Michael Morell

The son of an autoworker and homemaker,{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Greg |date=April 15, 2010 |title=Key counterterrorism leader leaving No. 2 job at CIA; New deputy described as 30-year veteran with broad experience |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/14/AR2010041403134.html |access-date=April 26, 2018 |quote=From 2006 to 2008, [Morell] served as associate deputy director, the No. 3 position at the CIA, making him responsible for day-to-day operations.}} Morell is a native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.Muravchik, Joshua (July/August 2015). "Inside the Battle". Review of Michael Morell, The Great War of Our Time: The CIA's Fight Against Terrorism—From al Qa'ida to ISIS. Commentary. p. 56 f. Retrieved via Book Review Index Plus database/InfoTrac, January 11, 2017. [https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/inside-the-battle Preview online]. He went to Saint Joseph's School and Cuyahoga Falls High School there. He is a first generation college student. He has a bachelor of arts from the University of Akron and a master of arts from Georgetown University, both in economics.

{{cite news

| first = Bob

| last = Dyer

| title = Here's the dossier on new No. 3 guy at the CIA: Cuyahoga Falls native, UA grad says spy agency wasn't part of original career plan

| work = Akron Beacon Journal. Ohio

| date = August 17, 2006

}} He joined the CIA in 1980 and worked there for 33 years.

Most of Morell's early work in the agency was devoted to energy and to East Asian projects. During his mid-career, Morell managed the staff that produced the president's daily brief, and was the executive assistant to DCI George Tenet. Morell was President George W. Bush's daily intelligence briefer during 2001, including on September 11. Morell spent the entire day with the president. When asked by Bush who was responsible for the attacks that day, Morell said, "I have no doubt that the trail will lead to the doorstep of Bin Laden and al-Qa’ida."{{cite web|url=http://www.historycommons.org/entity.jsp?entity=mike_morell_1|title=Profile: Michael J. Morell|access-date=June 18, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/DOC_0001407035.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101215220/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/DOC_0001407035.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 1, 2017|title=11 September 2001: With the President (C)|access-date=June 18, 2019}}

File:President George W. Bush Receives Information Regarding Terrorist Attacks.jpg with President Bush.]]

Morell also was director for intelligence, the agency's top analyst, from 2008 to 2010. He was the CIA's associate deputy director, the agency's top administrator, from 2006 to 2008.

File:Obama and national security members during meeting about Osama bin Laden.jpg, Hillary Clinton and other members of President Obama's national security team in May 2011]]

In May 2010, Morell was sworn in as the deputy director of the CIA, succeeding Stephen Kappes.{{cite web|url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/14/cia-deputy-director-steps-down/?hpt=T2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417091047/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/14/cia-deputy-director-steps-down/?hpt=T2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 17, 2010 |title=CIA deputy director steps down |publisher=CNN |date=April 14, 2010 |access-date=November 9, 2012}} Morell was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the agency's second highest honor, for his role in the bin Laden operation. President Obama, knowing that Morell was with President Bush on 9/11, sent Morell to Dallas to brief him on the raid two weeks after bin Laden was killed.

From July 1, 2011, to September 6, 2011, Morell did his first stint as acting director of the CIA, replacing Leon Panetta after he was confirmed as secretary of defense.{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/leadership/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012191825/https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/leadership/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |title=Leadership |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=November 9, 2012}}{{failed verification|date=January 2017|reason=page is for current CIA leadership, but even 2012/2013 archived versions of MM's bio do not give such precise info as stated here}} On November 9, 2012, Morell once again became acting director after the resignation of David Petraeus, following a sex scandal.{{cite web|url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/09/source-cia-director-david-petraeus-submits-resignation-over-extra-marital-affair/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111201630/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/09/source-cia-director-david-petraeus-submits-resignation-over-extra-marital-affair/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |title=CIA director David Petraeus resigns over extramarital affair |publisher=CNN |date=November 9, 2012 |access-date=November 9, 2012}} President Obama considered naming Morell as Patraeus's permanent replacement but chose John Brennan instead; Brennan was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a 63 to 34 vote on March 5, 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rand-paul-says-hes-satisfied-with-obama-administrations-response-on-drones/2013/03/07/9b20aa44-875d-11e2-98a3-b3db6b9ac586_story.html|title=John Brennan confirmed as CIA director, but filibuster brings scrutiny of drone program|first1=Peter|last1=Finn|first2=Aaron|last2=Blake|newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 7, 2013}} Morell announced his retirement from the CIA on June 12, 2013, and left the agency in early September 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/12/191061035/reports-cia-deputy-director-michael-morell-resigns|last=Peralta|first=Eyder|title=Reports: CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell Retires|publisher=NPR|date=June 12, 2013|access-date=June 12, 2013}}

In November 2013, Morell joined Beacon Global Strategies as a senior counselor.{{cite web|title=MICHAEL MORELL|url=http://bgsdc.com/team/michael-j-morell/|website=Beacon Global Strategies|access-date=August 12, 2016}} In 2018, Beacon named Morell as the head of its geo-political risk practice. In this role, Morell advises firms on global developments and what they mean for the companies.

