Michael Ellis demoted a career attorney who served as the CIA's acting general counsel since January and assumed the legal role himself while keeping his position as deputy director. CIA Director John Ratcliffe authorized the unusual arrangement, which raised concerns among intelligence officials about potential conflicts of interest. A New York University legal ethics professor called the setup bizarre and said Ellis cannot ethically advise himself on policy matters he wants to pursue.
The CIA defended the temporary arrangement and noted that the Senate Intelligence Committee scheduled a confirmation hearing on Wednesday for Joshua Simmons, whom Trump nominated for the general counsel position. Ellis, 40, became the youngest deputy director in CIA history when Trump appointed him earlier this year. He gained attention through various controversies during Trump's first term, and the demoted lawyer took a brief vacation after his reassignment.
The CIA defended the temporary arrangement and noted that the Senate Intelligence Committee scheduled a confirmation hearing on Wednesday for Joshua Simmons, whom Trump nominated for the general counsel position. Ellis, 40, became the youngest deputy director in CIA history when Trump appointed him earlier this year. He gained attention through various controversies during Trump's first term, and the demoted lawyer took a brief vacation after his reassignment.
