In the last hours of his Administration, United States President, Donald Trump ensured the installation of one of his most loyal supporters, Michael Ellis (pictured) in the key position of General Counsel at the National Security Agency (NSA).
Mr Ellis, a former Lead Counsel to Republican lawmaker, Devin Nunes, was appointed to the NSA’s top legal post after direct pressure from the Trump White House.
Critics immediately expressed concerns Mr Ellis was not qualified for the post and that it was an attempt by the Trump Administration to ‘burrow’ a political appointee into a career Public Service position at the nation’s largest spy Agency.
Acting Secretary of Defence, Christopher Miller ordered Director of the NSA, Paul Nakasone to install Mr Ellis.
Mr Ellis was originally selected for the position in the days following the Presidential Election on November, but administrative delays prevented his timely installation.
Mr Nakasone is reported to have opposed the appointment and dragged his feet over it.
After the initial selection, two Democrat Senators, Mark Warner and Jack Reed, requested that the Pentagon’s Acting Inspector General conduct an investigation.
“The combination of timing, comparative lack of experience of the candidate, the reported qualifications of the other finalists, and press accounts of White House involvement, create a perception that political influence or considerations may have played an undue role in a merit-based Civil Service selection process,” the Senators wrote in a letter to the Pentagon official.
Mr Ellis has been dogged by accusations of improprieties, in 2017 while the top lawyer for the National Security Council, he was reportedly involved in sharing classified intelligence reports with Mr Nunes.
He also was embroiled in the Ukraine scandal that rocked the White House in 2019 and fuelled an impeachment inquiry into Mr Trump.
Former Army General and a member of former President, Bill Clinton’s Cabinet, Barry McCaffrey called Mr Ellis’ appointment a “fundamental threat” to US security.
“This is a political hack in a career position with 48 hours to go [before Joe Biden’s inauguration],” Mr McCaffrey said.
Washington, 19 January 2021
