Lantern #95-- February 6, 2025
One of the first things President Trump did after he was sworn in as president was to cancel the security detail guarding three diplomats from his first presidential term and their families.
The three former Trump officials who have been targeted for death by Iran’s radical Muslim leaders: former National Security Advisor John Bolton, former Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo, and Brian Hook. Hook served as U.S. Special Representative for Iran and Senior Policy Advisor to Secretary of State Pompeo from 2018 to 2020. All were assigned government-provided security. (Full disclosure, Brian Hook and I married into the same family.)
Bolton, Pompeo, and Hook were central players in President Trump’s first term “maximum pressure” policy against Iran, and Iran’s Islamic dictatorship targeted them for death after the 2020 American missile strike that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force General Qasem Soleimani, the man responsible for countless American deaths in the Middle East.
Iranians are well-known for issuing fatwas or religious declarations marking their enemies for death, and individuals placed under a fatwa, such as author Salman Rushdie, have been attacked multiple times. In Mr. Rushdie’s case the most recent attack left him blind in one eye after he was stabbed during a speech right here in the United States.
Former President Joe Biden left government-provided security in place for John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, and Brian Hook because the threat assessment demonstrated a high likelihood that the Iranians had the motivation and means to carry out such an attack.
The Biden administration also allegedly informed the Iranians that any attack on our former government officials would be considered an act of war – a position the United States has long maintained no matter who was President, or which party was in power.
What’s more, the threat against Bolton, Pompeo, and Hook remains very real.
Senator Tom Cotton on Fox News Sunday said,
“I would encourage the President to revisit the decision for those people who are being targeted by Iran.”
Cotton went on to say, “I’ve reviewed the intelligence in the last few days. The threat to anyone involved in President Trump’s strike on Qasem Soleimani is persistent. It’s real. Iran is committed to vengeance against all of these people.”
Senator Lindsey Graham on CNN’s State of the Union said,
“You don’t want to leave people hanging. There’s no doubt in my mind the Iranians have been out to kill President Trump. I’ve been briefed about it. I know he’s been briefed about it. I’m glad he has protection. The Senate needs to look at what happened, sit down, and figure out the best way forward.”
In December, the State Department notified Congress that the threats against Bolton, Pompeo, and Hook were “serious and credible” and warranted continued government-provided security, the New York Post reported.
Despite warnings and verification of a serious threat, President Trump for some unknown reason is keeping in place his decision to deny protection to Bolton, Pompeo, Hook, and their families. But President Trump has made it clear to the radical Iranian government that if he is harmed, he will obliterate Iran.
However, there may be a way to restore security for these three former American diplomats. Congress, through an appropriations bill rider, could direct the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service to continue the level of protection previously provided to Bolton, Pompeo and Hook.
Such an appropriations rider would be the right thing to do, not only for Bolton, Pompeo and Hook, but to send the message to the rest of our diplomats that we Americans leave no one behind on the battlefield, no matter how the political winds blow.
All Americans, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal, Trump supporter or not, can all agree Americans don’t leave wounded service men and women on the battlefield, or those who serve our country in the diplomatic corps.
For all who want to see the protection restored to these American diplomats, there are two paths forward.
ACTION ITEM:
Lobby President Trump to rescind his decision to deny these former diplomats and their families protection.
Write President Trump at:
Office of the President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Call President Trump at: 202-456-1414.
Email President Trump by clicking here: Contact Us – The White House
Lobby your U.S. Senators and House of Representative members to pass legislation protecting these former diplomats.
Write them at:
The Honorable (Name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable (Name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Call them at: (202) 224-3121.
Email your Congressman here: Find Your Representative | house.gov
Email your Senators here: U.S. Senate: Contacting U.S. Senators
Please consider using the web to get this message to all within your circle of influence, including Facebook, X, Truth Social, Gab, Snapchat, etc.
These men followed the instructions of President Trump, and now they and their families are at risk and in eminent danger — time is short, please step up and take what action you can today.
Voter education materials, like FedUp PAC pocket cards, videos, talking points, and other emails received from someone you know are far more effective than information from strangers like ads on TV, radio, and other media. |
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