On an unknown date, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard fired the acting chair for the National Intelligence Council, Michael Collins, and his deputy, Maria Langan-Riekhof.
The firings were first reported by Fox “News” on May 13. They came at least one week after a partially declassified intelligence document was released on April 7. The declassified document clarified that there is likely no collusion between Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and the gang Tren de Aragua. This contradicts false claims made by Trump, as he sought to deport Venezuelan gang members without due process under the Alien Enemies Act.
It is unknown what specific role Collins and Langan-Riekhof had in crafting this assessment. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence vaguely remarked:
“The Director is working alongside President Trump to end the weaponization and politicization of the Intelligence Community,” the Office of the Director of National Intelligence spokesperson said when asked about the firings.
The Washington Post
There is no evidence that Collins and Langan-Riekhof sought to weaponize or politicize intelligence. Clearly, they were terminated for contradicting Trump’s lies about Tren de Aragua’s connection to the Venezuelan regime. It is illegal to fire members of the National Intelligence Council over politics, or to dismiss them for refusing to manipulate evidence. Trump and Gabbard have done the very thing that they accused former President Biden of doing: molding the intelligence community in a way that is politically expedient for them.