In January 2014, Morell joined CBS News as an on-air contributor on intelligence and national security.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2014/01/michael-morell-joins-cbs-news-181573.html|title=Reports: Michael Morell Joins CBS News|last=Gold|first=Hadas|author-link=Hadas Gold|work=Politico|date=January 14, 2014 |access-date=January 14, 2014}} In 2018, CBS began producing Morell's weekly podcast on national security, titled Intelligence Matters. In each episode, Morell speaks with current and former members of the intelligence community as well as policymakers about their careers and about national security issues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2019/02/04/the-newest-hero-of-resistance-media-is-a-former-spy/|title=The Retired Spy Who Took On Trump's "Deep State" {{!}} Washingtonian (DC)|date=February 4, 2019|website=Washingtonian|language=en-US|access-date=April 30, 2019}} Each episode is distributed as a podcast and an hour-long program on CBS News Radio.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/183695/cbs-news-radio-s-intelligence-matters-podcast-now-|title=CBS News Radio's 'Intelligence Matters' Podcast Now Available As Weekly Radio Show|website=All Access|language=en|access-date=September 6, 2019}} Morell also contributes to the media in other ways, as a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and as an expert voice on Axios.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/michael-morell/|title=Michael Morell|newspaper=Washington Post}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/authors/MichaelMorell/|title=Michael Morell on Axios|website=Axios|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2019}}

Morell has criticised whistleblower Edward Snowden for exposing NSA's global surveillance programs, claiming Snowden's exposé of the said programs led to profound damage. Morell said that a U.S. jury should decide whether Snowden was a patriot or a traitor.{{Cite web|last=Hirsh|first=Michael|title='It's All Back in Snowden's Lap'|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/11/paris-attack-isis-snowden-michael-morell-interview-cia-213373|access-date=2020-12-16|website=POLITICO Magazine|date=November 17, 2015 |language=en}}{{primary source inline|date=April 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecipherbrief.com/column/agenda-setter/putins-perfect-gift-1095|title=Putin's Perfect Gift|last=Morell|first=Michael|date=January 15, 2017|website=The Cipher Brief|access-date=September 18, 2019}}{{primary source inline|date=April 2023}}

In May 2015, Morell's book entitled The Great War of Our Time: The CIA's Fight Against Terrorism—From al Qa'ida to ISIS was released. A New York Times bestseller, the book traces his three-decade-long career at the CIA, with a focus on the agency's counterterrorism missions both before and after the September 11 attacks. The book deals with the public controversies related to the country's post-9/11 counterterrorism activities.Miller, Greg (May 3, 2015). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/former-cia-official-cites-agencys-failure-to-see-al-qaedas-rebound/2015/05/03/d68e7292-f028-11e4-8abc-d6aa3bad79dd_story.html Former CIA official cites agency's failure to see al-Qaeda's rebound]". Washington Post. Retrieved January 11, 2017. In the book, Morell defends targeted killings by drones,{{cite news|last1=Dilanian|first1=Ken|title=Former CIA leader defends drone strikes, torture|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/former-cia-leader-defends-drone-strikes-torture/|access-date=August 11, 2016|work=PBS|date=May 4, 2015}}Capaccio, Tony; Walcott, John (May 4, 2015). "[https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-05-04/cia-official-refused-role-in-powell-s-iraq-speech-morell-writes CIA Official Refused Role in Powell's Iraq Speech, Morell Writes]". Bloomberg. Retrieved January 7, 2017. calling drone warfare the "single most effective [counterterrorism] tool in the last five years" and calling concerns over civilian deaths "highly exaggerated." In response to claims from Morell and others in the Obama administration about limited civilian casualties, drone strike survivors in Pakistan and Yemen in 2016 recounted how the bombings killed and maimed their friends and family members.{{Cite news|last=Stein|first=Erin Banco, Hanna Trudo, Spencer Ackerman, Sam|date=2020-11-24|title=Biden Weighs Mike Morell as His CIA Chief. A Key Dem Senator Says Don't Bother.|language=en|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/biden-weighs-mike-morell-as-his-cia-chief-a-key-dem-senator-says-dont-bother|access-date=2020-12-17}}

