A member of the intelligence community described the aide as a "giant walking counterintelligence red flag" given the potential for foreign leverage. Milstein is the stepson of Fox News host Mark Levin, and sources say the two are often provided talking points by Israeli officials. It is unclear if any money changed hands between the initial invitation and the removal of the payment codes.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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US Ambassador Aide With Top Secret Clearance Solicited Israeli Cash Gifts Before Retraction
Geopolitics29 days ago
David Milstein, a senior adviser to the U.S. ambassador to Israel, requested monetary wedding presents in U.S. dollars or Israeli shekels from a guest list that included Israeli citizens. The Sept. 16 solicitation was sent via a Paperless Post invitation featuring a QR code. Milstein holds a top-secret security clearance and serves under Ambassador Mike Huckabee. He issued a revised note on Saturday stating he cannot accept gifts of any kind after Politico questioned whether the State Department and White House had approved the request.
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