times

Tags
Donald Trump
Join the Discussion
More Law & Society
Miguel Mike Mirabal Discusses the Role of Integrity and Equity

Miguel Mike Mirabal Discusses the Role of Integrity and Equity in Global Legal Practice

Jan 6 DOJ Appointment_07022025_1

Trump Picks Pardoned Capitol Rioter Who Encouraged Violence Against Police to Serve as DOJ Adviser

Trump Revives Idea of Deporting Criminals ‘Born in Our Country’:

Trump Revives Idea of Deporting US Citizen Criminals 'We Ought to Get Them the Hell Out of Here'

Tennessee Man Used Drone to Deliver Marijuana to Inmate in

Michigan Bank Robber Coaxed Out of Standoff With Soda Dangling From Drone Before Police Shot Him