WASHINGTON (AP) – The former Homeland Security Authority during President Donald Trump's initial term, in an anonymous op-ed, emphasized the need for independent government watchdogs to investigate after Trump instructed the department to assess government services.
Miles Taylor, who previously served as Chief of Staff of the Department of Homeland Security, expressed his concerns during an interview with the Associated Press about the extensive implications of this directive. He referred to Trump’s April 9th Memorandum, stating that it addresses the risks associated with significant leaks and misinformation. The memo accused Taylor of fabricating stories to promote his book and called for investigations into him by the Secretary of Homeland Security and other agencies, suggesting he be stripped of security clearance.
Taylor dispatched a letter via email to inspectors at the Department of Justice and Homeland Security on Tuesday. On the same day, the White House dismissed the complaint, labeling Taylor a “bad faith actor.”
In April, at the same time Trump ordered an investigation into former top cybersecurity officer Chris Krebs, the dual memo highlighted how Trump attempted to wield presidential power against his critics. Speaking to the Associated Press, Taylor warned that the order directed at him would establish a “terrifying precedent,” prompting him to call for an inspector investigation.
“I didn't commit any crimes. That’s the extraordinary part. I can’t imagine a scenario where someone knows they’re under investigation but understands nothing of the alleged crime,” Taylor stated, elaborating that it sets “a truly horrifying precedent; the US president can sign an order to investigate any civilian, critic, or opponent.”
Trump’s Targeting of Detractors
Since his re-inauguration in January, Trump has been aggressive in seeking to strip security clearances from various adversaries. However, his directive for investigations into Taylor and Krebs manifests an escalation in his retaliatory campaign during his second term.
Trump terminated Krebs, who led cybersecurity and infrastructure security agencies, in November 2020 after Krebs refuted the Republican president’s unfounded fraud claims, which purported to guarantee the 2020 election’s integrity after Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Taylor departed the first Trump administration in 2019, seeking to counter what he termed Trump’s “misplaced impulses.” Op-ed pieces highlighted the leak investigations during Trump’s initial White House term.
He later published a book titled “Blowback,” sharing the name of the op-ed, which raised alarms about Trump’s potential return.
After the memorandum was issued on April 9, Trump claimed Taylor might be “guilty of treason.”
In a statement on Tuesday, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson accused Taylor of betraying Americans by “disclosing confidential information through deceptive means” and asserted that he should not have security clearance.
“Miles Taylor is a bad faith actor who weaponized and abused government power to prioritize his own ambitions, notoriety, and financial interests,” Jackson commented.
Taylor’s lawyer, in his correspondence to the inspector, characterized Trump’s actions as “unprecedented in American history.”
The letter asserted, “The memorandum does not cite any specific fraud but targets Taylor solely because he had the audacity to criticize the president.”
Taylor’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, indicated they “aim to compel the administration to act justly.” He mentioned exploring additional legal avenues, depending on the outcomes of their complaints. Lowell, a veteran Washington attorney, recently established his own legal practice and announced he would represent Trump’s retaliation targets.
Alleged First Amendment Violations
In the letter, Lowell urged inspectors to confront and prevent abuses of power.
According to the letter, Trump’s April 9 memo appears to infringe upon Taylor’s First Amendment rights by pursuing him due to his criticism of the president, describing it as “a textbook example of political retaliation and vindictive prosecution.” The memo also seemingly violates Taylor’s rights to due process under the Fifth Amendment.
The correspondence commended Taylor’s “honorable and exemplary” service, noting he received a distinguished service medal upon leaving the department, and detailed the personal sacrifices Taylor faced due to the April 9 memorandum. His family has encountered threats and harassment, while a former colleague lost their government job due to their association with him.
Taylor shared with the Associated Press that the order has “impacted our lives” significantly, resulting in him incurring legal fees and leaving his job, compelling his wife to return to work to support their family. Their home address has been publicized online due to doxxing.
Taylor anticipates that filing these complaints with the inspector will increase pressure on him and his family. After considerable contemplation following the April 9 memo, he resolved to fight back rather than remain silent and endure abuses of power.
“The alternative is to remain silent, accept, surrender, and allow power to be misused. My legal team believes this sends a message that many legal experts assert is both illegal and unjust,” Taylor expressed.
Source: apnews.com