We’ve seen the ruinous effect of President Donald Trump’s placement of a de facto Roy Cohn – William Barr – at the top of the Department of Justice. And we’re about to see that same kind of ruin with Trump’s appointment of propagandist Richard Grenell as acting director of national intelligence.
Grenell, the current U.S. ambassador to Germany, is completely unqualified for the job, even in an acting capacity. He has no experience in intelligence or in managing large organizations – like the 17 agencies that will now report to him.
Yet he won the president’s favor in the same way many of the president’s men have – by loudly praising him and his agenda on Fox News.
And, no doubt, he has convinced Trump that he – like Barr – can be counted on to put the president’s personal and political interests above those of national security.
The new appointment came earlier this week on the heels of a Trump meltdown when a senior U.S. intelligence official followed the law and, in a briefing, told House lawmakers that Russia wants to see President Trump reelected and already is tinkering with our 2020 primaries and general election.