Trump commands probe into two initial-term administration aides who critiqued him
The president has signed executive orders aimed at Miles Taylor and Chris Krebs, marking an intensification of his retribution efforts.
TroibNews 
President Donald Trump is focusing on two former first-term appointees who have openly criticized his actions, initiating the withdrawal of their security clearances and launching federal investigations into their time in office.
On Wednesday, Trump signed directives mandating the Justice Department to examine the actions of Chris Krebs, who led Trump’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Miles Taylor, a former senior official at the Department of Homeland Security.
These two individuals now join a growing list of Trump’s targets in his expansive retribution campaign, where he attempts to leverage federal authority to punish political adversaries, law firms, universities, and others he believes have wronged him.
A president directing investigations against specific individuals he views as political enemies represents a significant violation of the conventional boundary separating the White House from the Justice Department. Traditionally, criminal inquiries are meant to remain free from political influence, yet Trump has consistently dismissed the idea of DOJ independence. The use of executive orders to label these two figures as subjects of criminal investigations is unprecedented.
Krebs, who served as the administration’s top cybersecurity official responsible for maintaining election security, was terminated by Trump through a tweet after he asserted that “in every case of which we are aware, these claims [of fraud] either have been unsubstantiated or are technically incoherent.” He had also endorsed a joint statement from CISA and various stakeholders affirming the security of the election, stating there was no evidence of votes being altered or stolen, a position that angered Trump.
Additionally, Krebs was a key witness for the January 6 select committee, describing his efforts to safeguard the 2020 election and counter conspiracy theories while reinforcing voter confidence in the results. During his testimony, he expressed regret that Republican leaders had pandered to the false belief that the election was stolen, creating a “self-reinforcing cycle” of doubt. He stated, “Republican officials, senior officials, including the former President, lied to the American people about the security of the 2020 election.”
Trump’s order branded Krebs as “a significant bad-faith actor who weaponized and abused his Government authority.” While signing the order on Wednesday, which revoked Krebs’ security clearance and initiated an investigation into his actions, Trump reiterated his false claims that the 2020 election was “rigged.” He stated, “It was proven by so many different ways in so many different forms. We’re going to find out about this guy too, because this guy is a wise guy.”
Currently, Krebs holds the position of chief intelligence and public policy officer at cybersecurity firm SentinelOne. Trump's order also impacts his colleagues, suspending any security clearances for individuals at SentinelOne who work alongside Krebs.
A representative from the company did not provide an immediate comment.
In a related action stemming from Trump's unsuccessful attempt to overturn the 2020 election results, he enacted a separate order on Wednesday placing new restrictions on the law firm Susman Godfrey, which represented the voting machine manufacturer Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation cases against Rudy Giuliani and other Trump associates who falsely alleged election fraud.
Taylor, the author of a widely publicized anonymous op-ed in 2018 critical of Trump, later published a book detailing the turmoil within the Trump White House. Before the 2020 election, he revealed his identity and endorsed candidate Biden.
On Wednesday, Trump referred to Taylor as a “traitor,” despite claiming Taylor had a minimal role in his administration. He commented, “I barely remember him. Somebody that went out and wrote a book and said all sorts of terrible things that were all lies. I think he’s guilty of treason.”
Taylor departed from the Trump administration in 2019. On the same day, he remarked that Trump’s decision to target him indicated the nation was moving toward “a dark path.” He stated on X, “I said this would happen. Dissent isn’t unlawful. It certainly isn’t treasonous. America is headed down a dark path. Never has a man so inelegantly proved another man’s point.”
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
On Wednesday, Trump signed directives mandating the Justice Department to examine the actions of Chris Krebs, who led Trump’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Miles Taylor, a former senior official at the Department of Homeland Security.
These two individuals now join a growing list of Trump’s targets in his expansive retribution campaign, where he attempts to leverage federal authority to punish political adversaries, law firms, universities, and others he believes have wronged him.
A president directing investigations against specific individuals he views as political enemies represents a significant violation of the conventional boundary separating the White House from the Justice Department. Traditionally, criminal inquiries are meant to remain free from political influence, yet Trump has consistently dismissed the idea of DOJ independence. The use of executive orders to label these two figures as subjects of criminal investigations is unprecedented.
Krebs, who served as the administration’s top cybersecurity official responsible for maintaining election security, was terminated by Trump through a tweet after he asserted that “in every case of which we are aware, these claims [of fraud] either have been unsubstantiated or are technically incoherent.” He had also endorsed a joint statement from CISA and various stakeholders affirming the security of the election, stating there was no evidence of votes being altered or stolen, a position that angered Trump.
Additionally, Krebs was a key witness for the January 6 select committee, describing his efforts to safeguard the 2020 election and counter conspiracy theories while reinforcing voter confidence in the results. During his testimony, he expressed regret that Republican leaders had pandered to the false belief that the election was stolen, creating a “self-reinforcing cycle” of doubt. He stated, “Republican officials, senior officials, including the former President, lied to the American people about the security of the 2020 election.”
Trump’s order branded Krebs as “a significant bad-faith actor who weaponized and abused his Government authority.” While signing the order on Wednesday, which revoked Krebs’ security clearance and initiated an investigation into his actions, Trump reiterated his false claims that the 2020 election was “rigged.” He stated, “It was proven by so many different ways in so many different forms. We’re going to find out about this guy too, because this guy is a wise guy.”
Currently, Krebs holds the position of chief intelligence and public policy officer at cybersecurity firm SentinelOne. Trump's order also impacts his colleagues, suspending any security clearances for individuals at SentinelOne who work alongside Krebs.
A representative from the company did not provide an immediate comment.
In a related action stemming from Trump's unsuccessful attempt to overturn the 2020 election results, he enacted a separate order on Wednesday placing new restrictions on the law firm Susman Godfrey, which represented the voting machine manufacturer Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation cases against Rudy Giuliani and other Trump associates who falsely alleged election fraud.
Taylor, the author of a widely publicized anonymous op-ed in 2018 critical of Trump, later published a book detailing the turmoil within the Trump White House. Before the 2020 election, he revealed his identity and endorsed candidate Biden.
On Wednesday, Trump referred to Taylor as a “traitor,” despite claiming Taylor had a minimal role in his administration. He commented, “I barely remember him. Somebody that went out and wrote a book and said all sorts of terrible things that were all lies. I think he’s guilty of treason.”
Taylor departed from the Trump administration in 2019. On the same day, he remarked that Trump’s decision to target him indicated the nation was moving toward “a dark path.” He stated on X, “I said this would happen. Dissent isn’t unlawful. It certainly isn’t treasonous. America is headed down a dark path. Never has a man so inelegantly proved another man’s point.”
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
