America First Legal (AFL) is celebrating a victory in its lawsuit on behalf of former Ambassador Ric Grenell against the Biden Administration's “Homeland Intelligence Experts Group.” The Biden Administration has agreed to dissolve this unlawful group and hand over its records to AFL.
The DHS established the group back in September 2023 with the stated purpose of offering advice and perspectives on intelligence and national security endeavors. However, it became apparent that the group was not created to provide impartial, expert guidance to further the DHS mission. Instead, it functioned as a highly partisan entity crafted to offer support for the Department's progressive agenda under Secretary Mayorkas.
Members of the “Homeland Intelligence Experts Group” included individuals such as John Brennan and James Clapper, both prominent figures in the “Letter of 51,” who utilized their “intelligence credentials” to cast doubt on the credibility of the Hunter Biden laptop story before the 2020 election, despite the FBI having confirmed its authenticity the year prior.
AFL, representing former Ambassador and Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell, alongside co-counsel Christopher Mills, filed a lawsuit in November 2023 against the DHS and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. AFL alleged that the partisan composition of the group violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act due to factors such as its lack of balance, inappropriate influence from the Biden Administration, and absence of public notice and participation, among other issues.
To prevent further litigation, DHS has agreed to dissolve the “Homeland Intelligence Experts Group,” and grant AFL access to its records. Consequently, DHS and AFL have mutually agreed to dismiss the case.
Read the joint dismissal notice here
