Journalist Alleges Damaging National Security Leaks to Tucker Carlson, Calls for Vice Presidential Intervention

Independent investigative reporter Jordan Schachtel has publicly called for the Vice President to address alleged "damaging natsec leaks" to media personality Tucker Carlson, asserting that Carlson is "openly promoting America's adversaries." Schachtel's social media post highlights concerns over political optics for the President and suggests the Vice President's involvement due to "past longtime ties" and "favor of family employment." The tweet underscores growing anxieties within political commentary regarding media influence and national security.

Carlson has faced scrutiny for his interviews with prominent foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and, more recently, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. These high-profile conversations have drawn criticism, with some observers questioning whether they constitute legitimate journalism or merely "platforming" figures often at odds with U.S. foreign policy. Newsmax, a conservative outlet, has notably dismissed Carlson's recent critiques of U.S. foreign policy, with some guests suggesting ulterior motives behind his stance.

Allegations of national security breaches linked to Carlson are not new. In 2021, while at Fox News, Carlson claimed the National Security Agency (NSA) was spying on him and planning to leak his communications. The NSA publicly denied these claims, stating Carlson was never an intelligence target, though a watchdog agency did initiate a review. Reports at the time indicated Carlson had been seeking an interview with Putin through intermediaries, raising questions about how his communications might have been incidentally collected if those intermediaries were under surveillance.

Schachtel's call for the Vice President to intervene, citing "past longtime ties" and "favor of family employment," appears to reference ongoing discussions surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris's family. Reports have detailed how her sister, brother-in-law, and niece have leveraged their proximity to power for personal profit through consulting, corporate roles, and brand promotion, leading to questions about potential conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety from government ethics watchdogs.

"The time is now, considering there are damaging natsec leaks coming directly to Tucker, who is now openly promoting America's adversaries. I'm sure POTUS is far from thrilled by those optics. VP should clear this up, given past longtime ties (& favor of family employment)," Schachtel stated in his tweet.

The commentary from Schachtel, known for his work as an investigative reporter focusing on national security and civil liberties, reflects a segment of conservative thought critical of both certain media figures and perceived governmental shortcomings. The tweet underscores the complex interplay between media, politics, and national security in contemporary U.S. discourse.