The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) announcement that its newly formed Disinformation Governance Board would be reviewed by two individuals has raised eyebrows, as one member has a history of pushing misinformation himself.
The New York Post then published a story about the laptop and the retrieved emails three weeks prior to the 2020 presidential election. The story suggested the involvement of President Joe Biden, his son Hunter Biden, and his brother, James Biden, in several overseas business ventures involving China, Russia, and Ukraine while Joe Biden was vice president.
Chertoff has claimed that the emails were likely obtained from the laptop by “human intelligence sources,” referring to Russian spies. He also dismissed the claim that the emails were recovered from the laptop at a computer repair shop, calling it “preposterous.”
In the May 18 announcement by the DHS, the agency stated that Chertoff and Gorelick will conduct the review through the bipartisan Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC). The assessment will focus on answering two questions.
“First, how can the Department most effectively and appropriately address disinformation that poses a threat to our country, while protecting free speech, civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy,” according to the statement.
“Second, how can DHS achieve greater transparency across our disinformation-related work and increase trust with the public and other key stakeholders.”
The HSAC has to submit the final recommendation within 75 days. During the review, the disinformation board will not convene and its work will be paused.
The DHS claimed that the board’s intended purpose has been “grossly and intentionally mischaracterized.” The board does not aim to police speech and is only aimed at protecting constitutional rights, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said.
Nina Jankowicz, who was tapped to lead the disinformation board, submitted her resignation soon after her appointment. Like Chertoff, Jankowicz has also dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop story as a Russian disinformation operation.
By claiming social media outlets are “private companies,” Washington will use them to “stifle dissent,” he predicted.