In the book, Morrell also criticized the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on CIA torture,Tapper, Jake (May 12, 2015). "[http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/11/politics/michael-morrell-book-cia-obama-cheney/ Former CIA official takes aim at politicians]". CNN. Retrieved January 11, 2017. challenging the veracity of the report and objecting to the use of the word "torture," noting that the Department of Justice at the time said that the harsh techniques—which included mock drownings, sleep deprivation, and painful bodily contortions—were not torture, and were not in conflict with US domestic torture statutes and US treaty obligations on torture." "I don't like calling it torture for one simple reason: to call it torture says my guys were torturers," Morell told Vice in 2015. "I'm gonna defend my guys till my last breath," again noting that the Bush administration's Justice Department said it was not torture.

In response to his 2015 memoir, Senate Intelligence Committee staffers were so troubled by Morell's attacks on the committee's report that they issued a lengthy rebuttal. Referencing the CIA's own documents, the report said Morell's accounts of the CIA "enhanced interrogation" program contained numerous errors and misrepresentation of established facts.{{Cite web|last=Dilanian|first=Ken|date=2017-08-08|title=Senate staff disputes ex-CIA official's defense of torture|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2015/06/02/senate-staff-disputes-ex-cia-official-s-defense-of-torture/|access-date=2020-12-17|website=Military Times|language=en-US}} In talking about the staffers' rebuttal on The Charlie Rose Show, Morell said that, while his critique was sharper, it was consistent with the CIA's official comments on the committee's report and with the dissent published by a number of Republicans on the committee.

In a separate book written by a group of former CIA senior officials, Morell critiqued the media's coverage of the Senate report.{{Cite book|isbn=978-1591145875|title=Rebuttal: The CIA Responds to the Senate Intelligence Committee's Study of Its Detention and Interrogation Program|last1=Harlow|first1=Bill|year=2015|publisher=Naval Institute Press }}

Also in his book, Morell apologized to former Secretary of State Colin Powell for the CIA's erroneous assessments of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs."[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-morell-apologizes-colin-powell-about-cia-pre-iraq-war-wmd-evidence/ Morell "wanted to apologize" to Powell about WMD evidence]". CBS News. May 11, 2015.

In an August 2016 op-ed for The New York Times, Morell endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. Stating that he was registered with neither the Democratic nor Republican parties and that he had always been silent about his political preferences, Morell stated that Donald Trump was "not only unqualified for the job, but he may well pose a threat to our national security."{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/08/michael-morell-hillary-clinton/494693/ |title=Why a Former CIA Chief Says Trump Is a 'Threat' to National Security; Michael Morell the latest in a string of ex-national-security officials to back Hillary Clinton as she embraces an image centered on defense. |last1=Alvarez |first1=Priscilla |date=August 5, 2016 |publisher=The Atlantic |access-date=August 7, 2016 }}{{cite news|last1=Phillip|first1=Abby|title=In endorsing Clinton, ex-CIA chief says Putin made Trump his 'unwitting agent'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/08/05/in-endorsing-clinton-ex-cia-chief-says-putin-made-trump-his-unwitting-agent/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=August 5, 2016|date=August 5, 2016}} Morell left his job as a CBS News analyst before making the endorsement, but rejoined CBS News after the election.{{cite web|last1=Gold|first1=Hadas|title=Michael Morell dropped CBS News analyst job to support Hillary Clinton|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/08/michael-morell-dropped-cbs-analayst-job-to-support-hillary-clinton-226722|website=Politico|access-date=August 5, 2016|date=August 5, 2016}} In a subsequent Q&A article with The New York Times, Morell responded to allegations that his current employer, Beacon Global Strategies, was co-founded by "former associates" of Hillary Clinton, by saying it was a non-partisan firm and that he had spoken out "entirely on [my] own, with no other consideration given any thought."{{cite news|last1=Morell|first1=Michael J.|title=Q. & A. With Michael Morell: Why I'm Endorsing Hillary Clinton|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/12/opinion/q-a-michael-j-morell-on-his-clinton-endorsement.html?_r=1|access-date=August 15, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=August 12, 2016}}

In September 2017, Morell resigned from his senior fellowship at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs of Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government as a result of Chelsea Manning's appointment as a senior fellow there.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-morell-ex-cia-chief-resigns-harvard-post-over-chelsea-manning/|title=Ex-CIA chief Michael Morell resigns Harvard post over Chelsea Manning|last1=Becket|first1=Stefan|date=September 14, 2017|work=CBS|access-date=September 14, 2017}}

