One of President Donald Trump's 2020 campaign attorneys known for spreading baseless allegations of election fraud now has unprecedented access to sensitive U.S. intelligence, according to a new report.
Politico's John Sakellariadis wrote Monday that Kurt Olsen is being furnished with "highly classified material" with few limitations. Some of the documents he has received from American spy agencies reportedly includes "sensitive compartmented intelligence programs," which are among the most secretive materials held by intelligence agencies. He reportedly has a direct line to Trump and exploits it whenever agencies push back against his demands for material.
"Every time he hits a roadblock, he just calls POTUS," one of Politico's sources said of Olsen.
Sakellariadis reported that Olsen has no intelligence background or experience, describing his apparently unfettered access to classified material as "unusual." He is also not a direct employee of the White House or any intelligence agencies, and is instead categorized as a "special government employee." This is the same classification that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had in 2025, when he was running his Department of Government Efficiency quasi-agency. Special government employees cannot be on the job more than 130 days in a 365-day calendar year.
Politico's sources said because Olsen 'has no background" in intelligence, he frequently makes incorrect conclusions about the materials he's reviewed. Other unnamed sources Politico described as "close to the president" say Olsen's partisan leanings are so egregious that they question his ability to properly understand what he's been given access to.
"[Olsen] will find some super classified report, say it’s evidence of fraud, but really it’s just completely out of context," a source said.
The Trump administration has so far not elaborated on what, if any limits have been imposed on Olsen in the scope of materials he's been allowed to view. However, a White House spokesperson confirmed that Olsen "has the authority to provide access to classified material to individuals as he deems necessary."
"The President has asked Mr. Olsen to look at intelligence related to the 2020 election and the agency is ensuring that he has the access necessary to do his work," a CIA spokesperson told Politico.