Gabbard Ousts Senior Intelligence Leaders After Dispute Over Venezuela Assessment
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has dismissed Michael Collins, acting chair of the National Intelligence Council (NIC), and his deputy Maria Langan-Riekhof. The decision comes shortly after the NIC released an intelligence report that contradicted former President Donald Trump’s justification for invoking the Alien Enemies Act against Venezuelan nationals.
NIC’s Report Challenges Trump’s Narrative
An April 7 memo, later declassified, stated Venezuela likely isn’t directing Tren de Aragua’s criminal activities in the U.S. This conclusion contradicts Trump’s claim of a foreign-led “invasion,” which he cited to justify expedited deportations without due process. The intelligence assessment weakens the foundation of Trump’s narrative linking organized crime to state-sponsored migration from Venezuela. By challenging this central claim, the memo complicates Trump’s legal and political strategy surrounding aggressive immigration enforcement policies.
Criticism Mounts Over Politicization
Gabbard defended the firings as a move to protect the intelligence community from political manipulation. Yet critics argue her actions suggest the opposite. Jonathan Panikoff, former deputy national intelligence officer for the Near East, criticized the dismissals on social media: “Undermining the NIC’s autonomy because its findings are politically inconvenient reflects exactly the politicization we should resist.”
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Bipartisan Concern Over Leadership Purge
Representative Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, called the removals “troubling” and accused Gabbard of placing loyalty over truth. “This sends a chilling message that objective analysis must conform to the President’s narrative,” he said, urging more transparency.
Origins of Intelligence Dispute
The Freedom of the Press Foundation obtained the report via a Freedom of Information Act request, sparking widespread controversy and debate. Although the FBI noted passive support from some Venezuelan officials, it didn’t confirm direct coordination between Caracas and the gang. The broader intelligence community concluded there’s no evidence Venezuela orchestrated the Tren de Aragua’s criminal activities in the U.S. This divergence highlights internal disagreements and weakens claims of a foreign-directed conspiracy justifying Trump’s harsh deportation stance.
Ongoing Investigations and Allegations of Leaks
Gabbard has also requested the Department of Justice investigate what she calls “deep-state criminals” allegedly leaking sensitive material. Her office claims one such leak relates to the Washington Post article on Tren de Aragua. Her deputy, Alexa Henning, maintains this reflects an internal effort to undermine the administration.
NIC to Be Relocated Amid Reorganization
In a structural change, Gabbard is relocating the NIC from CIA headquarters to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s campus in McLean, Virginia. The move, according to officials, aims to centralize oversight and reduce potential friction with the CIA.
