Thread by @jseldin

NEW: @PressSec says as of today, @POTUS "designated United States Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell as Acting Director of National Intelligence...He is committed to a non-political, non-partisan approach as head of the Intelligence Community"

https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1230305551550205955

@PressSec @POTUS Developing: Soon-to-be acting director of US national intelligence @RichardGrenell confirms he will not be taking the job permanently... teases announcement of a permanent intel chief soon

https://twitter.com/RichardGrenell/status/1230511993620193286?s=20

@PressSec @POTUS @RichardGrenell Temporary though it may be, more criticism for @POTUS tapping @RichardGrenell as acting DNI

“If there was any doubt that Donald Trump values unquestioning obedience over the safety of the American people, this appointment settles the question" per Democratic Senator @RonWyden

@PressSec @POTUS @RichardGrenell @RonWyden Intel community veterans also expressing reservations abt @RichardGrenell as acting dir of nat'l intelligence

"I feel bad for the men and women of the IC because of the constant turnover in leadership—it is bad for continuity & stability" former DNI James Clapper tells @VOANews

Former DNI Clapper on @POTUS naming @RichardGrenell acting DNI

Trump "is marginalizing the position by refusing to nominate someone to be confirmed...The over-arching message is the president simply doesn’t care & simply wants a hood-ornament loyalist sitting in the chair"

@POTUS @RichardGrenell From former senior @CIA officer Paul Pillar on nomination of Amb @RichardGrenell to be acting director of national intelligence: "This appointment continues two unfortunate and well-established patterns of the Trump presidency..."

"One is the continuous use of "acting" appointments as a means to circumvent senatorial confirmation requirements and to keep appointees on a string by keeping them unsure of their job security" per Pillar

"The other pattern is the president's valuing of personal loyalty to him, and the willingness to be a partisan fighter, over experience and expertise in the relevant field" per Pillar

"Having Grenell as acting DNI promises to politicize the intelligence community more than it has been to date so far under Trump" warns former senior @CIA official Paul Pillar

@CIA More on Ambassador & soon-to-be acting Dir of Nat'l Intelligence @RichardGrenell assurance a nomination for a new, permanent director of national intelligence is on the way...and concerns from intel vets and lawmakers:
voanews.com/usa/us-politic…

@CIA @RichardGrenell Another Democrat speaking out on @POTUS choosing @RichardGrenell to be the new acting director of national intelligence

"I am gravely concerned" per @HomelandDems @BennieGThompson "We need to have a DNI in place who will provide unvarnished intelligence and assessments..."

@CIA @RichardGrenell @POTUS @HomelandDems @BennieGThompson Republicans so far largely silent on @POTUS choosing @RichardGrenell as acting DNI... but now @RoyBlunt offering support in comments to @politico

"If you’re ambassador for some time in a country like Germany, you have a lot of exposure to intel..."
politico.com/news/2020/02/2…

@CIA @RichardGrenell @POTUS @HomelandDems @BennieGThompson @RoyBlunt @politico ...there's so far been no comment from the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Republican @SenatorBurr

@CIA @RichardGrenell @POTUS @HomelandDems @BennieGThompson @RoyBlunt @politico @SenatorBurr Interesting to note w/@washingtonpost reporting Maguire got dressed down following a briefing last week by the Intelligence Community Election Threats Executive Shelby Pierson...

Naming Pierson election security czar was one of Dan Coats' last acts as DNI

https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1155584527038914560?s=20

@CIA @RichardGrenell @POTUS @HomelandDems @BennieGThompson @RoyBlunt @politico @SenatorBurr @washingtonpost Also, w/@nytimes reporting that during the briefing Pierson warned #Russia was meddling w/#Election2020 to get @POTUS reelected, important to note intel officials have said all along #Russia would not stop meddling...

Former DNI Coats said so last January

https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1090265398979657733?s=20

@CIA @RichardGrenell @POTUS @HomelandDems @BennieGThompson @RoyBlunt @politico @SenatorBurr @washingtonpost @nytimes Special Counsel Robert Mueller also warned #Russia would meddle when he appeared before lawmakers this past July...

https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1154106244745048065?s=20

@CIA @RichardGrenell @POTUS @HomelandDems @BennieGThompson @RoyBlunt @politico @SenatorBurr @washingtonpost @nytimes Even before the 2018 elections, there were worries that #Russia was laying low, analysts warning “The Russians were going to save their best tricks for 2020…”
voanews.com/usa/us-politic…

@CIA @RichardGrenell @POTUS @HomelandDems @BennieGThompson @RoyBlunt @politico @SenatorBurr @washingtonpost @nytimes Other intelligence agencies have also been warning #Russia is coming, most recently, #Estonia

https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1228390816063856643?s=20

@CIA @RichardGrenell @POTUS @HomelandDems @BennieGThompson @RoyBlunt @politico @SenatorBurr @washingtonpost @nytimes A Senate Intel Committee report last month also worried abt continued meddling, urging, "Credible information should be shared as broadly as appropriate...the public should be informed as soon as possible w/a clear and succinct statement of the threat"

https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1225434590216671233?s=20

The bipartisan Senate Intel report also urged that @POTUS, no matter who it was, "should take steps to separate himself or herself from political considerations when handling issues related to foreign influence operations"

https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1225437543010914304?s=20

@POTUS NEW: @HomelandDems' @BennieGThompson:
"By firing Acting DNI Maguire bcs his staff provided the candid conclusions of the Intelligence Community to Congress regarding #Russia|n meddling...the President is not only refusing to defend against foreign interference, he’s inviting it"