Written by Thomas Reynolds.

During President Donald Trump’s administration, a shadowy layer of the intelligence community, often referred to as the deep state, allegedly engaged in withholding crucial national security information from him. This strategic opacity, as revealed by an undercover investigation by James O’Keefe’s Undercover American Swiper, part of O’Keefe Media Group (OMG), has stirred significant controversy and debate about the boundaries of secrecy and transparency within the government.

Amjad Fseisi, a National Security Agency (NSA) contractor with top-secret clearance, implicated high-level government officials, including former CIA directors and intelligence operatives, in a deliberate effort to keep sensitive information from Trump. According to Fseisi, this was due to fears that Trump might disclose harmful details, deeming him a risk due to alleged ties to Russia. These startling admissions suggest a complex web of distrust and internal conflict within the U.S. intelligence apparatus.

Surveillance and Secrecy

The saga continues with revelations about the use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to monitor Trump and his associates, even post-presidency. This ongoing surveillance, purportedly by the same officials who orchestrated initial spying efforts during his presidency, paints a disturbing picture of enduring oversight and intrusion. Fseisi’s candid disclosures extend to operational criticisms within the CIA, particularly concerning information sharing and operational security.

Further exacerbating the situation, Fseisi disclosed that the intelligence community’s actions included hacking and information theft from other countries, pointing to a systemic issue of overreach and unauthorized operations. These revelations align with broader concerns previously aired about illegal surveillance of the Trump campaign in 2016, which allegedly enabled subsequent investigations and narratives around Russian collusion.

Our Take

The narrative unveiled by O’Keefe’s investigation into the intelligence community’s conduct raises serious questions about the balance between national security and the right of elected officials to be fully informed on matters impacting their decision-making capabilities. The apparent breach of trust between intelligence agencies and the highest levels of elected office undermines the foundational principles of a transparent democratic system, where informed leadership is critical for effective governance. It is essential that mechanisms are in place to prevent such occurrences in the future, ensuring that all branches of government can operate with mutual respect and transparency, unhampered by internal sabotage or withheld information.