In 2017, Morell was appointed to serve on the National Defense Strategy Commission, a congressionally created body designed to give Congress an independent view of America's defense needs. The group's final report concluded that US defense capabilities were eroding relative to those of China and Russia.{{Cite book|title=Providing for the common defense: the assessment and recommendations of the National Defense Strategy Commission|publisher=National Defense Strategy Commission|oclc=1066062102}}

In early 2019, Morell, along with fellow former acting and deputy director of the CIA John E. McLaughlin, brought together a group of former CIA, NSA, and FBI officers to produce a briefing book on a dozen or so key national security issues facing the nation. Morell and McLaughlin provided the book to all candidates running for president, whether Democrat, Republican, or independent, and included President Trump's reelection campaign. The two told the press that the aim of the book was to provide a basis of fact and analysis as campaigns developed their foreign policy positions and as they debated the issues. The book did not advocate particular policies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/former-cia-leaders-give-briefing-book-to-2020-candidates-to-counteract-fake-news-election-interference/2019/03/27/22e11fcc-50a2-11e9-8d28-f5149e5a2fda_story.html|title=Former CIA Leaders Give 'Briefing Book' to 2020 Candidates to Counteract 'Fake News' and 'Foreign Election Interference'|last=Harris|first=Shane|date=March 27, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=November 11, 2019}}

In April 2019, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius reported that Morell, who had been consulting for a US firm that did work with Saudi Arabia, stepped down from that role following the killing of Saudi national, US resident, and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Ignatius wrote that Morell withdrew "over concern about the direction that Saudi Arabia was heading."{{Cite web|url=https://www.omaha.com/opinion/david-ignatius-mbs-needs-to-answer-on-khashoggi/article_ada70c34-76ea-5868-9e56-bb7cbe80d4ff.html|title=David Ignatius: MBS needs to answer on Khashoggi|last=Group|first=Washington Post Writers|website=Omaha.com|date=April 2019 |language=en|access-date=May 1, 2019}}

In 2019, the International Spy Museum unveiled a new interactive exhibit hosted by Morell. In the exhibit, Morell leads participants through a red-teaming exercise of the intelligence that pointed to Osama bin Laden hiding at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The exhibit is one of the museum's most popular.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/museums/the-new-spy-museum-is-bigger-bolder-and-more-beautiful-here-are-the-10-things-you-shouldnt-miss/2019/05/08/1bfada0e-6853-11e9-82ba-fcfeff232e8f_story.html|title=The new Spy Museum is bigger, bolder and more beautiful. Here are the 10 things you shouldn't miss.|first=Peggy|last=McGlone|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}

In October 2020, Morell signed an open letter stating that the Biden laptop story “has the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation."{{cite news |title=Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former intel officials say|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/19/hunter-biden-story-russian-disinfo-430276|date=October 19, 2020}} Joe Biden cited the letter Morell had signed, during a presidential debate in 2020 to deflect criticism by Donald Trump. As of three years later, no evidence has emerged to support Morell's statement that the laptop appeared to be Russian disinformation.Broadwater, Luke. “[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/us/politics/republicans-hunter-biden-laptop.html Officials Who Cast Doubt on Hunter Biden Laptop Face Questions]”, New York Times (May 16, 2023).Allen, Nick. “[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/04/21/antony-blinken-orchestrated-plan-to-discredit-hunter-biden/ Antony Blinken ‘orchestrated plan to discredit Hunter Biden laptop story’]”, The Daily Telegraph (21 April 2023).

In November 2022 CBS News published statements from the chief technology officer of Computer Forensics Services (from whom CBS commissioned analysis and investigation) declaring: "I have no doubt in my mind that this data was created by Hunter Biden, and that it came from a computer under Mr. Biden's control”. Morell has said that part of his motivation for signing the open letter, and requesting others to sign it, was to alert the American people of his concerns, and "to help vice president Biden….Because I wanted him to win the election". He said that contact from Biden's campaign adviser Antony Blinken triggered the letter he signed.

In late 2020, Morell was mentioned as a possible candidate for director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Biden administration.{{cite news |title=Who Are Contenders for Biden's Cabinet? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/us/politics/biden-cabinet.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage |access-date=November 11, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=November 11, 2020}} Ultimately, the post went to former United States deputy secretary of state and career diplomat Williams J. Burns.{{cite web |last1=Zeleny |first1=Jeff |title=Biden to nominate William Burns as CIA director, turning to a longtime diplomat to lead agency in post-Trump era |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/11/politics/william-burns-cia-director-nomination/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=January 30, 2021 |date=January 11, 2021}}

