Fox’s first appearance: The Biden administration has agreed to shrink a controversial group of intelligence agency “experts” as it faces a lawsuit from conservative nonprofit groups that say it violates federal law.
The Homeland Intelligence Specialist Group was announced by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in September. The group brought together figures from the private sector to provide perspective on the government’s intelligence and national security efforts.
“The safety of the American people depends on our ability to collect, generate, and disseminate actionable information to our federal, state, local, territorial, tribal, campus, and private sector partners,” Mayorkas said in a statement. Stated.
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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee on April 19, 2023, at the Capitol in Washington, DC. (Reuters/Sarah Silbiger)
But critics argue that the board is not a neutral body, but rather a partisan body. Two of the people critics deemed objectionable for signing a letter questioning the veracity of Hunter Biden’s laptop story were former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former CIA Director John Brennan. Emphasized people.
A study by America First Legal, which filed the lawsuit, found that only 1% of the political donations made by people named in the group went to Republicans, while 98% went to Democrats. found.
several Republican senators I sent letter It called on Mayorkas to rescind the appointment of a “known disinformation source.” The AFL also sued DHS in November on its own behalf and former acting director of national intelligence Richard Grenell.
The lawsuit alleges that the alleged bias violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act, citing a lack of balance, lack of public notice and improper influence by the Biden administration.
America First Legal is led by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller. (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)
According to the joint notice and termination provisions, DHS “maintains its position that the establishment and operation of the expert group does not violate FACA,” but agreed to reduce the group.
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“The expert group will be disbanded within 30 days of issuance of the order, no further meetings will be held, and the Department will not reconstitute the expert group inconsistent with FACA or the Homeland Security Act of 2002.” It will also provide the expert group with meeting agendas and minutes, including participant identification information, compiled within 15 days of the conclusion of the order.”
In response, the AFL agreed to dismiss the case. DHS also reserves the right to establish advisory committees under the provisions of FACA. Conservative plaintiffs hailed the agreement as a victory.
“Thanks to Rick Grenell’s courage in standing up to the deep state, we just won an unqualified legal victory against Mr. Mayorkas and Mr. Biden,” said America First Legal President and former senior Trump adviser. Stephen Miller said in a statement. .
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“As a result of our lawsuit in federal court, DHS will capitulate to our demands in its entirety. They will shut down the new partisan intelligence committee featuring Clapper and Brennan – censor it, It would have been used to commit unethical espionage and advance vital civil rights.” Political opponents invaded, they turned over the documents, and we won for Biden and DHS. ” he said.
Grenell said DHS “surrendered” because “they knew the America First legal team was right and the Biden team broke the law.”
DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
