Last Updated on December 23, 2022
In reaction to the release of the Twitter Files by journalists Matt Taibbi and Bari Weiss, the Twitter Strategic Response Team head, Jeff Carlton, who is an agent of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), deleted his LinkedIn profile.Before he deleted his profile, Carlton changed his profile name to an alias in an attempt to make it more difficult to find.
According to his recently-deleted LinkedIn profile, he was promoted to the head of Twitter’s Strategic Response Team in November 2022, more than a year after he started to work for the company in May 2021. Carlton also worked as a Deputy Operations Officer for Marine Corps Intelligence Activity in Quantico, Virginia and Senior Intelligence Planner at 1 Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) at Camp Pendleton, San Diego, California.
“Former Intelligence Officer transitioned to managing high-profile content moderation and customer support escalations in Social Media/ Trust & Safety. Head of Twitter’s Strategic Response Team,” his bio read.
Former New York Times journalist, Bari Weiss, was one of two journalists who broke The Twitter Files.
“The group that decided whether to limit the reach of certain users was the Strategic Response Team – Global Escalation Team, or SRT-GET. It often handled up to 200 ‘cases’ a day,” journalist Bari Weiss reported.
As an intelligence analyst at the CIA and the FBI, Carlton authored over 30 reports, “several” of which were “hand-selected” for briefing to two different National Security Advisors and the President of the United States at the time, Barack Obama. Carlton worked in this capacity from July 2014 to July 2017.
For he stated his duty at Twitter is to “manage crises and non-standard incidents in content moderation and customer support to promote ‘healthy public conversations.’”
Independent investigative reporter, Andy Ngo, archived the LinkedIn account before Carlton was able to cover up his digital tracks.
“Bari doesn’t name too many names but the head of Twitter’s Strategic Response Team when secret actions were taken to stifle conservative accounts happened under Jeff Carlton, who worked for both CIA & FBI,” Ngo said. “He just deleted his LinkedIn. But I have an archive.”
Exclusive: Bari doesn't name too many names but the head of Twitter's Strategic Response Team when secret actions were taken to stifle conservative accounts happened under Jeff Carlton, who worked for both CIA & FBI.
He just deleted his LinkedIn. But I have an archive. @elonmusk https://t.co/Q37tg4Dkpv pic.twitter.com/cpT1qJqN3L
— Andy Ngô
(@MrAndyNgo) December 9, 2022
“U.S. Naval Academy graduate with 14 years in the Marine Corps leading XFN intelligence teams in data analysis, strategy development, and operational planning. Team-builder and problem-solver in dynamic, high pressure, resource scarce environments from the Southern Philippines, to Iraq, to the Korean Peninsula. Proven manager of managers. Expert communicator whose briefings and writings drove Cabinet and White House-level decision-making during special assignments to the CIA and FBI. Innovative and technically savvy in integrating dozens of complex hardware and software solutions into operations.
Southern California native, surfer since age 9, passionate father and husband.”
-Jeff Carlton LinkedIn biography excerpt
Ngo, who criticized Weiss for not disclosing more names in the Twitter Files release, received a reply from a woman named Ella Irwin who asserted that Ngo’s report was incorrect.
“This is actually false. I would recommned checking information like this before posting. Jeff stepped into this role as part of Twitter 2.0,” Irwin asserted.
This is actually false. I would recommend checking information like this before posting. Jeff stepped into this role as part of Twitter 2.0.
— Ella Irwin (@ellagirwin) December 9, 2022
“Do you have a connection to ex-CIA & FBI intelligence operative Jeff Carlton, or Twitter? The LinkedIn profile he has tried to scrube says he’s been doing work for Twitter’s Strategic Response Team since May 2021,” Ngo replied.
“Oh. Yes, you do,” Ngo said in his response to his own question and a tweeted image of Irwin’s LinkedIn profile, which reveals her positon as the Product & Trust Leader at Twitter.
Oh. Yes, you do. pic.twitter.com/Szhf5agDMr
— Andy Ngô
Yes. Jeff works for me, which is why I can correct this info. He has been at Twitter since 2021 but working in a different role. He recently stepped into his new role as part of Twitter 2.0 and has been integral in helping us drive transparency and fairness.
— Ella Irwin (@ellagirwin) December 9, 2022
“Yes. Jeff works for me, which is why I can correct this info. He has been at Twitter since 2021 but working in a different role. He recently stepped into his new role as part of Twitter 2.0 and has been integral in helping us drive transparency and fairness,” Irwin replied.
The National File has not yet confirmed if CIA Agent Jeff Carlton still holds the position as head of the Twitter Strategic Response Team or if Elon Musk has fired him.