Tulsi Gabbard's office has denied reports that explosive files on the United States' so-called mind control experiment, MKUltra, and the tragic assassination of former president John F Kennedy were seized by the CIA in a raid. In a post on X, Olivia Coleman, the Press Secretary for the Director of National Intelligence, refuted the reports and said that "This is false". She insisted that "the CIA did not raid the DNI’s office." This comes as CIA whistleblower James Erdman III claimed that the agency seized sensitive files tied to both the notorious MKUltra mind-control program and documents related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Tulsi Gabbard, just as those records were allegedly nearing declassification. Notably, Erdman recently made headlines for explosive allegations about COVID-19 and Dr Anthony Fauci.<h2>What did the CIA whistleblower allege?</h2>According to Erdman, the files were in the possession of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's office and were being prepared for potential public release on the orders of US President Donald Trump. However, the CIA intervened and seized the much-awaited files.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-block-declassification-whistleblower-claims-cia-swooped-in-to-seize-mkultra-jfk-assassination-files-from-tulsi-gabbard-s-office-trump-order-1778733463976">To block declassification? Whistleblower claims CIA ‘swooped in’ to seize MKUltra, JFK assassination files from Tulsi Gabbard’s office Trump order</a><h2>House Oversight Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets threatens CIA with subpoena</h2>James Erdman III's allegation quickly triggered political fallout. Seizing on the explosive testimony, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who chairs the House Oversight Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, accused the CIA of potentially violating executive authority and giving the agency a 24-hour ultimatum to return the documents. In a post on X, she noted that "these documents have been requested by Congress," and warned that the CIA must return the documents within 24 hours "or else I will make a motion to issue a subpoena".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/want-internet-in-iran-you-ll-have-to-buy-your-way-out-of-longest-nation-scale-blackout-on-record-here-s-how-1778729994279">Want internet in Iran? You'll have to buy your way out of ‘longest nation-scale blackout on record'; Here's how</a>Luna also posted what she described as a "preservation notice," arguing that ODNI had explicit presidential authority to declassify records related to JFK, RFK, and MLK. Talking to NewsNation, she said that the allegations were troubling because "there was an executive order that the president directed the full declassification of JFK, but then also to the MK-Ultra files, famously the CIA said that all documents were released and other documents had been destroyed"."Given the nature of the docs in question, we are sending a preservation notice. Docs need to be returned to ODNI, given that ODNI was given direction and authority by the President to declass RFK, MLK, &amp; JFK. Regarding MKULTRA, these were documents specifically requested by my Task Force and currently being used for our investigation," she added. &nbsp;

Tulsi Gabbard’s office has directly pushed back on explosive whistleblower claims that the CIA raided ODNI and seized JFK and MKUltra files, calling the allegation ‘false’. Here's all you need to know.

Tulsi Gabbard's office has denied reports that explosive files on the United States' so-called mind control experiment, MKUltra, and the tragic assassination of former president John F Kennedy were seized by the CIA in a raid. In a post on X, Olivia Coleman, the Press Secretary for the Director of National Intelligence, refuted the reports and said that "This is false". She insisted that "the CIA did not raid the DNI’s office." This comes as CIA whistleblower James Erdman III claimed that the agency seized sensitive files tied to both the notorious MKUltra mind-control program and documents related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Tulsi Gabbard, just as those records were allegedly nearing declassification. Notably, Erdman recently made headlines for explosive allegations about COVID-19 and Dr Anthony Fauci. What did the CIA whistleblower allege? According to Erdman, the files were in the possession of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's office and were being prepared for potential public release on the orders of US President Donald Trump. However, the CIA intervened and seized the much-awaited files. Also read | To block declassification? Whistleblower claims CIA ‘swooped in’ to seize MKUltra, JFK assassination files from Tulsi Gabbard’s office Trump order House Oversight Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets threatens CIA with subpoena James Erdman III's allegation quickly triggered political fallout. Seizing on the explosive testimony, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who chairs the House Oversight Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, accused the CIA of potentially violating executive authority and giving the agency a 24-hour ultimatum to return the documents. In a post on X, she noted that "these documents have been requested by Congress," and warned that the CIA must return the documents within 24 hours "or else I will make a motion to issue a subpoena". Also read | Want internet in Iran? You'll have to buy your way out of ‘longest nation-scale blackout on record'; Here's how Luna also posted what she described as a "preservation notice," arguing that ODNI had explicit presidential authority to declassify records related to JFK, RFK, and MLK. Talking to NewsNation, she said that the allegations were troubling because "there was an executive order that the president directed the full declassification of JFK, but then also to the MK-Ultra files, famously the CIA said that all documents were released and other documents had been destroyed". "Given the nature of the docs in question, we are sending a preservation notice. Docs need to be returned to ODNI, given that ODNI was given direction and authority by the President to declass RFK, MLK, & JFK. Regarding MKULTRA, these were documents specifically requested by my Task Force and currently being used for our investigation," she added.

