REUTERS/Chris Helgren. Reuters
Politico: Trump loyalist installed in top intelligence post on National Security Council
Michael Ellis, a deputy to White House lawyer John Eisenberg, started in the role on Monday.
A White House lawyer and former counsel to the House Intelligence Committee under Devin Nunes has been named senior director for intelligence on the National Security Council, the latest instance of President Donald Trump elevating a trusted loyalist to control the intelligence community.
Michael Ellis, a deputy to White House lawyer John Eisenberg, started in the role on Monday, according to a senior administration official and a former national security official. Ellis left the counsel’s office, so he won’t be dual-hatted with his new job.
The office of the director for intelligence serves as the day-to-day connective tissue between the intelligence community and the White House. Sensitive information coming in from the intelligence agencies will go to that office, especially if it is in hard copy form. The office also coordinates covert action activities between the White House and the intelligence community, and it’s where the NSC server is housed that stores the most sensitive classified information.
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Update #1: Trump installs loyalist in key White House intelligence post (CNN)
Update #2: White House lawyer cited in Vindman testimony named National Security Council intelligence chief (Washington Examiner)
WNU Editor: Considering the history between President Trump and the intelligence community, it should surprise no one that he wants people who are loyal to him in these top posts.
