Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna has accused the Central Intelligence Agency of unlawfully seizing dozens of boxes containing classified documents related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and the agency’s MKUltra mind-control program. According to Luna, the CIA took these materials—scheduled for declassification under a presidential executive order—during its second tenure under former President Donald Trump.
Luna stated that the intelligence agency must return the files within 24 hours to the office of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard or face potential congressional action. She described the incident as part of an “internal coup” at the CIA, emphasizing the troubling timing given Trump’s executive order for declassification and longstanding claims that former CIA director Richard Helms ordered the destruction of MKUltra records in 1973.
Luna clarified that the agency did not conduct a raid on Gabbard’s office but instead moved documents under her custody during critical processing. A spokesperson for the DNI, Olivia Coleman, confirmed Fox News’ claim about a “CIA raid” was false, noting the agency had no such action. Meanwhile, Utah Senator Mike Lee acknowledged that even if documents were not in Gabbard’s personal office, their unlawful removal during declassification efforts constitutes a breach of accountability.
The allegations align with testimony from CIA whistleblower James Erdman before the Senate Homeland Security Committee. Erdman detailed how the agency unlawfully seized 40 boxes of JFK and MKUltra files “being processed for declassification” and refused to cooperate with investigations by Gabbard’s Director’s Initiatives Group (DIG). He cited violations including illegal surveillance of DIG personnel, monitoring of their communications, and retaliatory actions against analysts who supported alternative conclusions about the origin of the pandemic.
Erdman further alleged connections between former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci and CIA operations during the pandemic, asserting that transparency around the virus’s origins could have altered public health policy. Committee Chair Senator Rand Paul confirmed Fauci’s deep ties to intelligence communities over biological threats and pandemic preparedness.
The incident underscores longstanding concerns about the CIA’s conduct, with historical context suggesting similar issues date back decades. As Luna noted in her preservation notice, Congress retains authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” and demand documents from agencies resisting transparency. The agency’s actions now threaten its foundational purpose as a safeguard for national security rather than a source of institutional accountability.
