Infighting erupted among House Republicans Thursday when one lawmaker accused another of “reckless disregard” over vague warnings issued this week of a national security threat, a letter sent to Speaker Mike Johnson shows.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) slammed Intelligence Committee chair Mike Turner (R-OH) over his Valentine’s Day revelation to the public that the U.S. faces an “imminent and perhaps existential threat,” according to the letter revealed by Politico’s Olivia Beavers.
“This revelation by the Chairman was done with a reckless disregard of the implications and consequences said information would have on geopolitics, domestic and foreign markets," Ogles tells Johnson. "Or the well-being and psyche of the American people.”
Ogles suggests the warning — which sources told ABC News pertains to Russia wanting nuclear weapons in space — was a political ploy to secure funding for Ukraine, a demand Turner made publicly and forcibly earlier this week.
“The intent was not to ensure the safety of our homeland and the American people,” writes Ogles. “But rather to ensure additional funding for Ukraine and passage of an unreformed Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.”
Ogles demands Johnson (R-LA) open an inquiry into Turners’ statements and the effect they had on U.S. policy, at home and abroad, and reminds him that chairmanship is a speaker-appointed position.
“The Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence is solely appointed by the Speaker and under your direct purview,” Ogles writes. “Should the Chairman retain his post, you have a duty and an obligation to reassure this body (Congress) and the American people that the processes of the Intelligence Committee have not been corrupted by the very institutions they are charged with monitoring.”
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ABC News’ Thursday report notes the weapons Russia wants would not target Earth but possibly satellites and that the White House' and Congressional leaders are slated to hold a classified meeting Thursday.
At a press conference Wednesday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed surprise at Turner’s comments, especially considering he’d already contacted the four Democratic and four Republicans the White House briefs on classified intelligence, the gang of eight.
“I am a bit surprised that Congressman Turner came out publicly today in advance of a meeting to sit along side him,” Sullivan said. “It is highly unusual, in fact, for the national security adviser to do that.”
