This far-right conspiracy theorist is 'exercising breathtaking influence' over 'Trump’s team'

After the Trump Administration fired attorney April Falcon Doss from her position as general counsel for the National Security Agency (NSA), Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia) — the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee — was quick to voice his displeasure.

Warner, in an official statement, complained, "We should be outraged by the firing of April Doss, a deeply principled public servant, apparently for the role that she played in the Senate Intelligence Committee's bipartisan investigation into Russian election interference. Her dismissal appears to be the result of a politically motivated smear campaign driven by a far-right conspiracy theorist, not any legitimate concern about her conduct or qualifications. Undermining experienced, nonpartisan professionals like April weakens our national security and makes it harder to protect the country from real threats."

The "far-right conspiracy theorist" Warner was referring to was 32-year-old Laura Loomer, a MAGA Republican and self-described "proud Islamophobe."

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In a biting opinion column published on July 30, MSNBC's Steve Benen points to Doss' firing as a troubling example of Loomer's influence on the Trump Administration.

"As this story was unfolding," Benen explains, "the public also learned that Dr. Vinay Prasad, the Food and Drug Administration's top vaccine and gene therapy official, has also resigned. The New York Times reported that his departure followed 'a public campaign against him led by the right-wing influencer Laura Loomer.' Soon after, NBC News reported that the Justice Department had dropped a federal case against Fat Brands, a prominent restaurant chain operator, on the heels of the White House taking the unusual step of firing Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Schleifer, a career federal prosecutor who was involved in the case. The prosecutor was ousted, NBC News added, after he was targeted by 'Trump supporter Laura Loomer.'"

Benen adds, "On the surface, these disparate stories — one at the NSA, another at the FDA, another still at the Justice Department — might appear unrelated. But the common thread isn't exactly hiding well: A right-wing influencer is exercising breathtaking influence over Trump's team. Indeed, these latest developments follow Loomer's one-on-one meeting with Vice President JD Vance last month, which followed Loomer playing a direct role in firing members of the White House National Security Council."

The MSNBC columnist notes that Loomer's "radical and fringe views" are controversial even among MAGA Republicans.

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"And yet, here we are," Benen writes. "Indeed, the president hasn't even made much of an effort to deny Loomer’s influence, boasting to reporters last month that the conspiracy theorist is 'a very good patriot' who makes 'recommendations' he takes seriously. If there’s a compelling defense for this, I can't think of it."

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Steve Benen's full MSNBC column is available at this link.