Former DHS official fired by Trump sues Newsmax and Trump campaign lawyer for calling for him to be 'drawn and quartered'



A former government cybersecurity official is suing Newsmax, the Trump campaign, and their attorney Joe diGenova after diGenova said that the official should be "drawn and quartered" and "shot" over his comments that contradicted the president on voter fraud.

Christopher Krebs, who was fired Nov. 17 by President Donald Trump, said that he has received death threats via text, emails and tweets after the incendiary comments from diGenova on Newsmax.

diGenova made the acerbic comments while a guest on "The Howie Carr Show" on Newsmax.

"Anybody who thinks the election went well, like that idiot Krebs who used to be the head of cybersecurity, that guy is a class A moron. He should be drawn and quartered. Taken out at dawn and shot," diGenova said.

Allies and supporters of the president were angered when Krebs said that there was no credible claims of computer fraud in the 2020 election. The president then fired Krebs from his position at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Later, diGenova apologized for the comments and said it was a poor attempt at humor.

"I meant no suggestion of harm or intention to harm Mr. Krebs or his family, and I apologize for any misunderstanding of my intentions," he added.

The defamation lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Maryland, and claims that diGenova knew his comments would lead to "a clear risk of imminent physical harm directed toward Plaintiff and his family."

Krebs is seeking at least $75,000 and for Newsmax to remove the video of diGenova's comments from its website.

Newsmax responded to the lawsuit denying that diGenova had any ties to the network, and said that he was not a paid contributor.

The president specifically tweeted that Krebs' comments denying the election security were the reason he fired him.

"The recent statement by Chris Krebs on the security of the 2020 Election was highly inaccurate, in that there were massive improprieties and fraud - including dead people voting, Poll Watchers not allowed into polling locations, 'glitches' in the voting machines which changed votes from Trump to Biden, late voting, and many more," the president said in November.

"Therefore, effective immediately, Chris Krebs has been terminated as Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency," he added in a second tweet.

Krebs said later in an interview with Axios that he wanted Republican leaders to step in and defend the results of the election in order to "restore confidence in democracy."

Here's the video of the interview with Krebs:

AXIOS on HBO: Former CISA Director Christopher Krebs on Election Results (Clip) | HBOwww.youtube.com

DHS Official: Fired Cybersecurity Director Did Not Have Authority To Speak On Election Fraud

Election fraud is "beyond the scope" of the authority extended to Christopher Krebs, who was only authorized to address election interference in his role at CISA.

Several Senate Republicans push back against Trump's firing of DHS election security official



Several GOP members of the Senate heaped praise on former DHS election security official Christopher Krebs on Wednesday, with some even breaking with their party and criticizing President Donald Trump for firing the cybersecurity director the night before.

What are the details?

Trump announced Krebs' termination on Twitter Tuesday evening, writing, ""The recent statement by Chris Krebs on the security of the 2020 Election was highly inaccurate, in that there were massive improprieties and fraud - including dead people voting, Poll Watchers not allowed into polling locations, 'glitches' in the voting machines which changed voted from Trump to Biden, late voting, and many more."

He added, "Therefore, effective immediately, Chris Krebs has been terminated as Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency."

...votes from Trump to Biden, late voting, and many more. Therefore, effective immediately, Chris Krebs has been te… https://t.co/hEhB4X4KqZ
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1605658064.0

That morning, Krebs had shared a blog post signed by dozens of national security experts, tweeting, "[In case you missed it]: On allegations that election systems were manipulated, 59 election security experts all agree, 'in every case of which we are aware, these claims either have been unsubstantiated or are technically incoherent.' #Protect2020"

ICYMI: On allegations that election systems were manipulated, 59 election security experts all agree, "in every cas… https://t.co/NtICxjPBcN
— Chris Krebs #Protect2020 (@Chris Krebs #Protect2020)1605631541.0

The firing occurred as the Trump campaign continues to contest election results in several states, alleging voter fraud and irregularities. Mainstream media outlets have overwhelmingly declared Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden the projected winner of the race for the White House.

