REPORT: Top NSC official rumored to be ‘Anonymous’ may be moved out of NSC

It’s being reported this afternoon that the Trump administration is considering moving a top National Security Council official, rumored to be ‘Anonymous’, out of the NSC altogether:

AXIOS – Top Trump administration officials are in discussions to reassign deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates to the Department of Energy from the National Security Council, per two sources familiar with the planning.

Coates’ working relationship with National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, who elevated her to the deputy role only months ago, has strained amid an effort by some people inside the administration to tag her as “Anonymous” — a charge she has vehemently denied to colleagues.

Coates could take on a senior role under Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, the former deputy secretary who was elevated to lead the department in December after Rick Perry’s departure.

A decision on such a personnel move has not been finalized and discussions could still fall apart, one source tells Axios.
“We do not comment on personnel matters,” National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot told Axios. Coates declined comment.

Coates isn’t the only one denying that she’s Anonymous…

As Politico first reported, Coates has been the target of a whisper campaign in recent weeks making a circumstantial case that she was the identity behind an op-ed in the New York Times and later a bestselling book describing a resistance movement against President Trump in his own White House.

One of the literary agents behind Anonymous’ book, “A Warning,” went so far as to release a statement saying explicitly that Coates is not the author, did not edit the book, did not see it in advance and did not know about it.

I’d like to believe the literary agent, but isn’t that exactly what they would say to protect the identity of ‘Anonymous’? And if she were ‘Anonymous’, wouldn’t say categorically deny it too?

Really, we have no idea. Whether she’s Anonymous or not, it does appear the Trump administration is still cleaning house at the NSC, which is a good thing.


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