Staff Reports
When two inspectors general (IGs) for the CIA and the Director of National Intelligence quit, it might be worth considering just who they were serving and what their departure could suggest about the current state of affairs in Washington. Thomas Monheim and Robin Ashton, who were appointed by President Biden in 2021, have decided that they’ve had enough of the government circus, especially in light of former President Donald Trump’s re-election victory.
Ashton, who ran the CIA oversight for a short three and a half years, expressed his gratitude in what can only be described as the “long goodbye.” After more than 38 years of public service— presumably filled with paperwork and maybe a few too many meetings—he has chosen to step down, claiming it was a “rewarding career.” One can’t help but wonder how rewarding it must feel to exit a position right before the winds of change sweep through.
Two intelligence watchdogs resign after Trump’s win https://t.co/jxNNn5wmuG via @JustTheNews
— MMCOWRD (AKA.. MadCow) (@MMCOWRD) November 20, 2024
Monheim’s tenure is a tale with a bit more drama. Installed after Trump unceremoniously fired his predecessor, Monheim inherited an office swirling with whistleblower controversies and partisan squabbles stemming from Trump’s impeachment trial. His resignation arrives at a time when some might believe the fallout from the previous administration’s complications is just settling. Monheim, like Ashton, lavished praise on his team and the supposed improvements within the intelligence community, all the while ducking any responsibility for the political quagmire he found himself in. It’s almost as if both realized that sticking around could lead to being swept up in the unforgiving tide of Washington politics.
As Trump announces his nominees for these pivotal roles, including former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat turned Republican, the question arises: will these new appointments mean a fresh start or merely a change in cast for the same old political drama? Gabbard’s shift may well reflect a broader trend of disillusionment with the far left. And with John Ratcliffe—a familiar face from Trump’s previous stint—slated to helm the CIA again, one can almost hear the collective rolling of eyes from the more progressive wing.
In the end, these resignations could symbolize more than just personnel changes. They highlight a shifting power dynamic in the intelligence community where accountability may soon regain its footing. With Trump back on the scene, there’s a glimmer of hope that oversight will become a tad more “American” and a lot less political theater. Maybe these resigning IGs were just fearing what a second Trump term might look like for their ideals of “nonpartisan” oversight.