When President-elect Biden was reportedly considering Morell for CIA director, Senate Intelligence Committee member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) publicly charged Morell with being a "torture apologist" and said nomination for a cabinet post would be a "nonstarter."{{Cite web|author=Jeremy Herb, MJ Lee, Alex Marquardt and Zachary Cohen|title=Democratic concerns over Morell and torture scramble Biden's CIA decision|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/03/politics/biden-cia-director-morell-concerns/index.html|access-date=2020-12-17|website=CNN|date=December 3, 2020 }} Daniel Jones, the lead investigator for the Senate Intelligence Committee's torture report, was also critical of Morell. Jones urged President-elect Biden not to nominate Morell, who was acting CIA Director during a portion of the Senate investigation. Jones said Morell had also failed to sufficiently discipline two CIA officials who destroyed videotapes of CIA torture incidents.{{Cite web|last=Shuham|first=Matt|date=2020-11-24|title=Former Senate CIA Investigator Warns Biden Against Picks Tainted By Torture, 'Cover-Up'|url=https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/former-senate-cia-investigator-warns-biden-against-picks-tainted-by-torture-cover-up|access-date=2020-12-17|website=Talking Points Memo|language=en-US}}

In a February interview at the Michael Hayden Center at George Mason University, Morell said he was never formally considered for the post of CIA director.{{Cite web|last=Altomare|first=Nicole|date=February 2, 2021|title=The Assault on Intelligence: After Trump|url=https://haydencenter.gmu.edu/news/assault-intelligence-after-trump|access-date=2021-02-03|website=Michael V. Hayden Center}}

Morell has written dozens of op-eds and given hundreds of media interviews since leaving government.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/michael-morell/|title=Michael Morell|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=December 14, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecipherbrief.com/experts/michael-j-morell|title=Michael J. Morell|website=The Cipher Brief|language=en-US|access-date=December 14, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://muckrack.com/michael-morell/articles|title=Articles by Michael Morell {{!}} The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal Journalist {{!}} Muck Rack|website=muckrack.com|language=en|access-date=December 14, 2019}} His writings and interviews suggest the world is a dangerous place and that to keep the country safe, the United States must take a leadership role in the world, it must have strong allies with whom it works together on tough issues, and it must have a strong military, intelligence service, and diplomatic service in order to deter adversaries.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecipherbrief.com/column_article/whats-wrong-and-right-with-the-cia-2|title=What's Wrong (and Right) with the CIA?|website=The Cipher Brief|language=en-US|access-date=December 14, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecipherbrief.com/column_article/more-lone-wolf-attacks-inevitable|title=More Lone Wolf Attacks Inevitable|website=The Cipher Brief|language=en-US|access-date=December 14, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://politi.co/2AJK9gW|title=Ex-Spy Chief: Russia's Election Hacking Was An 'Intelligence Failure'|last=Glasser|first=Susan B.|website=POLITICO Magazine|date=December 11, 2017 |language=en|access-date=December 14, 2019}} Second, for the United States to be strong abroad, it must be strong at home.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecipherbrief.com/column_article/the-link-between-economic-and-national-security|title=The Link Between Economic and National Security|last=Morell|first=Michael|date=March 13, 2016|website=The Cipher Brief|access-date=December 10, 2019}} Morell says that "the most important determinant of a country's national security is the health of its economy and society"{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecipherbrief.com/column_article/our-national-security-relies-on-a-healthy-economy|title=Our National Security Relies on a Healthy Economy|last=Morell|first=Michael|date=June 23, 2017|website=The Cipher Brief|access-date=December 10, 2019}} and that the thing that most keeps him up at night is the failure of our politicians to come together, to compromise, and to make decisions that move our economy and our society forward.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecipherbrief.com/column_article/social-security-medicare-cripple-national-security|title=Social Security and Medicare Could Cripple National Security|last=Morell|first=Michael|date=February 8, 2018|website=The Cipher Brief|access-date=December 10, 2019}}

On May 19, 2015, during his book tour, Morell stated on MSNBC that what Vice President Dick Cheney said publicly about Iraq's nuclear weapons program before the war in 2003 was inconsistent with the views of the intelligence community."[http://www.msnbc.com/hardball/watch/fmr-cia-deputy-director-grilled-on-iraq-war-447888451643 Fmr. CIA Deputy Director grilled on Iraq War]". MSNBC. May 19, 2016."[https://web.archive.org/web/20160921061842/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/57395771/ns/msnbc-hardball_with_chris_matthews/t/hardball-chris-matthews-tuesday-may-th/ 'Hardball with Chris Matthews' for Tuesday, May 19th, 2015]". NBC News. May 19, 2015. MSNBC host Chris Matthews said, "Here on Hardball last night, the top CIA official, the man who briefed President Bush on a daily basis, said that what Cheney said was not true. I've been doing this business for a long time, rarely do you get that Perry Mason moment. When the guy comes and just says, You know what? I'm the top briefer from the CIA for the president. I'm deputy DCI. I'm right there telling them all we knew, and we never knew and never said he had a nuclear weapon. And yet we went into war with that argument.""[https://web.archive.org/web/20180327084257/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/57400964/ns/msnbc-hardball_with_chris_matthews/t/hardball-chris-matthews-wednesday-may-th/#.V6bf0xIQoRw 'Hardball with Chris Matthews' for Wednesday, May 20th, 2015]". NBC News. May 20, 2016.

