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Ellis, who worked as an attorney for Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee, was selected for the post in November by the Pentagon attorney general. He was a lawyer at the National Security Council and more recently as Senior Director of Intelligence.
He was also one of two White House aides who, in 2017, helped Representative Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), One of President Donald Trump’s fiercest allies on Capitol Hill, gain access to highly confidential intelligence reports.
Her selection as NSA general counsel sparked outcry from national security pundits and Congressional Democrats, who saw her as an effort to “dig” or convert a political appointee into a career post, in the greater the country’s spy agency. Biden will be sworn in on Wednesday.
Shortly after the announcement, the senses. Mark Warner (D-Va.) And Jack Reed (DR.I.) – who this week will become respectively the chairmen of the Senate intelligence committees and the armed services – asked the Pentagon Inspector General to investigate the circumstances surrounding the selection of Ellis.
Her installation was opposed by Nakasone, who had hoped to delay it as long as possible, according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Ellis’ installment creates a new headache for the incoming Biden administration. While the new administration could start the Ellis removal process from day one, it is unlikely that he can be replaced immediately.
As General Counsel, Ellis will be one of the most senior executives, in terms of seniority, of the NSA.
But regulations surrounding the electronic spy agency move him several rungs in the chain of command.
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