U.S. special envoy for Iran Rob Malley has been placed on unpaid leave amid an investigation into the possible mishandling of classified material, CNN reported on Thursday.
"A US official said that Malley’s clearance was suspended amid a State Department diplomatic security investigation into the possible mishandling of classified information. Another source familiar with the matter said he was placed on unpaid leave on Thursday afternoon," reported Kylie Atwood, Alex Marquardt, Jeremy Herb, and Zachary Cohen. "'I have been informed that my security clearance is under review. I have not been provided any further information, but I expect the investigation to be resolved favorably and soon. In the meantime, I am on leave,' Malley told CNN."
"For a period of time following the State Department investigation, Malley remained on the job but was not allowed to access classified information, said the US official, who requested anonymity while discussing a sensitive matter," the report continued.
The exact details of how classified material might have been mishandled is not being shared.
In his role as special envoy, Malley was navigating a number of difficult geopolitical issues, including trying to broker the release of Americans wrongfully detained in Iran.
All of this comes as former President Donald Trump faces criminal charges for stashing boxes full of highly classified national defense information at his Mar-a-Lago country club, allegedly ordering aides like bodyguard Walt Nauta to move the boxes around between multiple unsecured rooms to hide them from federal investigators and even from Trump's own attorneys warned him of indictment.
