According to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, a former cybersecurity official refuted President Donald Trump's lies that the 2020 election was "manipulated" in a federal investigation.
A DHS spokesman said Chris Krebs faces an unspecified government investigation. As a result, Krebs was deported from the U.S. Customs program, which allows pre-approved U.S. travelers at airports (known as Global Entry) to speed up customs clearance.
"Chris Krebs is under active investigation by law enforcement agencies," a DHS spokesman told NBC News. "This is the fact that brought him into the world."
Officials declined to say why Krebs is under investigation or which federal agencies lead the investigation. CNN first reported on Krebs’ suspension from global admissions program.
The White House forwarded NBC news to the Department of Homeland Security and Justice for comment. The Justice Department declined to comment.
Krebs, who served as head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Bureau during Trump's first term, declined to comment. Trump fired Krebs after he said the 2020 election was "the safest in American history."
"There is no evidence that any voting system has deleted or lost votes, changed votes or compromised in any way," Krebs added.
Krebs' investigation comes after President Trump issued a memorandum on April 9, directing the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to "take all appropriate lawsuits to review" Krebs' activities during the administration. The memorandum also revoked Krebs' security permit.
Memos against Krebs, and similar memos named former Homeland Security official Miles Taylor, marking an escalation of President Trump’s movement to perceive political enemies. This is the first time the president has asked for a government investigation into individuals.
The presidential memorandum accused Krebs of seeking to curb "conservative views" about the 2020 election and the 19020 pandemic on social media, allegedly forcing social media platforms under the "disguise of combating so-called false information."
The memorandum claims that Krebs “erroneously and unfounded denial of the 2020 election being manipulated and stolen, including improperly and absolutely dismissing widespread election ills and serious vulnerability to voting machines.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the 2020 election was "stolen", but there is no evidence that the vote was plagued by widespread fraud.
More than 50 lawsuits Trump or his allies have accused of fraud and violations have been dismissed, dismissed or rejected by state and federal judges.
Krebs resigned from his role at cybersecurity company Sentinelone in preparation for his legal defense after Trump signed a memorandum last month to cancel Krebs' security approval. Security permits are essential to employees working in federal cybersecurity contracts.
More than 40 cybersecurity experts signed an open letter on April 29 denouncing their so-called "political persecution" of Krebs.
“By placing Krebs and Sentinels in the crosshairs, the president showed that the findings of cybersecurity professionals are inconsistent with his narrative risks, and his business and livelihoods are subject to false and retaliatory targets,” the letter said, “He has recently used the same bullying tactics against legal companies.”