Rumble Gives Legal Chief $1 Million Payout Amid Move to CIA

Rumble Inc., a video sharing platform once backed by Vice President JD Vance, gave its former general counsel Michael Ellis a $1 million payout upon his resignation to become deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

The company disclosed in a Feb. 7 securities filing that Ellis, who was hired by Rumble to be its top lawyer and corporate secretary in late 2021, left on that date to “pursue a position in government.” President Donald Trump announced Feb. 3 that Ellis will serve as No. 2 at the CIA under Director John Ratcliffe. Ellis had reportedly been in line to serve as general counsel for the CIA.

The CIA recently has been roiled by a proposal for staff buyouts that could significantly reduce the size of its workforce, a cause for alarm by at least 200 former national security officials who signed a letter asking Congress to investigate the motive behind the maneuver.

Ellis worked in the first Trump administration as a senior associate counsel in the White House and deputy legal adviser to the National Security Council. He went on to briefly serve as general counsel for the National Security Agency. Ellis subsequently joined Rumble and became a visiting fellow for law and technology at the Heritage Foundation, where he had a role in developing some intelligence guidance for the organization’s Project 2025 policy playbook.

Ellis received a “one-time cash bonus payment” of $1 million, “accelerated vesting” of his stock options, and an extension of other options upon his separation from Rumble, according to the company. Rumble said a compensation committee of its board made the decision to reward Ellis in “recognition of his significant contributions to the company.” Rumble’s most recent proxy statement shows that Ellis earned nearly $1.6 million in total compensation during 2023 and almost $777,900 in 2022.

Ellis also received more than $1.1 million—including a $70,000 signing bonus—to join Rumble more than three years ago, according to securities filings. Rumble didn’t respond to a request for comment about Ellis.

Rumble received financial backing from PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel and Vance, a lawyer and former venture capitalist, prior to going public in 2022 via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company. Rumble is based in Toronto but has its US headquarters in Longboat Key, Florida, not far from the Sarasota home of Truth Social owner Trump Media & Technology Group Corp.

Truth Social, a social media outfit that has a strategic partnership with Rumble, saw its CEO Devin Nunes in a statement earlier this month congratulate Ellis on his appointment to the CIA. Ellis was general counsel to the House Intelligence Committee when it was chaired by Nunes during his time in Congress.

Paul Ney, another legal veteran of the first Trump administration, has also joined Ellis in returning to public service.

Momentus Inc., a space infrastructure company that hired Ney as its legal chief in September 2021, disclosed his resignation in a Jan. 27 securities filing. Ney left Momentus the following day to become a deputy counsel to the president for national security affairs and a legal adviser to the NSC. Momentus paid Ney roughly $490,900 in 2024 and $931,700 in 2023.

Momentus didn’t respond to a comment request.