This is part of a series. The reasons for this series have already been written here and without further ado, here is the first suggestion of ways to display solidarity with people who stand up.
(Kisha Ravi / NPR)
Let her speak.
Shelby Pierson was appointed as the first person to fill a position by the Director of National Intelligence, Dan Coats, that he made in July 2019 as a result of foreign interference in U.S. elections: the U.S. Intelligence Community's election threat executive.
Mr. Coats resigned his position shortly after that. Joseph Maguire, his successor and Acting Director of National Intelligence, has reportedly been fired or forced to resign or has resigned because Ms. Pierson and others informed the House of Representatives Select Committee on Intelligence that the Russians are once again interfering in a U.S. presidential election on behalf of a candidate. The reports are unclear on whether Mr. Maguire is leaving "voluntarily," but they are pretty clear on the likelihood that the reason he leaving is because of testimony to the U.S. House Select Committee on Intelligence that the Russians are interfering, again, on behalf of a candidate in a U.S. presidential election. See House is Warned of Russian Effort to Bolster ..., NEW YORK TIMES, Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, at A1 (posted online by the NYT under a different headline, Lawmakers Are Warned That Russia is Meddling to Re-elect ...).
Ms. Pierson herself is herself reportedly about to resign under pressure because she delivered that message to the lawmakers -- as she is required by law to do.
"I've really taken some very important suggestions to heart that transparency enables resilience and, potentially, sunlight is the best disinfectant," Shelby Pierson told NPR in an interview in January, 2020.
Shelby Pierson obviously has important things to say about our nation's security. Let her say them. I have researched and found a number of organizations devoted to intelligence professionals and their profession of protecting the national security of the United States. If I mention a few of them here, I would be in the position of seeming to endorse some at the expense of others. Instead, you are free to research their existence and satisfy yourself as to who and what they are. In the meantime, any and all of these organizations should extend an invitation to Ms. Pierson to speak publicly to them in person, or in one of their webinars, or during a podcast.
Let her speak. Feature her. She is a person standing up and she deserves to be recognized.
Please read the disclaimer. ©2020 Dennis J. Wall. All rights reserved.
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