In a significant and dangerous escalation of the use of criminal investigations to punish and intimidate, the former head of the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Chris Krebs was targeted for possible criminal prosecution in an executive order signed today by Trump. The executive order directed that the Attorney General and Department of Homeland Security to “take all appropriate action to review Krebs.” Many will recall that Krebs refused to support Trump’s claim of electronic tampering of voter systems or talliers. He was head of CISA during Trump’s first term in office and oversaw the detection and mitigation of any cyber security threats to voting systems during the 2016 presidential election, which Trump lost.
The executive order states in part: “I further direct the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with any other agency head, to take all appropriate action to review Krebs’ activities as a Government employee, including his leadership of CISA. This review should identify any instances where Krebs’ conduct appears to have been contrary to suitability standards for Federal employees, involved the unauthorized dissemination of classified information, or contrary to the purposes and policies identified in Executive Order 14149 of January 20, 2025 (Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship).” I presume “all appropriate action” includes criminal investigations and prosecutions.
This represents a reckless and perilous escalation of the use of the Department of Justice and other federal law enforcement agencies to punish those that Trump deems disloyal. Call, write, email your representatives. Write the Supreme Court Justices, let them know your thoughts.
