The Shadow War: Unpacking The 3 Viral CIA Whistleblower Narratives Shaking The 2024 Election

As of December 14, 2025, the term "CIA whistleblower" has become a flashpoint in the volatile landscape surrounding the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. Unlike past political bombshells, the current narrative is not a single, verifiable complaint but a complex web of unverified claims, retired operative investigations, and documented foreign disinformation campaigns. This makes separating fact from fiction an unprecedented challenge for voters and media alike.

The core intention behind searching for "CIA whistleblower 2024 election" is to uncover a definitive, authoritative source revealing election manipulation. However, the reality is a multi-faceted shadow war where the term "whistleblower" is weaponized to inject confusion and doubt. Here is a deep dive into the three most prominent and controversial narratives currently dominating the discussion.

The Three Core Narratives: Allegations, Figures, and Context

1. The Adam Zarnowski "NSA Audit" Claim: A Case Study in Live Disinformation

The most viral and widely scrutinized claim involves a figure identified as "Adam Zarnowski," an alleged former CIA agent and author of a book titled Jörmungandr. This narrative exploded across fringe media and social platforms, creating immediate shockwaves.

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The Allegation in Detail

• The Core Claim: Zarnowski allegedly participated in an "NSA-authorized" forensic audit of the 2024 election results.
• The Conclusion: The supposed audit concluded that Vice President Kamala Harris was the true winner of the election, contradicting official tallies.
• The Source: The claim was primarily disseminated through a viral post on a Substack blog named "This Will Hold."

The Crucial Context of Debunking

Despite its viral spread, the Zarnowski claim is overwhelmingly categorized by fact-checkers and disinformation experts as a coordinated disinformation campaign. The entire narrative is cited as a prime example of "live disinformation," where a completely fabricated story is constructed around a plausible-sounding figure (an "ex-CIA agent") and a powerful government entity (the NSA) to sow distrust in the electoral process and official vote totals. There is no verifiable evidence of an NSA-authorized forensic audit of the 2024 election, nor is there credible, independent confirmation of Zarnowski's specific CIA background or the audit's findings.

2. The Gary Berntsen "Election Cartel" Investigation: A Retired Operative’s Warning

In contrast to the Zarnowski narrative, the claims put forth by retired CIA operative Gary Berntsen carry the weight of a confirmed former intelligence figure. Berntsen has been actively promoting an independent, four-year investigation into widespread election tampering, which he warns is directly relevant to the integrity of the 2024 election.

The Allegation in Detail

• The Key Figure: Gary Berntsen is a decorated former CIA officer known for his role in the Battle of Tora Bora.
• The Core Claim: Berntsen alleges the existence of an "Election Cartel" that has systematically worked to tamper with U.S. elections through bribery and manipulation of officials within government, intelligence services, and voting districts.
• The Focus: His revelations are presented as "explosive" and the most important information voters will see before the 2024 presidential election, suggesting a deep-state conspiracy to corrupt the democratic process.

The Context and Reception

Berntsen’s claims, often shared through podcasts and conservative media platforms, are not centered on a single, classified document leak, but rather the culmination of his private investigation. His status as a retired CIA operative lends him credibility among his followers, yet his specific evidence and the existence of a verifiable "Election Cartel" have not been independently confirmed by mainstream media or government oversight committees. This narrative acts as a powerful counter-establishment story, fueling skepticism about election security and the neutrality of federal agencies.

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3. Foreign Influence and the Weaponization of the "CIA Whistleblower"

Perhaps the most concerning and verifiable development is the documented use of "fake CIA whistleblower testimony" by foreign adversaries as a deliberate influence operation aimed at the 2024 election. This moves the discussion from internal dissent to external, state-sponsored cyber warfare.

The Allegation in Detail

• The Adversary: Microsoft’s threat intelligence has identified a prominent foreign actor, specifically linking operations to groups like Iran’s Storm-1516 and Russian disinformation networks.
• The Tactic: These groups create video forgeries and fake journalist accounts to peddle false narratives.
• The Specific Fake Testimony: Storm-1516 was documented creating fake whistleblower testimony that falsely claimed the CIA had instructed a Kyiv troll farm to meddle in the U.S. election.

The Implications for Election Integrity

This foreign influence operation confirms that the concept of a "CIA whistleblower" is now a strategic target for cyber-enabled influence. Adversaries understand that claims of internal corruption or intelligence agency interference hold immense sway and can rapidly erode public confidence. By producing high-quality, fabricated "testimony," these groups aim to inject chaos, deepen political polarization, and ultimately undermine the legitimacy of the entire election process. This is not about a real leak, but about using the *idea* of a leak to manipulate public opinion.

Entities and Topical Authority: Navigating the Information War

The complexity of the "CIA whistleblower 2024 election" topic requires a clear understanding of the entities involved, both real and alleged, to maintain topical authority. The search for truth is complicated by the deliberate blurring of lines between genuine concerns and fabricated content.

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Key Entities in the Narrative:

• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The agency at the center of all allegations, both real (former operative Berntsen) and fake (Zarnowski/Storm-1516).
• National Security Agency (NSA): Dragged into the Zarnowski narrative with the false claim of an "NSA-authorized audit."
• Kamala Harris: The political figure allegedly "proven" to be the winner in the debunked Zarnowski/NSA audit claims.
• Storm-1516 (Iran): A documented foreign threat actor responsible for creating and distributing fake CIA whistleblower testimony to interfere in the election.
• House Republicans: Congressional figures who have sought briefings regarding separate federal whistleblower claims of CIA interference in other investigations, highlighting a broader political focus on the agency.
• Election Integrity: The overarching concern and LSI keyword that all these narratives—whether genuine or false—exploit to capture public attention.

The most important takeaway for any citizen is to scrutinize the source of any "whistleblower" claim. The current information environment demands verification from multiple, independent, and credible sources, particularly when the claims involve explosive allegations of election fraud or intelligence agency misconduct.

The true story of the "CIA whistleblower 2024 election" is not a single leak, but a battleground of disinformation, foreign influence operations, and legitimate concerns over government accountability, all converging to challenge the foundations of the democratic process.