Trump Expected to Name Richard Grenell as Acting Head of Intelligence
Source: NYT
The move would place a Trump loyalist atop the intelligence agencies long viewed skeptically by the White House.
WASHINGTON President Trump was expected to name Richard Grenell, the American ambassador to Germany, to be the acting director of national intelligence, three people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
Mr. Grenell, whose outspokenness throughout his career as a political operative and then as ambassador has prompted criticism, is a vocal Trump loyalist who will lead a group of national security agencies often viewed skeptically by the White House.
He would take over from Joseph Maguire, who has served as the acting director of national intelligence since the resignation last summer of Dan Coats, a former Republican senator from Indiana. Mr. Grenell, who has pushed to advance gay rights in his current post, would apparently also be the first openly gay cabinet member.
Mr. Grenell did not respond to a request for comment, nor did a White House spokesman. The people familiar with the move cautioned that the president had a history of changing his mind on personnel decisions after they were revealed in the news media.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/19/us/politics/dni-national-intelligence-director-grenell.html
Lev Parnas told the Daily Beast that Grenell agreed to give a "heads up" to Kremlin-connected oligarch Dmitry Firtash if DOJ was about to move to extradite him to face trial here
Efilroft Sul
(3,584 posts)Seven hells, no. Grenell is a horrible, awful choice to be DNI. Back when Bowe Bergdahl was released from captivity, I had a back-and-forth battle with this clown on Facebook. He (and his supporters) were absolutely vindictive toward Bergdahl and wanted the worst for the sergeant. I can see Grenell having readily-transferable vindictiveness toward our analysts and operatives whom he deems aren't sufficiently worshipful of Trump.
Germany's gain would be our intelligence agencies' loss. I don't know if I can communicate what a monster Grenell would be.
Kablooie
(18,644 posts)All Trump is interested in is loyalty to himself and total destruction for everyone who opposes him.
Anyone who is willing to sacrifice honor, justice, security and safety in service of Trump is his kind of guy.
sandensea
(21,688 posts)Cheeto, as you know, wants to turn the CIA into a Gestapo - and from what you just shared, it seems Grenell fits that scheme pretty well.
November can't get here soon enough.
Efilroft Sul
(3,584 posts)Another thing to watch out for with this guy is his ambition. There is nothing he wouldn't do to justify his further acquisition of political power. He is a sociopath wrapped in a flag.
Doitnow
(1,103 posts)The aims of the department to which they are appointed, the man must also be stupid.
turbinetree
(24,726 posts)oligarch Dmitry Firtash if DOJ was about to move to extradite him to face trial here
Is this not a crime.........................
November 3, 2020 cannot get here fast enough.........................
justhanginon
(3,290 posts)TomSlick
(11,118 posts)S/He would come unhinged about all the "acting" (and therefore unconfirmed) heads of departments, all hell would be coming.