Latest news with #RussiaGate
India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Elon Musk Shrugs Off NYTs Drug Consuming Report During DOGE Stint
New Delhi: Elon Musk's tumultuous stint in Donald Trump's administration has sparked intense backlash following a scathing New York Times expose claiming alleged frequent drug use during his time at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The report alleges Musk's frequent indulgence in ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms, sparking concerns about his judgment and fitness for his government advisory role. However, Musk vehemently dismissed the allegations during his farewell speech at the White House, with Trump by his side, launching a scorching attack on the publication instead of addressing the substance of the claims. It's worth noting that Musk's role in the administration was part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he led a team of young staffers and employees from his companies to overhaul federal agencies. While answering a question raised regarding this issue, Musk underscored, "The New York Times is that the same publication that got a Pulitzer Prize for false reporting on the Russia Gate? Is it the same organization? I gotta check my Pulitzer counter." Turning to Trump, he again said, "I think it is." Aiming his gun further on the publication, he added, "I think the judge just ruled against the New York Times for their lies about the Russia-gate hoax, and they may have to give back their Pulitzer Prize. That New York Times, let's move on." — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 31, 2025 Furthermore, when White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was asked about concerns regarding Musk's drug use, he avoided the topic, saying, "The drugs we're concerned about are the drugs pouring across the southern border. Next question." The report further stated that Musk and his lawyer did not respond to requests for comment this week about his drug use and personal life. He has previously said he was prescribed ketamine for depression, taking it about every two weeks. And he told his biographer, 'I really don't like doing illegal drugs.' Musk's daily medication box reportedly held around 20 pills, including Adderall, intensifying concerns about his physical and mental well-being during a period when he donated $275 million to Trump's campaign and took on a prominent role in the administration, the report further quoted.
New York Post
16-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
James Comey's anti-Trump derangement jut hit a new low with dangerous post
Former FBI Director James Comey's anti-Trump derangement jut hit a new #resistance-theater low with his post of a photograph of shells arranged to spell out '8647.' I.e., kill the 47th president, Donald Trump. Comey's Instagram post included the comment, 'Cool shell formation on my beach walk,' but there's no way he didn't realize the meaning. Of course when the post blew up, Comey had the nerve to pretend he had no idea what it meant — though he did admit he thought it was 'political,' so maybe he's just confessing to being drug-addled or an idiot? Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says her department and the Secret Service are investigating. Let's recap. The former head of the nation's top law-enforcement agency, which absolutely deals with political violence and threats, arranges a bunch of shells on the beach into a call for killing a president he doesn't like, pretends he just 'found them there' — and then claims he had no idea what the whole thing was about. It's astonishing that someone capable of such a bizarre, transparent stunt ever managed to become an entry-level FBI hand, let alone the bureau's head. Then again, Comey's bumbling goes back to the lapdog 'investigation' of Hillary Clinton's national-security-defying email follies through falling for (or cynically selling) the RussiaGate hoax. So maybe Comey's trademark arrogance and narcissism made something like this to be expected. Most likely, he pulled this stunt to drum up publicity for his soon-to-be-published thriller 'FDR Drive' (which, with characteristic obliviousness, takes as its subject a crusading attorney fighting to criminalize speech). Or maybe he genuinely meant it as some real, if clumsy, declaration of . . . 'resistance' or something, before he realized just how dumb it was. That is, he only belatedly thought to imagine the hysteria if, during the Obama years, a prominent foe of the president had posted '8644' after that had become a far-right meme. Such a failure to consider the obvious would be classic Jim Comey.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kash Patel Suspends FBI Analyst He Put on ‘Deep State' Enemies List
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has suspended an analyst whom Director Kash Patel included on a 'deep state' enemies list in one of his books, according to multiple reports. The agency placed Brian Auten, an expert on Russia, on administrative leave last week but did not divulge the reason for the suspension. Reached for comment, the FBI told the Daily Beast that it does not comment on personnel matters. In his book, Government Gangsters, Patel placed Auten on a list of 60 officials whom the MAGA loyalist deemed agents of the 'deep state.' It also features former FBI Directors James Comey and Christopher Wray. Auten was included because of his role in two major investigations. He was one of a number of FBI officials disciplined for mistakes during the agency's probe into ties between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia over concerns about election interference. The New York Times reported that Auten was suspended for 30 days after the investigation. He was also involved in analyzing information on a laptop belonging to Hunter Biden that critics of former President Joe Biden say included evidence of corruption. In his book, Patel