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4mo ago

Tulsi Gabbard Dismisses Intelligence Officials Over Maduro Gang Report

National Intelligence Council leaders were removed following an assessment contradicting the administration's claims about Venezuelan government ties to Tren de Aragua.

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UNITED STATES - MARCH 26: Tulsi Gabbard, director of National Intelligence, arrives to testify during the House Select Intelligence Committee hearing titled "Worldwide Threats Assessment," in Longworth building on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, director of the National Security Agency, FBI Director Kash Patel, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Kruse, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, also testified. The witnesses fielded questions on the Signal chat, about attacks against Houthis in Yemen, that accidentally included a reporter. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard fired two senior National Intelligence Council officials, Michael Collins and Maria Langan-Riekhof, on May 15, 2025.
  • The dismissals followed the release of a NIC report concluding that Venezuela's Maduro regime likely does not direct Tren de Aragua operations in the U.S.
  • The Trump administration, which invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged gang members, has claimed the gang's activities amount to an invasion orchestrated by Caracas.
  • FBI analysts partially dissented from the NIC report, suggesting some Venezuelan officials may facilitate the gang's migration to advance destabilization efforts.
  • A recent Pennsylvania court ruling upheld the use of the Alien Enemies Act but mandated notice and appeal rights for affected migrants.