Tulsi Gabbard’s office has directly pushed back on explosive whistleblower claims that the CIA raided ODNI and seized JFK and MKUltra files, calling the allegation ‘false’. Here's all you need to know.

‘This is false’: Tulsi Gabbard’s office denies whistleblower claims on CIA raid and MKUltra files seizure

James Erdman III, the CIA whistleblower now dominating headlines with a fresh round of explosive allegations about COVID-19 and Dr Anthony Fauci, has directly targeted the CIA itself over some of America's darkest and most controversial secrets. Testifying before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday (May 13), Erdman, identified as a senior CIA operations officer, claimed that the agency seized sensitive files tied to both the notorious MKUltra mind-control program and documents related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Tulsi Gabbard, just as those records were allegedly nearing declassification.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-world-at-crossroads-xi-jinping-tells-trump-china-and-united-states-should-be-partners-not-rivals-beijing-talks-musk-rubio-1778726835661">'World at crossroads': Xi Jinping tells Trump China and United States 'should be partners, not rivals'</a><h2>Files seized from Tulsi Gabbard's office</h2>According to Erdman, the files were in the possession of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s office and were being prepared for potential public release. However, the CIA intervened and seized the much-awaited files.If true, the claim immediately raises extraordinary questions, not just about classified records, but about whether the intelligence agency actively obstructed presidential or congressional declassification efforts.<h2>Luna threatens subpoena showdown</h2>James Erdman III's allegation quickly triggered political fallout. Seizing on the explosive testimony, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna accused the CIA of potentially violating executive authority and giving the agency a 24-hour ultimatum to return the documents. In a post on X, she noted that "these documents have been requested by Congress," and warned that the CIA must return the documents within 24 hours "or else I will make a motion to issue a subpoena".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Given the nature of docs in question, we are sending a preservation notice. Docs need to be returned to ODNI given that ODNI was given direction and authority by the President to declass RFK, MLK, &amp; JFK. Regarding MKULTRA, these were documents specifically requested by my Task… <a href="https://t.co/uBnt5RqjDD">pic.twitter.com/uBnt5RqjDD</a>&mdash; Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLuna/status/2054693936120164756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Luna also posted what she described as a "preservation notice," arguing that ODNI had explicit presidential authority to declassify records related to JFK, RFK, and MLK.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rfk-jr-claims-modern-us-teens-have-half-the-sperm-count-of-68-year-olds-in-1970-fact-check-1778560549502">RFK Jr claims modern US teens have half the sperm count of 68-year-olds in 1970 | Fact-check</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The CIA has 24 hours to return the documents to Tulsi Gabbard’s office or else I will make a motion to issue a subpoena. These documents have been requested by Congress. <a href="https://twitter.com/DNIGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DNIGabbard</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CIADirector?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CIADirector</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y5lMw8AYK5">https://t.co/Y5lMw8AYK5</a>&mdash; Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLuna/status/2054637198679367875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What is MKUltra? Why it still matters</h2>MKUltra remains one of the CIA’s most infamous historical scandals, involving covert experimentation in the 1950s and 1960s with LSD, psychological manipulation, and behavioural control, often without consent. A set of the MK Ultra files was released in 2018.

