WASHINGTON, D.C. — The White House on Wednesday directed federal agencies to suspend the security clearance of former Department of Homeland Security staffer Miles Taylor, accusing him of leaking sensitive government information and spreading false narratives under the pseudonym “Anonymous.”
Key Points
- Miles Taylor is accused of leaking classified information and fabricating stories while in federal service.
- The White House has ordered a full review of his conduct and suspended his access to national security information.
- Individuals affiliated with Taylor, including those at the University of Pennsylvania, will also be reviewed.
Accusations of betrayal and unauthorized disclosures
The memorandum, issued April 9 to executive department heads, states that Taylor “abandoned his sacred oath” and betrayed the confidence of federal colleagues by publishing what it describes as “fabricated stories” about a supposed internal resistance in the federal government. Taylor, a former administrative staff assistant at DHS, authored a 2018 op-ed and a 2019 book under the pen name “Anonymous.”
The directive alleges Taylor disclosed classified conversations to advance personal gain and undermine federal leadership, behavior the memorandum suggests may be “treasonous” and possibly in violation of the Espionage Act.
Immediate suspension of clearances
Federal agencies are ordered to suspend Taylor’s active security clearance and to review any individuals associated with him or his current affiliations, including the University of Pennsylvania. The goal, the memorandum states, is to determine whether continued access to national security information is in the interest of the United States.
“This conduct could properly be characterized as treasonous,” the document reads, citing concerns about the unauthorized dissemination of information and its alleged effect on national security and public trust.
Homeland Security review underway
The Secretary of Homeland Security has been directed to conduct a full review of Taylor’s tenure in government service, identifying any actions that may have violated suitability standards for federal employees or involved the unauthorized release of classified material.
Once the review is complete, DHS is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the President through the Counsel to the President.