Whistleblower testimony and subsequent congressional statements indicate that the CIA allegedly removed approximately 40 boxes of documents from the office of Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), in early May 2026.
The following details have been reported regarding the situation:
Allegations of Document Removal
Whistleblower Testimony: James Erdman III, identified as a career CIA operations officer, testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee that the agency had taken files from Gabbard’s office.
Nature of the Documents: The seized materials reportedly related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy (JFK) and the MKUltra program.
Status of Declassification: At the time of their removal, the documents were reportedly being reviewed by Gabbard’s office for declassification under an executive order from President Donald Trump.
Congressional and Agency Response
Ultimatum to the CIA: Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) issued a public ultimatum on May 13, 2026, giving the CIA 24 hours to return the documents to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) or face a subpoena and possible contempt of Congress proceedings.
Preservation Notice: Luna and Representative James Comer (R-KY) sent a formal letter to CIA Director John Ratcliffe requesting the preservation of all documents related to MKUltra and the JFK assassination.
CIA Defense: While specific responses from the agency were ongoing, initial reports suggested the CIA allegedly took the documents because they originated from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and had not been officially returned to ODNI possession since the previous year's government shutdown.
Whistleblower testimony and subsequent congressional statements indicate that the CIA allegedly removed approximately 40 boxes of documents from the office of Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), in early May 2026.
The following details have been reported regarding the situation:
Allegations of Document Removal Whistleblower Testimony: James Erdman III, identified as a career CIA operations officer, testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee that the agency had taken files from Gabbard’s office.
Nature of the Documents: The seized materials reportedly related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy (JFK) and the MKUltra program.
Status of Declassification: At the time of their removal, the documents were reportedly being reviewed by Gabbard’s office for declassification under an executive order from President Donald Trump.
Congressional and Agency Response Ultimatum to the CIA: Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) issued a public ultimatum on May 13, 2026, giving the CIA 24 hours to return the documents to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) or face a subpoena and possible contempt of Congress proceedings.
Preservation Notice: Luna and Representative James Comer (R-KY) sent a formal letter to CIA Director John Ratcliffe requesting the preservation of all documents related to MKUltra and the JFK assassination.
CIA Defense: While specific responses from the agency were ongoing, initial reports suggested the CIA allegedly took the documents because they originated from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and had not been officially returned to ODNI possession since the previous year's government shutdown.
Wait... they're saying that information about the Kennedy assassination and MKUltra belongs to the NRO? That makes no sense.
I'm not American, but I'm pretty sure the CIA reports directly to the president, no? Which is exactly why they're so dangerous.