Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Jim Risch (R-ID), along with eight Republican colleagues, have expressed serious concerns regarding a recent counterintelligence report and the sudden reassignment of Steven Black, Director of the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In a letter addressed to DOE Secretary Granholm, the senators questioned the role of the report in Black's reassignment and requested answers to several urgent questions.

The senators highlighted the importance of the DOE's counterintelligence enterprise, particularly in relation to national security work and research conducted at the national laboratories. They noted that an outside contractor had conducted a study, which the Department had possessed since April, revealing disturbing findings about the state of counterintelligence across the Department and the national laboratories.

"We are also aware that a study conducted by an outside contractor, which the Department has had in its possession since April, outlines disturbing findings as to the state of counterintelligence across the Department, to include the national laboratories," the senators wrote in their letter.

Expressing their concerns, the senators stated, "If Director Black presided over DOE-IN over a period of time in which there were serious shortcomings with regard to counterintelligence, he should not be reassigned to any office within the Department that has a national security mission." They further requested that Secretary Granholm refrain from reassigning Director Black to any Department office until they receive answers to their questions.

The letter, signed by Cassidy, Risch, and several other Republican senators, urged Secretary Granholm to provide immediate answers to the following questions:

1. Why was Director Black reassigned from the role he held for 11 years? Did the findings outlined in the contractor study factor into the decision to reassign him?

2. In which part of the Department will he serve as "Senior Advisor"?

3. When were you made aware of the contractor study that was transmitted to DOE-IN on April 24? Do you agree with the findings in the study?

The senators' concerns highlight the need for transparency and accountability in the management of counterintelligence efforts within the Department of Energy. As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Department will respond to these questions and address the issues raised in the contractor study.

The full letter can be read [here](link to the letter).

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cassidy-risch-colleagues-raise-alarm-over-energy-department-counterintelligence-report-suspicious-reassignment-of-director/