Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has revoked security clearances for 51 former intelligence officials who dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian disinformation, following a directive from President Trump.
Key Takeaways
- DNI Tulsi Gabbard has revoked security clearances for 51 former intelligence officials who signed a letter claiming the Hunter Biden laptop story had “earmarks” of Russian disinformation.
- Additional officials losing clearances include Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Lisa Monaco, Mark Zaid, Norman Eisen, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, and Andrew Weissman.
- The President’s Daily Brief is no longer being provided to former President Biden as part of this security clearance revocation.
- The action follows President Trump’s executive order signed on his first day of his second administration, citing “weaponization” of intelligence to manipulate the political process.
- Former FBI employees testified that the laptop was not disinformation, contradicting the claims made in the letter.
Trump Administration Takes Action Against Former Intelligence Officials
In a sweeping move that signals a significant shift in how the intelligence community will be held accountable, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has officially revoked security clearances for dozens of former intelligence officials. The action specifically targets 51 intelligence officials who signed a letter during the 2020 presidential campaign suggesting that the Hunter Biden laptop story published by the New York Post had the hallmarks of a Russian disinformation operation.
Gabbard announced the decision in a statement confirming the implementation of President Trump’s directive. “I have revoked security clearances and barred access to classified information for Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Lisa Monaco, Mark Zaid, Norman Eisen, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, and Andrew Weissman, along with the 51 signers of the Hunter Biden ‘disinformation’ letter. The President’s Daily Brief is no longer being provided to former President Biden,” stated Gabbard.
Executive Order Cites “Weaponization” of Intelligence
The revocation of security clearances stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office in January 2025. The order specifically addressed what the administration has characterized as serious breaches of public trust by intelligence officials. The executive order states that these individuals had “willfully weaponized the gravitas of the Intelligence Community to manipulate the political process and undermine our democratic institutions.”
The list of those affected extends beyond just the signatories of the letter. Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who did not sign the letter but was implicated in its creation according to testimony from former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell, has also had his clearance revoked. The clearance revocations also include officials involved in legal cases against President Trump, such as New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Pushback from Affected Officials
The unprecedented nature of these revocations has prompted responses from some of those affected. Mark Zaid, an attorney whose clearance was revoked, questioned the legality of the action on social media: “Hmmm, so where are my due process protections? You are familiar with Executive Order 12,968, are you not? Still in effect!”
A spokesperson for New York Attorney General Letitia James dismissed the significance of the revocation: “What security clearance? Anyway, this is just another attempt to distract from the real work the Attorney General is doing to defend the rights of New Yorkers and all Americans.” James had previously secured a civil judgment against Trump for fraud, which he has appealed, and has joined a lawsuit that led to a preliminary injunction against Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Hunter Biden Laptop Controversy Revisited
The security clearance revocations bring renewed attention to the Hunter Biden laptop controversy that emerged during the 2020 presidential campaign. The laptop, abandoned at a Delaware repair shop, contained emails, text messages, photos, and financial records that raised questions about potential influence peddling. When the New York Post published a story based on the laptop’s contents in October 2020, it was quickly suppressed on social media platforms.
Shortly after the story’s publication, 51 former intelligence officials signed a letter stating that the laptop story had the “classic earmarks” of a Russian information operation. This characterization was later contradicted by testimony from former FBI employees, who confirmed that the laptop was not disinformation. Hunter Biden was eventually convicted of criminal tax and gun charges related to information found on the laptop, though he received a pardon from his father before President Trump took office.
