The CIA has seized documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the MKUltra mind-control program from the office of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, according to a whistleblower’s testimony. The agency denies any wrongdoing, calling the allegations "dishonest political theater."
Core Facts and Immediate Action
CIA special operations officer James Erdman III testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee that the agency removed 40 boxes of JFK and MKUltra files from Gabbard’s office. Erdman claimed the documents were being processed for declassification under Gabbard’s oversight. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) demanded the CIA return the files within 24 hours, threatening a subpoena if they were not returned.
The CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) have denied the allegations. ODNI press secretary Olivia Coleman stated that the CIA did not "raid" Gabbard’s office, clarifying that the documents were taken from the National Reconnaissance Office during a government shutdown last year. The CIA also asserted that the hearing was politically motivated and that the agency had already assessed COVID-19’s origins as a lab leak.
Deeper Dive and Context
Whistleblower’s Claims
Erdman, a 20-year CIA veteran, testified that the agency "illegally monitored" the computer and phone usage of Gabbard’s investigators. He alleged the files were taken back after the Director’s Initiatives Group (DIG) ceased operations. MKUltra, a Cold War-era program, subjected unwitting Americans to drugs, hypnosis, and psychological torture. Most of its records were destroyed in 1973.
Political Reactions
Luna initially framed the incident as a "raid," but later clarified it was not a raid and that the documents were taken from an office under ODNI jurisdiction. Rep. James Comer (R-KY) and Luna sent a letter to CIA Director John Ratcliffe requesting the preservation of all related documents. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) also demanded the names of those responsible for the action.
Agency Responses
The CIA’s spokesperson, Liz Lyons, called the hearing "dishonest political theater" and accused the committee of acting in bad faith. Former CIA officer John Kiriakou told Fox News that the CIA lacks authority over the DNI or the president. The agency has not returned the files, according to reports.
Historical and Legal Context
MKUltra was a classified CIA program that experimented with mind control and interrogation techniques. President Donald Trump ordered broad declassification reviews of assassination records, including JFK files, in 2021. The CIA’s seizure of the documents raises questions about transparency and oversight of intelligence agencies.
Unresolved Questions
The timeline of the incident remains unclear, with some reports suggesting the documents were taken last year during a government shutdown. The CIA’s justification for retaining the files and the legality of its actions are also in dispute. The potential declassification of the documents could shed light on historical controversies but faces resistance from intelligence agencies.