wrote, 'The fact that Auten was not fired from the F.B.I. and prosecuted for his part in the Russia Gate conspiracy is a national embarrassment.' He also accused Auten of downplaying the importance of the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop. The Justice Department's inspector general found that no FBI officials were motivated by political bias during the Russia investigation. Patel, who was an adviser to Trump during his first term, was a controversial choice for FBI director, in part due to his history of pushing conspiracy theories. During his confirmation hearing, he pushed back on the allegation that the list in his book was an 'enemies list,' telling senators that that was 'a total mischaracterization.' He also vowed, under oath, that 'there will be no politicization at the FBI. There will be no retributive actions taken by any FBI, should I be confirmed as FBI director.' Under Trump and Patel, the FBI has pushed out many of its senior leaders, who oversaw the investigations into Trump for the Jan. 6 insurrection and mishandling classified documents, and has now suspended Auten. The Times reported that Auten was previously moved out of the counterintelligence division after Patel took the agency's reins.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
FBI analyst targeted in Kash Patel's book placed on leave
The FBI has placed an analyst on leave whose name was on a list of alleged "deep state" actors in a book written by FBI Director Kash Patel, two people familiar with the matter told NBC News. This was first reported by the New York Times. It's unclear what reason the FBI gave for the move, and the agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Brian Auten, a Russia expert, was the employee who was placed on leave. He was also among the FBI employees recommended for internal discipline by former FBI Director Christopher Wray over mistakes made in connection with the 2017 investigation into links between then-candidate Donald Trump and the Russian government. A later review by the Justice Department inspector general found no evidence that any FBI employee acted out of political bias in the Russia investigation. Patel included Auten on a list of roughly 60 alleged "deep state" actors in his 2023 book, "Government Gangsters." Patel denounced the FBI analyst by name, writing: 'The fact that Auten was not fired from the FBI and prosecuted for his part in the Russia Gate conspiracy is a national embarrassment.' Patel also accused Auten of downplaying information found on the laptop of former President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. The FBI director has disputed that the list in his book is an enemies list. Patel has his own links to the 2017 investigation into ties between President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and the Russian government. At the start of Trump's first term, Patel worked for then-Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., as a staffer on the GOP-led House Intelligence Committee. In that role, Patel authored a memo accusing the FBI of making mistakes when it obtained a warrant to conduct surveillance of Carter Page, one of Trump's campaign advisors at the time. Later in the first Trump administration, Patel served on the White House National Security Council. The move to place Auten on leave comes after the Trump administration has for months targeted FBI officials who worked on prosecutions of Trump or those who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In January, the Trump administration forced out six of the agency's senior executives and several heads of FBI field offices across the country. A letter sent to those who were fired at the time said that their removal was based on the their role in the Jan. 6 prosecutions. Later, in March, the Trump administration forced out the head of the FBI's New York field office after he urged employees to "dig in" in the wake of the January firings. This article was originally published on
NBC News
12-04-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
FBI analyst targeted in Kash Patel's book placed on leave
The FBI has placed an analyst on leave whose name was on a list of "Deep State actors" in a book written by FBI Director Kash Patel, two people familiar with the matter told NBC News. This was first reported by the New York Times. It's unclear what reason the FBI gave for the move, and the agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Brian Auten, a Russia expert, was the employee who was placed on leave. He was also among the FBI employees recommended for discipline by former FBI Director Christopher Wray over mistakes made in connection with the 2017 investigation into links between then-candidate Donald Trump and the Russian government. A later review by the Justice Department inspector general found no evidence that any FBI employee acted out of political bias in the Russia investigation. Patel included Auten on a list of roughly 60 "Deep State actors" in his 2023 book, "Government Gangsters." Patel denounced the FBI analyst by name, writing: 'The fact that Auten was not fired from the FBI and prosecuted for his part in the Russia Gate conspiracy is a national embarrassment.' Patel also accused Auten of downplaying information found on the laptop of former President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. The FBI director has disputed that the list in his book is an enemies list. Patel has his own links to the 2017 investigation into ties between President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and the Russian government. At the start of Trump's first term, Patel worked for then-Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., as a staffer on the GOP-led House Intelligence Committee. In that role, Patel authored a memo accusing the FBI of making mistakes when it obtained a warrant to conduct surveillance of Carter Page, one of Trump's campaign advisors at the time.