Soon after news of Krebs' dismissal, GOP Sen. Richard Burr (N.C.) issued a statement complimenting the official, calling him a "dedicated public servant" who did a "remarkable job," saying, "I'm grateful for all Chris has done and I wish him the best in his next chapter."

Burr stopped short of criticizing Trump over the firing, but a number of fellow Republican members of the upper chamber did not hold back.

The Hill compiled a litany of reactions from GOP senators regarding their feelings on Kreb. Some — but not all — who criticized the president's actions had already earned a reputation for breaking with Trump on other matters.

"I don't agree with it," Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia told the outlet, saying of Krebs, "He's kept us very well informed, he's been very professional. I've had several meetings with him ... and I'm appreciative of all of his work."

Sen. Mike Rounds (S.D.) said the president should be "very proud" of his administration's election security, asserting that Krebs had "a major roll." He added, "I was very disappointed when I found out he'd been terminated."

Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse said in a statement, "Chris Krebs did a really good job — as state election officials all across the nation will tell you — and he obviously should not be fired." Maine Sen. Susan Collins acknowledged it was within Trump's power to show Krebs the door, but called the decision a "terrible idea."

Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) was more subtle, saying, "It's the president's prerogative but I think it just adds to the confusion and chaos, and I'm sure I'm not the only one that would like some return to a little bit more of a — I don't even know what's normal anymore. We'll call it the next normal."

President Trump fires top DHS election security official for contradicting him on election claims



President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired Christopher Krebs, the head of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, for refuting the president's claims that the general election was rigged in favor of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

What are the details?

On Tuesday morning, Krebs shared a blog post from the day before signed by dozens of security experts, tweeting, "[In case you missed it]: On allegations that election systems were manipulated, 59 election security experts all agree, 'in every case of which we are aware, these claims either have been unsubstantiated or are technically incoherent.' #Protect2020"

A message shared from blog author Matt Blaze read, "Scientists say no credible evidence of computer fraud in the 2020 election outcome, but policymakers must work with experts to improve confidence."

ICYMI: On allegations that election systems were manipulated, 59 election security experts all agree, "in every cas… https://t.co/NtICxjPBcN
— Chris Krebs #Protect2020 (@Chris Krebs #Protect2020)1605631541.0

In the evening, President Trump tweeted, "The recent statement by Chris Krebs on the security of the 2020 Election was highly inaccurate, in that there were massive improprieties and fraud - including dead people voting, Poll Watchers not allowed into polling locations, 'glitches' in the voting machines which changed voted from Trump to Biden, late voting, and many more."

He added, "Therefore, effective immediately, Chris Krebs has been terminated as Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency."

...votes from Trump to Biden, late voting, and many more. Therefore, effective immediately, Chris Krebs has been te… https://t.co/hEhB4X4KqZ
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1605658064.0

Soon thereafter, Krebs tweeted from his private Twitter account, "Honored to serve. We did it right. Defend Today, Secure Tomrorow. #Protect2020"

Honored to serve. We did it right. Defend Today, Secure Tomrorow. #Protect2020
— Chris Krebs (@Chris Krebs)1605659702.0

The Washington Post reported, "The dismissal was not unexpected, as Krebs told associates last week he was expecting to be fired. His latest tweet about the security of the election, which followed similar earlier assessments by his agency, including on its Rumor Control Web page, angered the president, according to an official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter."

Krebs' termination comes less than a week after members of CISA's Election Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council Executive Committee and its Election Infrastructure Sector Coordinating Council issued a joint statement saying, "The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history. Right now, across the country, election officials are reviewing and double checking the entire election process prior to finalizing the result."

NPR reported:

The CISA campaign, led by Krebs, was originally intended to target foreign interference. However, as the president continued to repeat dangerously misleading information about the security of the election, the agency's focus turned to rebutting many of the rumors and baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud that Trump had promoted from the White House.

Although mainstream media has called the White House race for Biden, President Trump has refused to concede while his campaign continues to contest the election results of several states through litigation, alleging widespread voter fraud and irregularities.