CIA whistleblower James Erdman III has claimed the CIA seized MKUltra and JFK-related files from Tulsi Gabbard’s office just as they were nearing possible declassification. If true, this could trigger a major showdown over some of the darkest secrets in US history.

James Erdman III, the CIA whistleblower now dominating headlines with a fresh round of explosive allegations about COVID-19 and Dr Anthony Fauci, has directly targeted the CIA itself over some of America's darkest and most controversial secrets. Testifying before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday (May 13), Erdman, identified as a senior CIA operations officer, claimed that the agency seized sensitive files tied to both the notorious MKUltra mind-control program and documents related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Tulsi Gabbard, just as those records were allegedly nearing declassification. Also read | 'World at crossroads': Xi Jinping tells Trump China and United States 'should be partners, not rivals' Files seized from Tulsi Gabbard's office According to Erdman, the files were in the possession of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s office and were being prepared for potential public release. However, the CIA intervened and seized the much-awaited files. If true, the claim immediately raises extraordinary questions, not just about classified records, but about whether the intelligence agency actively obstructed presidential or congressional declassification efforts. Luna threatens subpoena showdown James Erdman III's allegation quickly triggered political fallout. Seizing on the explosive testimony, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna accused the CIA of potentially violating executive authority and giving the agency a 24-hour ultimatum to return the documents. In a post on X, she noted that "these documents have been requested by Congress," and warned that the CIA must return the documents within 24 hours "or else I will make a motion to issue a subpoena".

CIA whistleblower James Erdman III has claimed the CIA seized MKUltra and JFK-related files from Tulsi Gabbard’s office just as they were nearing possible declassification. If true, this could trigger a major showdown over some of the darkest secrets in US history.

To block declassification? Whistleblower claims CIA ‘swooped in’ to seize MKUltra, JFK assassination files from Tulsi Gabbard’s office Trump order

For the first time in nearly 62 years, the CIA has effectively confirmed that one of its officers, who specialised in psychological warfare, was in contact with Lee Harvey Oswald before President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963.The revelation emerged from a declassified memo dated 17 January 1963, showing that CIA officer George Joannides had been instructed to operate under the alias “Howard Gebler,” a name previously linked to an officer who worked closely with anti-Castro Cuban activists.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-it-s-all-fake-trump-s-trade-war-just-for-show-white-house-insider-claims-tariff-threats-are-theatrical-game-1751727467439">‘It’s all fake’: Trump’s trade war just for show? White House insider claims tariff threats are ‘theatrical game’</a>Until now, the CIA had repeatedly denied that Joannides was “Howard.” The group Joannides helped manage, the Cuban Student Directorate (DRE), was central to spreading Oswald’s pro-Castro image after the assassination.<h2>Who was George Joannides?</h2>Joannides was the deputy chief of the CIA’s Miami station in 1963. His job included running psychological operations and covertly directing the DRE, a group of young Cuban exiles opposed to Fidel Castro.In August 1963, just months before JFK’s murder, DRE members clashed with Oswald in New Orleans. Oswald had been distributing pro-Cuba pamphlets for the Fair Play for Cuba Committee. The incident was covered by local media, followed by a televised debate between Oswald and DRE members.After JFK was killed, the DRE’s newsletter was one of the first to brand Oswald a pro-Castro communist. The story quickly made national headlines.<h2>The long history of denial</h2>Despite Joannides’ obvious connection to DRE, the CIA maintained for decades that he had no involvement. He was even appointed as the agency’s liaison to the House Select Committee on Assassinations in the late 1970s, but failed to disclose his prior role in the very operation the committee was investigating. Robert Blakey, the committee’s chief counsel, said Joannides assured him at the time that no one by the name “Howard” had worked with the DRE. “He lied,” Blakey later testified. Dan Hardway, a former committee investigator, went further last month, calling Joannides’ actions a “covert operation” to undermine Congress.<h2>What the documents reveal, and don’t?</h2>The new documents do not directly link the CIA to the assassination itself, nor do they settle the long-running debate over whether Oswald acted alone. However, they do confirm that the agency lied to multiple government inquiries over the years, including:• The Warren Commission (1964)• The Church Committee (1975)• The House Select Committee on Assassinations (1977–78)• The Assassination Records Review Board (until 1998)They also raise fresh questions about why the CIA was so keen to bury Joannides’ role, and what else may still be hidden.In a twist that has only added to public distrust, Joannides was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal in 1981, just two years after obstructing the congressional probe. He passed away in 1990. But the consequences of his deception and the agency’s cover-up, are only now coming to light.