File:Secretary Pompeo Participates in an Interview With Michael Morrel from CBS News' Intelligence Matters Podcast (47689005221).jpg for CBS News' Intelligence Matters Podcast]]

In an interview with Charlie Rose in August 2016, Morell blamed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia, and Iran for the extremely high civilian death toll in Syria.{{Cite web|url=https://charlierose.com/videos/28626|title=The former deputy director of the CIA on politics and national security.|website=Charlie Rose|date=August 17, 2016}} He called on the opposition in Syria to deter Russia and Iran by making them "pay a price" for their involvement in Syria, in part by targeting their military personnel in the country.{{cite news|title=Former CIA deputy director: I want to scare Bashar al-Assad|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-cia-deputy-director-michael-morell-i-want-to-scare-syrian-president-bashar-al-assad/|access-date=August 11, 2016|work=CBS News|date=August 8, 2016|quote=He went on to explain making them "pay the price" would mean killing Russians and Iranians, and said he wants to make Syrian president Bashar al-Assad uncomfortable.}} He also called on the United States to conduct limited, precision bombings of Syrian government targets in order to bring Assad to the negotiating table.{{cite news|url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/08/clinton-touts-endorsement-from-pro-torture-neocons.html|title=Maybe Hillary Clinton Shouldn't Tout Endorsements From Neocons Who Support Torture and War With Iran|date=August 10, 2016|work=New York|last1=Levitz|first1=Eric|access-date=August 17, 2016}} Regarding President Assad, Morell argued "I want to go after those things, such as his personal helicopter and aircraft, that Assad sees as his personal power base. I want to scare Assad."

In October 2016, Morell told Rose that the United States should confront Iran's behavior in the Middle East, and he voiced support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen against Yemen's Houthis, pointing out that the Iranians were supporting the Houthis as a proxy force against the Saudis. Morell said "Ships leave Iran on a regular basis carrying arms to the Houthis in Yemen."{{cite news |title=Clinton Adviser Proposes Attacking Iran to Aid the Saudis in Yemen |url=http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2016/10/clinton-adviser-lets-attack-iran-to-aid-saudis-in-yemen.html |work=New York Magazine |date=October 26, 2016}} Morell also said that Iran wants "to be the hegemonic power in the region" and Arab states of the Persian Gulf are "pushing back against that".{{cite news |title=At Hillary Clinton's Favorite Think Tank, a Doubling Down on Anti-Iran, Pro-Saudi Policy |url=https://theintercept.com/2016/10/26/at-hillary-clintons-favorite-think-tank-a-doubling-down-on-anti-iran-pro-saudi-policy/ |work=The Intercept |date=October 26, 2016}}

In December 2016, Morell suggested that the interference of Russia in the 2016 United States presidential election was "the political equivalent of 9/11".{{cite news|last1=Bertrand|first1=Natasha|title=Former acting CIA Director Michael Morell: Russian meddling in US election 'is the political equivalent of 9/11'|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-morell-russian-hacking-911-2016-12?r=US&IR=T|access-date=December 20, 2016|work=Business Insider|date=December 12, 2016}} He added that President Obama should retaliate imminently with harsh sanctions, in spite of president-elect Donald Trump's doubts about the allegations of Russian influence.{{cite news|last1=Fox-Brewster|first1=Thomas|title=Ex-CIA Director: Obama Should Retaliate To Russian Election Hacks Now|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2016/12/13/ex-cia-director-michael-morell-obama-response-to-russian-hacks-trump-intelligence/#74517bcd7e47|access-date=December 20, 2016|work=Forbes|date=December 13, 2016}} In March 2017, Morell said: "On the question of the Trump campaign conspiring with the Russians here, there is smoke, but there is no fire at all. There's no little campfire, there's no little candle, there's no spark. And there's a lot of people looking for it.""[https://theintercept.com/2017/03/16/key-democratic-officials-now-warning-base-not-to-expect-evidence-of-trumprussia-collusion/ Key Democratic Officials Now Warning Base Not to Expect Evidence of Trump/Russia Collusion]". The Intercept. March 16, 2017.

