Written by Andrew K. Arnett

A sweltering heat sits on the city. As it should. It is early August after all. My astrologer tells me we are entering the Lion’s Gate, a time of change and transformation. Here is the turning point in the middle of summer, the literal middle of summer, as apposed to “Midsummer” practiced at the summer solstice and yes, it too has its own festival—Lughnasadh. This is a festival practiced by the ancient Gaelic designating the first unmistakable sign of the year’s decline. Death is looming.

Not surpassingly, this is also the time that Richard Nixon was put to pasture as a result of Watergate. August 9 (1974), effectively at noon, Nixon resigned from office, handing over the White House keys to Gerald Ford. And as we have found, the CIA may have had a part in Nixon’s downfall. They had their own house cleaning to do and were busy burning MKULTRA files. But it turns out not all the files were destroyed. Earlier this year, it appears the agency was intent on getting their hands on what remained of these files.

A month prior to the House Oversight Committee hearing on MKULTRA, a controversy was brewing in the media regarding MKULTRA files. Contradictory statements were fired off on the internet alleging the CIA had swooped down on the ODNI, making off with boxes of classified documents and squirreling them inside CIA headquarters. But what exactly took place?

On May 13, 2026, Rep. Luna was interviewed by News Nation host Katie Pavlich. Pavlich stated that Luna told her “the CIA marched into the National Reconnaissance Office warehouse in the middle of the night and took files under the jurisdiction of DNI Tulsi Gabbard.” She stressed that it was “not a raid,” and that it did not happen “today” but “it did happen.”

In the interview, Luna told Pavlich that she was just notified that the CIA went into ODNI and took multiple boxes of files pertaining to JFK and MKULTRA. Luna stressed this was troubling because there was a Presidential order for full declassification of all these files. She noted that she and Chairman Comer were in the process of sending a preservation of documents request to the CIA.

Pavlich asked whether the CIA has jurisdiction to go into Gabbard’s office and take documents. Luna answered that the CIA does not have jurisdiction to work against an executive order by the President and it is further complicated by the fact that Trump was currently out of the country. Luna described it as “an internal coup.”

On May 13, 2026, at 6:43 p.m., Rep. Luna posted on X:

“Given the nature of docs in question, we are sending a preservation notice. Docs need to be returned to ODNI given that ODNI was given direction and authority by the President to declassify RFK, MLK, & JFK. Regarding MKULTRA, these were documents specifically requested by my Task Force and currently being used for our investigation.”

Attached to the post were two pages of a letter from Luna addressed to Director of the CIA John Ratcliff. In it Luna writes, “The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is requesting you preserve all existing and future records and materials related to: (1) the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy; and (2) Project MK-Ultra, MK-Ultra or MKULTRA.”

Echoing this report, Fox News host Jesse Waters posted a tweet claiming the CIA had “raided” the offices of Tulsi Gabbard. ODNI press secretary Olivia Coleman contradicted his comment, posting on his account, “This is false – the CIA did not raid the DNI’s office.”

The Water’s tweet was subsequently deleted. As well, Luna herself took to X stating this was a misunderstanding, writing “I am noticing a few large accounts stating falsely that I claimed there was a raid on Tulsi Gabbard’s office by the CIA.” Luna added, “This is completely false,” though she acknowledged that the CIA “took documents that ODNI has jurisdiction over.”

Does Water’s retraction and the walk back by Luna negate the fact that the DNI made off with MKULTRA files? Not necessarily. It may be a matter of splitting hairs, for the sake of optics. “Raid” is of course a strong word, carrying connotations of a heavy handed use of force. Perhaps, rather, they asked for and were granted permission to remove said files. The significant point is to determine whether files pertaining to MKULTRA were in fact removed and if so, why?

The CIA in turn responded with a statement of their own, posting on X: “The Committee acted in bad faith by subpoenaing an Agency officer for testimony today without notifying CIA, despite having already obtained closed-door testimony from the individual previously. The witness testifying today is not appearing as a whistleblower in pursuit of the truth, but instead in response to the subpoena issued by Chairman Paul.”

On May 14, 2026, Rep. Luna and Rep. Eric Burlison traveled to CIA headquarters in McLean, Virginia for the purpose of clearing up “conflicting information” pertaining to the boxes “so we are going to try to dig more.” Mr. Burlison stated on social media that the two went to the CIA “to deliver a message,” adding, “That message was received and we expect to be able to see all of the files for JFK and MKUltra, etc. and we await these actions.”

Shortly after these events, Tulsi Gabbard herself resigned from her position as Director of National Intelligence. The timing of these events fueled rumors that some kind of power play was in motion and coverup was being perpetrated behind the scenes.

With that being said, the official reason given by Gabbard for her resignation was to support her husband after he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. Behind the scene, policy tensions had been brewing between Tulsi and the White House regarding military actions against Iran. Numerous factors may have been at play leading to Gabbard’s resignation.

The messaging coming from lawmakers appears jumbled, if not conflicting. The fact is, as Luna stated, the Oversight panel does not know exactly what documents the CIA did take away and that the CIA did not provide any definite answers. Something is not adding up here and the most telling part is the timing. The CIA swooped up files just as the orders were placed to have them declassified. Sending a preservation of documents request to the CIA seems a bit disingenuous, kind of like asking the fox to guard the hen house.

Andrew K. Arnett is a writer for New Dawn Magazine and author of the bookThe Crowley Conspiracy available on Amazon. On X @AndrewArnett