Dr. Terry Adirim, the former director of the CIA’s Center for Global Health Services, is suing the agency following her abrupt dismissal. The lawsuit alleges a blatant disregard for due process and claims the agency succumbed to pressure from far-right activists who publicly criticized her. Adirim, previously the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, was hired by the CIA after her distinguished service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shortly after starting her new role, far-right commentator Ivan Raiklin, a former Green Beret, publicly accused Adirim of being the architect of the Department of Defense’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The lawsuit claims this information was leaked from within the government, even before Adirim’s hiring was officially announced. Raiklin, a vocal opponent of the vaccine, has called for retribution against Pentagon officials involved in the mandate. He is reportedly associated with Michael Flynn, President Trump’s former national security advisor.
The lawsuit further alleges a connection between Raiklin’s campaign and the actions of another far-right conspiracy theorist, Lara Loomer, who visited the White House days before Adirim’s firing. Loomer reportedly urged the dismissal of several national security officials for alleged disloyalty and later claimed credit for the dismissal of the director of the National Security Agency and his deputy.
Adirim’s lawyer, Kevin Carroll, stated that the lawsuit aims to prevent further actions against Adirim, and to secure damages for the violation of her privacy, denial of due process, and breach of contract. He intends to prove through discovery that Raiklin and Loomer coordinated to bring about Adirim’s dismissal. The CIA has yet to respond to requests for comment on the ongoing legal action. This case highlights the increasing influence of political pressure and online activism on high-level government appointments and raises serious concerns about due process within the intelligence community.