In April 2019, Morell, along with Stanford professor Amy Zegart, wrote a piece in Foreign Affairs titled "Spies, Lies, and Algorithms: Why the Intelligence Community Must Adapt or Fail".{{Cite news|url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2019-04-16/spies-lies-and-algorithms|title=Spies, Lies, and Algorithms|last1=Zegart|first1=Amy|date=April 19, 2019|access-date=May 1, 2019|last2=Morell|first2=Michael|journal=Foreign Affairs: America and the World|issue=May/June 2019|language=en-US|issn=0015-7120}} In the article, Morell and Zegart argue that the intelligence community is falling further behind in the technology race, a development that poses a significant risk to the country. The authors say that this lag has already caused a significant intelligence breakdown, the failure of the community to see in a timely manner Russia's weaponization of social media during the 2016 presidential election.

Since retiring from CIA in 2013, Morell has served on a number of boards or advisory groups related to national security. He currently serves on the board of the Atlantic Council, a Washington, D.C. think tank on international affairs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/about/board-of-directors|title=Board of Directors|last=Council|first=Atlantic|website=Atlantic Council|language=en-gb|access-date=May 1, 2019}} He serves on the advisory boards of the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund, the American Media Abroad group, and the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics.{{Cite web|url=https://securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/about-us/advisory-council/|title=Advisory Council|last=Nigro|first=Nick|website=Alliance For Securing Democracy|language=en-US|access-date=May 1, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.americaabroadmedia.org/term/person/board-advisors|title=Board of Advisors {{!}} America Abroad Media|website=www.americaabroadmedia.org|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://politics.uchicago.edu/staff/board|title=Board of Advisors|website=politics.uchicago.edu|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2019}} Morell also serves on the board of CyberDome.{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/457487-ex-cia-chief-worries-campaigns-falling-short-on-cybersecurity|title=Ex-CIA chief worries campaigns falling short on cybersecurity|last=Mali|first=Meghashyam|date=August 15, 2019|website=TheHill|language=en|access-date=September 6, 2019}} He served on the advisory board of the Committee to Investigate Russia,{{cite web|title=Committee to Investigate Russia: Advisory Board |url=https://investigaterussia.org/advisory-board |website=Committee to Investigate Russia |access-date=February 10, 2018}} a group organized by Hollywood director Rob Reiner and The Atlantic senior editor David Frum.{{cite web|last=Johnson |first=Ted |title=Rob Reiner Helps Launch Committee to Investigate Russia |url=https://variety.com/2017/politics/news/rob-reiner-david-frum-committee-to-investigate-russia-1202563293 |work=Variety |date=September 19, 2017 |access-date=October 8, 2017}}{{cite web|last=Cohen |first=Stephen F. |author-link=Stephen F. Cohen |title=Do Liberal Democrats Want War With Russia? |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/do-liberal-democrats-want-war-with-russia |work=The Nation |date=September 27, 2017}}

