Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has revoked security clearances of 51 ex-intelligence officials who claimed Hunter Biden’s laptop was Russian disinformation, delivering on one of President Trump’s campaign promises to hold accountable those who downplayed the controversial story before the 2020 election.
Quick Takes
- DNI Tulsi Gabbard has revoked security clearances for 51 former intelligence officials who signed a letter claiming Hunter Biden’s laptop had “earmarks” of Russian disinformation
- Additional officials losing clearances include Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, and others from the Biden administration, plus prosecutors who pursued cases against Trump
- The revocations follow President Trump’s executive order signed on his first day back in office, fulfilling a campaign promise
- Former President Biden will no longer receive the President’s Daily Brief, a courtesy typically extended to former presidents
- The move represents a significant break from tradition and signals Trump’s determination to penalize those he believes undermined his 2020 campaign
Widespread Clearance Revocations Target Letter Signatories
In a sweeping security action, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the revocation of security clearances for dozens of former intelligence officials, including all 51 signatories of the infamous 2020 letter that dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop story as potential Russian disinformation. The revocations also extended to key Biden administration officials like former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, despite Blinken not having signed the original letter personally.
Gabbard’s announcement carried significant weight as she explicitly outlined the scope of the revocations on X: “I have revoked security clearances and barred access to classified information for Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Lisa Monaco, Mark Zaid, Norman Eisen, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, and Andrew Weissman, along with the 51 signers of the Hunter Biden ‘disinformation’ letter. The President’s Daily Brief is no longer being provided to former President Biden.”
BREAKING: Tulsi Gabbard has revoked security clearances for Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Lisa Monaco, Andrew Weissman, Alvin Bragg, Letitia James, and the 51 intel officials who falsely claimed Hunter Biden’s laptop was “Russian disinfo.” pic.twitter.com/Oabz88HKkt
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 10, 2025
Trump’s Response to “Weaponized Intelligence”
The revocations stem directly from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office on January 20, 2025. In the executive order, Trump characterized the actions of the letter signatories as having “willfully weaponized the gravitas of the Intelligence Community to manipulate the political process and undermine our democratic institutions.” This marked a fulfillment of campaign promises to hold accountable those he believed had engaged in politically motivated actions against him.
The 2020 letter had claimed the laptop story had “earmarks” of Russian disinformation, though subsequent testimony from former FBI employees confirmed the laptop was not disinformation. The revocations represent perhaps the most concrete consequence those officials have faced for their role in the controversial episode that many conservatives believe influenced the 2020 election outcome.
Legal Officials Targeted in Broader Sweep
In addition to intelligence officials, Gabbard’s announcement included revocations for New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, both of whom led high-profile legal cases against Trump. Bragg’s office had prosecuted Trump on 34 counts related to hush money payments in 2024, while James secured a civil judgment against Trump for fraud, which he has appealed. The inclusion of these legal officials signals a broader effort to penalize those perceived as having “weaponized” legal systems against Trump.
The revocations also extended to attorney Mark Zaid, who questioned the legality of the move, pointing to Executive Order 12,968 which outlines due process protections for security clearance holders. Staff at law firms associated with former special counsel Jack Smith were also affected by the widespread action, which represents one of the most sweeping security clearance revocations in recent memory.
Ending Traditional Courtesies
Perhaps most notable in Gabbard’s announcement was the statement that “The President’s Daily Brief is no longer being provided to former President Biden.” This marks a significant departure from the longstanding courtesy extended to former presidents, who typically continue to receive intelligence briefings after leaving office. Trump had telegraphed this move in February through a post on Truth Social, indicating his intention to cut off Biden’s access to intelligence information.
The laptop at the center of the controversy contained emails and other materials suggesting questionable business dealings involving Hunter Biden. Hunter was later convicted of criminal tax and gun charges but was pardoned by his father before leaving office. The significance of the security clearance revocations underscores the ongoing political reverberations from the laptop saga, which continues to resonate nearly five years after it first emerged during the 2020 presidential campaign.
