Thread by @jseldin

DEVELOPING: @DHSgov whistleblower alleges top agency leaders -including @DHS_Wolf- attempted to censor intel related to #Russia interference in #Election2020

Per complaint, in May 2020 @DHS_Wolf instructed the whistleblower -former Acting Under Secretary of DHS' Office of Intelligence & Analysis Brian Murphy-"to cease providing intelligence assessments on the threat of Russian interference in the United States..."

Murphy alleges he was told to instead "start reporting on interference activities by #China and #Iran

Murphy also alleges @DHS_Wolf said the instructions originated w/US Nat'l Security Adviser @robertcobrien

Murphy's complaint further alleges the @DHSgov chief of staff told him on July 7, 2020 to “cease any dissemination of an intelligence notification regarding #Russia|n disinformation efforts" until he Murphy spoke w/acting Sec. Wolf

Per Murphy, @DHS_Wolf told him the next day that "the intelligence notification should be ‘held’ because it ‘made the President look bad'"

Murphy claims he objected, and has been subjected to retaliatory actions

According to the House Intelligence Committee, Murphy filed a whistleblower reprisal complaint September 8

The committee is requesting Murphy appear for a deposition September 21

The whistleblower complaint "outlines grave & disturbing allegations that senior White House & Department of Homeland Security officials improperly sought to politicize, manipulate & censor intelligence in order to benefit President Trump" per House Intel Chair @RepAdamSchiff

Per @RepAdamSchiff, the complaint alleges @DHSgov & administration officials also made false statements to Congress about terror threats on the southern border & minimizing the threat posed by white supremacists

"We will get to the bottom of this, expose any and all misconduct or corruption to the American people, and put a stop to the politicization of intelligence" per @RepAdamSchiff

.@VOANews has reached out to @DHSgov for comment/reaction to the allegations

Comment from DHS whistleblower's attorney @MarkSZaidEsq: "Our latest #whistleblower client #BrianMurphy followed all lawful procedures & filed IG complaint w/@DHSgov abt retaliation arising from, in part, his refusal to politicize intelligence reports"

https://twitter.com/MarkSZaidEsq/status/1303780421201780738?s=20

Chair of @HomelandDems calls whistleblower complaint "a damning – but wholly unsurprising – indictment of the Trump Administration and officials at the Department of Homeland Security"

"All allegations in this report...must be fully investigated" per @BennieGThompson