WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican leader of the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday urged the Biden administration to declassify information about what he called a serious threat to national security.
Watch the briefing in the player above.
Rep. Mike Turner offered no details on the nature of the threat, and the Biden administration also declined to address it. But several top lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have cautioned against excessive concern.
Johnson said he was not at liberty to release the classified information. “But we just want to make sure everyone has a steady hand behind the wheel. We are working on it and there is no cause for alarm,” he told reporters at the Capitol.
Turner sent an email to members of Congress on Wednesday saying his committee had “identified an urgent matter regarding a destabilizing foreign military capability” which should be known to all policymakers in Congress. He encouraged them to go to a SCIF, a secure area, to review the intelligence.
Democratic Rep. Jim Himes, ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that classified information is “important” but “is not a cause for panic.”
In the Senate, the Intelligence Committee said it was following the matter closely.
“We continue to take this matter seriously and are discussing an appropriate response with the administration,” Senator Mark Warner, Democratic committee chairman, and Senator Marco Rubio, Republican vice chairman, said in a statement. “In the meantime, we must be cautious about potentially disclosing sources and methods that could be critical to preserving a range of options for U.S. action.” »
Turner’s warning comes at a time of prolonged debate in Congress over President Joe Biden’s request for $95 billion in foreign aid, including money for Ukraine’s defense against Russia, to Israel in its war against Hamas and for the counterattack by Taiwan and its Indo-Pacific partners. China.
A House Republican faction aligned with former President Donald Trump is among those who have opposed the aid, rejecting the administration’s argument that pushing back Russian forces in Ukraine is an urgent concern in national security for the United States.
Turner’s announcement appeared to catch the Biden administration off guard.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House that he was already expected to brief Turner and other senior congressional leaders on Thursday. Sullivan did not disclose the subject or provide any other details related to Turner’s statement.
“I’m focused on going to see him, sitting down with him and the other members of the House of the Gang of Eight tomorrow,” Sullivan said. “And I’m not in a position to say anything further from this podium at this time.”
He acknowledged that it was not standard practice to offer such a briefing.
“I will just say that I personally contacted the Gang of Eight. It’s actually very unusual for a national security adviser to do that,” Sullivan said. He said he reached out earlier this week.
Johnson said he sent a letter last month to the White House requesting a meeting with the president to discuss “the serious national security matter that is classified.” He said Sullivan’s meeting was a response to his request.
Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Kevin Freking contributed.