Since retiring from the CIA, Morell has also spent time teaching and mentoring at a variety of colleges and universities. He is currently a distinguished visiting professor{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/mvhaydencenter/status/1174768440818753536|title=Hayden Center Official Twitter|last=Hayden Center|date=September 19, 2019|website=Twitter}} at the Michael V. Hayden Center at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, where he teaches classes on intelligence and moderates on-the-record conversations{{Cite web|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-pod-intelligence-matters-live-taping-host-michael/id1286906615?i=1000450535819|title=Intelligence Matters Live Taping with Host Michael Morell|last=Intelligence Matters Podcast|date=September 20, 2019|website=Apple Podcasts}} on intelligence, including a March 2019 event on Congress and the Intelligence Community, titled The Hill Has Eyes: Congressional Oversight of Intelligence. He was later named Distinguished Senior Fellow of the center during founder Michael Hayden's medical leave.{{Cite web|title=Michael Morell, Fmr Acting Director and Deputy Director of CIA, Joins Hayden Center as Distinguished Senior Fellow {{!}} Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security|url=https://haydencenter.gmu.edu/news/michael-morell-joins-hayden-center|access-date=November 18, 2020|website=haydencenter.gmu.edu}}{{Cite web|url=https://schar.gmu.edu/news-and-events/latest-news/former-cia-acting-director-michael-morell-joins-schar-school-hayden-center-for-intelligence|title=Former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell Joins Schar School, Hayden Center for Intelligence {{!}} Schar School of Policy and Government|website=schar.gmu.edu|access-date=May 1, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://haydencenter.gmu.edu/news/former-intelligence-committee-members-discuss-oversight-%E2%80%98-hill-has-eyes%E2%80%99|title=Former Intelligence Committee Members Discuss Oversight in 'The Hill Has Eyes' {{!}} Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security|website=haydencenter.gmu.edu|access-date=May 16, 2019}} Morell spent the fall quarter of 2016 teaching a seminar as a resident fellow at the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago.{{Cite web|url=http://politics.uchicago.edu/fellows-program/fellow/michael-morell|title=Michael Morell|website=politics.uchicago.edu|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2019}} Morell has also spent time at Stanford, Dartmouth, Harvard, West Point, and his alma mater, the University of Akron.{{Cite web|url=https://fsi.stanford.edu/events/inside-cia-conversation-michael-morell|title=FSI – Inside the CIA: A Conversation with Michael Morell|website=fsi.stanford.edu|access-date=May 1, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://dickey.dartmouth.edu/faculty-fellows/foreign-policy-security-postdoc/us-foreign-policy-and-international-security-post|title=U.S. Foreign Policy and International Security Post-doctoral Fellowship {{!}} The John Sloan Dickey Center|website=dickey.dartmouth.edu|access-date=May 1, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/retiring-cia-official-michael-morell-joins-belfer-center-senior-fellow|title=Retiring CIA Official Michael Morell Joins Belfer Center as Senior Fellow|website=Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://ctc.usma.edu/mr-michael-morell-joins-ctc-as-senior-fellow/|title=Mr. Michael Morell joins CTC as Senior Fellow|date=August 18, 2015|website=Combating Terrorism Center at West Point}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uakron.edu/im/news/respected-national-security-leaders-will-speak-march-7/|title=Respected national security leaders will speak March 7 : UA News|website=www.UAkron.edu|access-date=May 2, 2019}}

Morell is married to Mary Beth Morell (née Manion), and they have three children.{{cite web|url=http://www.allgov.com/news/appointments-and-resignations/acting-director-of-the-central-intelligence-agency-who-is-michael-morell-121113?news=846192|title=Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: Who Is Michael Morell?|website=allgov.com|access-date=August 25, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.akronroundtable.org/speakers/michael-j-morell/2878|title=Michael J. Morell – Akron Roundtable|website=www.akronroundtable.org|access-date=August 25, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.psaonline.org/2015/02/09/off-the-record-with-michael-morell-acting-cia-director-ret/|title=Off-the-Record with Michael Morell, Acting CIA Director (ret.) – PSA|date=February 9, 2015|website=psaonline.org|access-date=August 25, 2018}}{{cite journal|title=TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL J. MORELL|journal=Congressional Record|date=July 15, 2013|volume=159|issue=100|pages=S5684–S5686|via=Federation of American Scientists|quote=We also thank Michael's wife Mary Beth and his children, Sarah, Luke, and Peter, for their support and understanding, as well as their sacrifices in allowing Michael to selflessly commit himself to protecting our Nation against those who would do us harm.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/intelligence-matters-a-cbs-news-original-national-security-podcast/|title=Intelligence Matters: A CBS News original national security podcast|website=www.CBSNews.com|access-date=May 2, 2019}}

In January 2025, President Donald Trump revoked Morell's security clearance.{{cite web |title=HOLDING FORMER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ELECTION INTERFERENCE AND IMPROPER DISCLOSURE OF SENSITIVE GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATION |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/holding-former-government-officials-accountablefor-election-interference-and-improper-disclosure-of-sensitive-governmental-information/}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100527170305/https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/leadership/michael-j.-morell.html Profile] at the CIA
• {{twitter|MichaelJMorell}}
• [http://www.allgov.com/news/appointments-and-resignations/acting-director-of-the-central-intelligence-agency-who-is-michael-morell-121113?news=846192 Who is Michael Morell?]

{{s-start}}

{{s-gov}}

{{s-bef|before=Stephen Kappes}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency|years=2010–2013}}

{{s-aft|after=Avril Haines}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Leon Panetta}}

{{s-ttl|title=Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Acting|years=2011}}

{{s-aft|after=David Petraeus}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=David Petraeus}}

{{s-ttl|title=Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Acting|years=2012–2013}}

{{s-aft|after=John Brennan}}

{{s-end}}

{{Deputy DCIA}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morell, Michael J.}}

Category:1958 births

Category:Deputy directors of the Central Intelligence Agency

Category:Directors of the Central Intelligence Agency

Category:Georgetown University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Obama administration personnel

Category:People from Akron, Ohio

Category:People from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Category:People from Youngstown, Ohio

Category:University of Akron alumni