On August 19, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard revoked the security clearance of the National Security Agency’s (NSA) top data scientist, Vinh Nguyen, as well as 36 other current and former national security officials.
Gabbard did not provide any explanation for why Nguyen and other others had lost their data clearances. However, many among those 37 had “tangential” associations with the review and analysis of Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 Presidential election. While Nguyen had no involvement in the (correct) intelligence assessment that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin preferred a Trump Presidency over a Clinton one, this did not stop right-wing and far-right news outlets from suggesting that Nguyen politicized his intelligence work. These claims were made without evidence.
In another sign that Nguyen’s termination was baseless, the acting NSA director, Lt. Gen. William J. Hartman, asked Gabbard for evidence of wrongdoing that would justify firing Nguyen. He never received a response.
Nguyen was one of the most qualified employees for the role of data scientist.
Nguyen’s math skills were so exceptional that he was recruited to join the NSA when he was still a 17-year-old high school student.
MSNBC
This talent is now lost over political retribution and conspiracy theories that did not even have a relationship with Nguyen.
