BREAKING: Office of DNI will no longer give Congress election security brieifings in person, only in

[highplainsdem]

writing -- which means no chance to ask questions and provide in-person oversight.


Per this thread from Jake Tapper starting here:

Link to tweet

BREAKING: A sr administration official tells CNN that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has informed the House/Senate Select Committees on Intelligence that ODNI will no longer be briefing them on election security issues in person — instead: written updates.


2/ So far no comment yet from ODNI, or the Senate/House committees.

The official notes that other agencies supporting election security including DOJ DOD and DHS intend to continue briefing congress.


3/ The House and Senate select Committees on Intelligence generally prefer in person briefings where they can ask questions, challenge assumptions and provide actual in person oversight.

[babylonsister]

1. If this doesn't look shady, nothing does. nt

[SheltieLover]

2. Putin

[highplainsdem]

12. Agree.

[Karma13612]

3. This sucks

BUT,

One upside would be that they will have everything in writing and can confront DNI if facts are disputed later.

But, yea, this is not good.

[magicarpet]

4. If the Office of DNI submits info to the congress in a written format only,...

.... the White House can edit and closely monitor the info that gets out there and block anything that might reflect poorly upon the trDump administration.

Step by step this Fascist trDump flexes his muscles of authoritarian and totalitarianism. He would proclaim a military junta in a heartbeat if the Chief of Staff would only agree to such a dictatorial move and endorse a full fledged military coup.

[BlueJac]

5. Fucking cheaters!

Get a bunch of cells ready for all the traitors!

[ElementaryPenguin]

6. It can't be up to just them!!!

What next? It will only be reported in Chinese?

Subpoena if necessary - and haul them in for testimony!!!

WTF!! Oversight is now OPTIONAL???

[Celerity]

19. Congressional oversight is now optional, Rump has blatantly told them

to fuck off for years with no real pushback or consequences, other than the fairly meaningless (in terms of true, immediate power games) impeachment.

#sofucked

[procon]

7. And what are the Dems in Congress going to do about it?

Show displeasure in softball interviews?

Pass a resolution of their unhappiness?

Make boring video ads documenting their grievances?



Maybe when they find a backbrace they'll remember who controls the purse and demand that government agencies deliver what they're paid for. Why isn't there already a legal shop geared up to take everyone of these cowardly, enabling Trump sycophants to court if they even think about was pulling another stunt designed to tip the balance in his favor?

[lastlib]

8. The courts (esp SCOTUS) have been REEEE-EEALLL helpful to us.....

especially with an authoritarian fascist who FLAGRANTLY disregards and/or disobeys their rulings, right?

And will Barra the Hutt enforce a court-order that the Feuhrer doesn't like? Hell, no! So where do we go?

--- ---

[Iliyah]

11. Not only Democrats or Indies are upset with this news . ..

many sane republicans are too. shithole supporters are in the minority and well as the cohorts that are enabling him. Let's see how the majority respond to this, then the country will know which way it may end.

[mucifer]

16. they own the courts the senate the justice department Not a lot the house can do on it's own

[underpants]

9. Via email, USPS, Pony Express, or carrier pigeon?

[progressive nobody]

10. We need to make sure our voting strength outweighs their scams.

Putin and his puppet can't cheat or steal this election.


I was firm in going to the polls and so is my husband. I humble suggest those who are healthy enough and access to early voting please do so safely. Those who can walk there ballots back to the board of elections to make sure it counts do it. Those voting by mail PLEASE get it in early.


This is the latest movement that we know of-but we must think of how many moves they have already taken.

[LiberalFighter]

13. When Biden takes office...

Trump, his family, and every other scumbag like Pompeo need to have their security clearances revoked. Absolutely no national security briefings for them.

[IronLionZion]

14. At least Biden started getting intel briefings last month

so our next president can finally do it correctly again...if we can win this election.

[BKDem]

15. It scares me to see how brazen they are becoming.

It's almost as if they believe they can't lose.

[sellitman]

17. Glad to see Trump is so transparent.

Just like he promised.

[Awsi Dooger]

18. Imagine everything they have done that we don't know about

I was thinking about that throughout 2017 and 2018, that the Mueller probe was necessary but meanwhile the GOP was laughing at the distraction because it allowed them to cheat and suppress toward 2020 with nobody paying attention

[Lonestarblue]

21. I wonder how many people have been kicked off the voter rolls with no one knowing.

We need ads reminding people to check their registrations, especially if they haven’t voted in awhile. Add in some information about why mailed ballots are rejected, such as failure to sign or not following directions precisely. We need every vote to count.

[Jack-o-Lantern]

20. Subpoenas? Court-orders?? trump and the repukes will laugh at them.

[ancianita]

22. This must be taken to SCOTUS. Oversight means direct oversight. Not what the Executive decides.

The Executive may NOT tell the Legislative HOW, and therefore WHAT, it may or may not oversee.

What goes to SCOTUS is between The House Counsel and Trump Counsel, not The House and John Ratcliff.

[iluvtennis]

23. Putin's puppet doing what his boss has told him to do. SMDH.

[NightWatcher]

24. Article says this won't affect the Gang of 8 briefings. Does that mean there's a leaker in Senate?

Or more so a leaker in the repuke led Senate Intel Committee?

Could this be a protection move to not show our cards to Russia?

[bluestarone]

25. Maybe time for a

COMPLETE FUNDING CUT?

[soldierant]

26. "2/ So far no comment yet from ODNI, or the Senate/House committees."

It takes time to formulate a response which is strong enough but contains no profanity.

[aeromanKC]

27. We are witnessing a slow motion stealing of an election in front of our eyes in real time.

[DFW]

28. Or, at least an attempt akin to an armed robbery in broad daylight

I can't wait to see these thugs behind bars for decades for their treason.

If we take back the White House and Senate, NOTHING had better be "off the table."

[aeromanKC]

30. NOTHING!!

and that includes the filibuster!!

[seta1950]

29. I'm so terrified

I don’t know if I want Election Day to be here or not, they are so evil it scares me to death.

[moondust]

31. No briefings - No questions.

That way, it would seem, they can put whatever BS they want in the written "updates" and not have to undergo any uncomfortable questioning about it.

Reminds me of George Tenet claiming the Intel on Iraq was a "slam dunk." That gave BushCo significant cover to launch their Iraq invasion and to later blame the intelligence community for getting it wrong. I have no doubt that if Congress had questioned the intelligence professionals who had actually followed the intel on Iraq for the previous decade they would have heard a much different story.