Until now, the CIA had repeatedly denied that Joannides was “Howard.” The group Joannides helped manage, the Cuban Student Directorate (DRE), was central to spreading Oswald’s pro-Castro image after the assassination.

For the first time in nearly 62 years, the CIA has effectively confirmed that one of its officers, who specialised in psychological warfare, was in contact with Lee Harvey Oswald before President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963. The revelation emerged from a declassified memo dated 17 January 1963, showing that CIA officer George Joannides had been instructed to operate under the alias “Howard Gebler,” a name previously linked to an officer who worked closely with anti-Castro Cuban activists. Also read: ‘It’s all fake’: Trump’s trade war just for show? White House insider claims tariff threats are ‘theatrical game’ Until now, the CIA had repeatedly denied that Joannides was “Howard.” The group Joannides helped manage, the Cuban Student Directorate (DRE), was central to spreading Oswald’s pro-Castro image after the assassination. Who was George Joannides? Joannides was the deputy chief of the CIA’s Miami station in 1963. His job included running psychological operations and covertly directing the DRE, a group of young Cuban exiles opposed to Fidel Castro. In August 1963, just months before JFK’s murder, DRE members clashed with Oswald in New Orleans. Oswald had been distributing pro-Cuba pamphlets for the Fair Play for Cuba Committee. The incident was covered by local media, followed by a televised debate between Oswald and DRE members. After JFK was killed, the DRE’s newsletter was one of the first to brand Oswald a pro-Castro communist. The story quickly made national headlines. The long history of denial Despite Joannides’ obvious connection to DRE, the CIA maintained for decades that he had no involvement. He was even appointed as the agency’s liaison to the House Select Committee on Assassinations in the late 1970s, but failed to disclose his prior role in the very operation the committee was investigating. Robert Blakey, the committee’s chief counsel, said Joannides assured him at the time that no one by the name “Howard” had worked with the DRE. “He lied,” Blakey later testified. Dan Hardway, a former committee investigator, went further last month, calling Joannides’ actions a “covert operation” to undermine Congress. What the documents reveal, and don’t? The new documents do not directly link the CIA to the assassination itself, nor do they settle the long-running debate over whether Oswald acted alone. However, they do confirm that the agency lied to multiple government inquiries over the years, including: • The Warren Commission (1964) • The Church Committee (1975) • The House Select Committee on Assassinations (1977–78) • The Assassination Records Review Board (until 1998) They also raise fresh questions about why the CIA was so keen to bury Joannides’ role, and what else may still be hidden. In a twist that has only added to public distrust, Joannides was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal in 1981, just two years after obstructing the congressional probe. He passed away in 1990. But the consequences of his deception and the agency’s cover-up, are only now coming to light.

Until now, the CIA had repeatedly denied that Joannides was “Howard.” The group Joannides helped manage, the Cuban Student Directorate (DRE), was central to spreading Oswald’s pro-Castro image after the assassination.

US intel agency lied for decades? CIA admits secret link between officer and JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald

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‘This is false’: Tulsi Gabbard’s office denies whistleblower claims on CIA raid and MKUltra files seizure

Whistleblower claims CIA seized MKUltra, JFK files despite Trump order

CIA admits secret link between officer and JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald