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The group known as the National Security Leaders for America, made headlines recently when they published a letter endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the White House. 

A total of 741 former high-ranking national security officials lent their names to this letter. Among these individuals, nine had previously signed a 2020 letter saying that Hunter Biden’s laptop was “Russian Disinformation.” The letter was eventually proven to be a disinformation campaign by the Democrat campaign of Joe Biden.

The Endorsement of Kamala Harris

The endorsement letter claims Harris is “prepared and strategic,”, contrasting these qualities with former President Donald Trump, who the group described as "impulsive and ill-informed." 

The letter adds that, "We are former public servants who swore an oath to the Constitution. Many of us risked our lives for it. We are retired generals, admirals, senior noncommissioned officers, ambassadors, and senior civilian national security leaders. We are Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. We are loyal to the ideals of our nation—like freedom, democracy, and the rule of law—not to any one individual or party."

This bipartisan framing is central to the National Security Leaders for America's messaging, positioning the group as non-partisan, though critics may argue otherwise.

The 2020 Laptop Controversy

The controversy surrounding Hunter Biden’s laptop first erupted in the weeks leading up to the 2020 presidential election. 

The laptop story went public Hunter Biden left it at a Delaware repair shop. And the FBI had possession of it since 2019. 

The New York Post published a report about the laptop's contents, that received significant media attention.

Then 51 former intelligence officials, including some who would later sign the Harris endorsement letter, issued a statement discounting the laptop story. They suggested it had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation,” casting doubt on the authenticity of the information.

The Posts stories were immediately banned from social media and all links were taken down.

Among those who signed both the 2020 letter claiming the laptop was fake and the recent endorsement of Harris are several notable figures: former Director of National Intelligence Jim Clapper, former CIA Directors Michael V. Hayden, Leon E. Panetta, and John Brennan, and other high-profile national security leaders. 

Their participation in both efforts has raised questions about the political motivations behind their actions.

MSNBC, CNN, and CBS all reported that the laptop was disinformation. And aligned with the narrative coming from the Biden campaign. 

Media outlets initially ran with the claims that the laptop story was part of a Russian disinformation campaign. 

During the 2020 presidential debates, Joe Biden referenced this statement to counter Donald Trump’s attacks concerning his son’s laptop. And there were many times when he insisted the laptop did not belong to his son. 

Shifting Narratives

After the 2020 election the truth came out. Major media outlets, including The Washington Post and two years later, The New York Times, authenticated thousands of emails found on the laptop.

Many liberal-leaning media outlets have now changed their stance, acknowledging that the laptop was legitimate after all.

In 2023, the laptop once again became a focal point during Hunter Biden’s criminal trial in Delaware, where he faced charges related to his purchase of a firearm while dealing with a crack cocaine addiction. The trial confirmed the FBI’s authentication of the laptop, making its contents part of the legal record.

A joint report released by three House panels alleged that the CIA and the Biden campaign worked to dismiss allegations about the Biden family’s influence peddling linked to Hunter’s laptop.

 This raised further questions about whether the 2020 letter from former intelligence officials was an attempt to discredit damaging information ahead of the election.

A Democrat-Driven Misinformation Campaign?

Many conservative commentators have pointed to the National Security Leaders for America’s 2020 actions as part of a broader Democrat-driven misinformation campaign.

 The former military chiefs' letter played a significant role in casting doubt on the legitimacy of the laptop story, which had the effect of swaying public opinion and media narratives at a critical time.

Some critics argue that the group is less of a bipartisan and more aligned with Democratic interests. They point to the group’s website, which hosts several opinion pieces that appear to universally favor Democratic positions.

Articles praising Tim Walz as a potential vice-presidential candidate and defending the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan suggest that the group may lean more to the left than it claims.

One particularly controversial piece claims the withdrawal from Afghanistan was a success, despite widespread criticism of how it was handled. The group has also published multiple articles encouraging increased U.S. involvement in Ukraine, another position often associated with Democratic foreign policy initiatives.

State National Security Leaders for America: Deep State

For those who believe in the existence of a “deep state,” the National Security Leaders for America may seem like its most public face. 

The group includes individuals who have held top positions within the U.S. intelligence and defense communities, many of whom continue to influence political narratives.

The question remains: Is this group truly nonpartisan, or do they represent the interests of an entrenched elite class that aligns itself with one side of the political spectrum? 

As the 2024 election cycle heats up, the role of the National Security Leaders for America is likely to remain in the spotlight. Their past actions, especially their involvement in downplaying the Hunter Biden laptop story, raise questions about their motivations and political leanings.