Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard revokes security clearances for 51 former intelligence officials who dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian disinformation before the 2020 election.
Key Takeaways
- Tulsi Gabbard has revoked security clearances for 51 former intelligence officials who signed a letter suggesting the Hunter Biden laptop story might be Russian disinformation.
- Security clearances were also revoked for key Biden administration officials including Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan, as well as prosecutors Letitia James and Alvin Bragg who brought cases against Trump.
- Former President Biden will no longer receive the President’s Daily Brief, ending the traditional courtesy extended to past presidents.
- The revocations follow Trump’s executive order signed on his first day back in office, fulfilling his campaign promise to hold officials accountable for what he called “weaponizing” intelligence.
- FBI officials later testified that the laptop was authentic and not Russian disinformation, contradicting the claims in the controversial pre-election letter.
Sweeping Security Clearance Revocations Target Biden Officials and Trump Prosecutors
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has executed President Trump’s directive to revoke security clearances for dozens of former intelligence officials and Biden administration figures. The unprecedented action specifically targets the 51 intelligence community officials who signed a controversial letter suggesting the Hunter Biden laptop story had “earmarks” of Russian disinformation before the 2020 election, along with officials involved in legal actions against Trump.
Gabbard announced the decision in a detailed statement on X, saying: “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.” The move ends the longstanding tradition of giving former presidents continued access to intelligence briefings.
Trump’s Executive Action Follows Campaign Promise
The security clearance revocations fulfill a promise President Trump made during his campaign to hold accountable those he believed had wrongly accused him and his allies. Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, his first day back in office, directing this action. The Trump administration characterized the 2020 letter as deliberately misleading the American public during a critical election period.
While Antony Blinken did not sign the letter himself, he was included in the revocations due to testimony from former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell indicating Blinken’s involvement in events leading to the letter’s creation. The action extends beyond those directly connected to the laptop controversy to include prosecutors who brought cases against Trump during his time out of office.
Legal Questions and Pushback
Some affected individuals have questioned the legality of the revocations. Mark Zaid, an attorney whose clearance was revoked, publicly challenged the action on social media, writing, “Hmmm, so where are my due process protections? You are familiar with Executive Order 12,968, are you not? Still in effect!” This executive order, which remains in force, outlines procedures for revoking security clearances that typically include notice and opportunity to respond.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who secured a civil fraud judgment against Trump that he has appealed, dismissed the revocation through a spokesperson. James has continued challenging Trump administration policies, including joining a lawsuit that resulted in a preliminary injunction against the activities of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk.
Hunter Biden Laptop Controversy Revisited
The controversy stems from October 2020, when the New York Post published a story about Hunter Biden’s laptop containing emails suggesting business connections that could compromise then-candidate Joe Biden. Shortly after, 51 former intelligence officials signed a letter suggesting the story had hallmarks of Russian disinformation, though they acknowledged they had no evidence to prove this claim. Major social media platforms subsequently limited distribution of the story.
FBI employees later testified to Congress that the laptop was not Russian disinformation, confirming its authenticity. Hunter Biden was eventually convicted on criminal tax and gun charges related to information first revealed through the laptop, though he received a pardon from his father before President Biden left office. The revocations underscore the continuing political ramifications of what many conservatives view as election interference in the 2020 election.
