During a recent gubernatorial debate, West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner, a Republican, made a bold assertion, claiming that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) played a role in stealing the 2020 presidential election from Donald Trump.
According to an article by The Gateway Pundit on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, Warner, a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Army and the current Secretary of State of West Virginia, doubled down on his allegations during the debate, specifically implicating the CIA in what he perceives as widespread fraud in the 2020 election.
The controversial statement was part of Warner’s broader criticism of the election process, where he expressed concerns about the fairness and integrity of the 2020 presidential election.
Warner asserted, “The election was stolen, and it was stolen by the CIA,” suggesting a direct involvement of the intelligence agency in manipulating the election results.
During the debate, Warner referred to testimony by Mike Morrell, the former Deputy Director of the CIA, before Jim Jordan’s House Judiciary Committee.
He highlighted Morrell’s testimony regarding a conversation with Antony Blinken, a senior adviser to the Biden campaign who later became Secretary of State.
According to Warner, this conversation involved a report about Hunter Biden’s laptop and occurred just days before the release of an Oct. 19, 2020, statement from 51 former intelligence officials.
The statement suggested that the story about Hunter Biden’s laptop was ‘influenced’ by a Russian disinformation campaign.
Warner’s narrative suggested collusion between Morrell and Blinken to propagate a lie aimed at influencing the election’s outcome.
He contended that this alleged collaboration contributed to the perception of a stolen election, emphasizing the impact of the FBI’s actions and Mark Zuckerberg’s financial contributions on the electoral process.
The West Virginia Secretary of State also cited an interview with Jim Jordan and Kash Patel, where they claimed that Mike Morrell confessed under oath that the Biden campaign was behind the letter signed by 51 former intelligence officials to suppress the laptop story.
The alleged motive was to provide Biden with a defense during the 2020 debate against Trump, prompting them to concoct what Warner described as an extravagant lie.
Warner’s bold accusations against the CIA and FBI reflect his broader concerns about U.S. intelligence agencies, as he has previously stated that these agencies pose greater worries for him than foreign adversaries like Russia and Iran.
His statements align with a narrative of skepticism and distrust toward the intelligence community, framing it as a domestic enemy.
During the debate, Warner invoked his military service and that of Michael Flynn, emphasizing their familiarity with psychological operations.
He contended that the actions of the intelligence community amounted to a betrayal of the American people, alleging that they had lied and manipulated information to influence the election.
While Warner’s claims have garnered attention and support from some quarters, they also raise questions about the credibility and evidence supporting such serious allegations.
The narrative of a stolen election and the involvement of intelligence agencies in election interference contribute to the ongoing debate over the 2020 election’s legitimacy.
Warner’s assertions, delivered in a public forum during a gubernatorial debate, underscore the deeply polarized nature of discussions around the 2020 election and the challenges of establishing a shared understanding of events.
The implications of these statements extend beyond West Virginia, contributing to a broader discourse on the integrity of the U.S. electoral process and the role of intelligence agencies in shaping public perception
