Trump Taps Campaign Lawyer and Pardon Adviser for Top U.S. Intel Agency
Trump loyalist Gary Lawkowski has no national security experience to speak of. He could become the top lawyer for the nation’s spy chief. The post Trump Taps Campaign Lawyer and Pardon Adviser for Top U.S. Intel Agency appeared first on The Intercept .
Former Trump campaign lawyer Gary Lawkowski was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the general counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Lawkowski, who played a significant role in the Trump administration's pardons process, has faced criticism from progressive groups who argue that his nomination aims to stack the intelligence community with loyalists.
The ODNI is responsible for coordinating and overseeing intelligence collection and analysis at other spy agencies. Lawkowski could potentially either facilitate or block intelligence community abuses, given his role in interpreting spying law. His nomination has already drawn pushback from a progressive group, which claims that he has been involved in Trump's corrupt pardon scheme.
Lawkowski previously represented Trump in litigation related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and helped decide who received pardons in the White House. The incoming Senate Intelligence Committee Chair, Tom Cotton, has not yet decided whether to confirm Lawkowski before the next Senate begins on January 3.
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