Speaker Johnson removes Rep. Turner as Home Intelligence chairman
Washington — Republican Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio was faraway from his place atop the highly effective Home Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, telling CBS Information that Home Speaker Mike Johnson fired him, citing “issues from Mar-a-Lago.” Turner additionally confirmed Friday night time that he had been faraway from the committee solely.
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, denied that the choice got here from President-elect Donald Trump.
“This can be a Home choice,” he mentioned, “That is no slight no matter to our outgoing chairman.”
Johnson mentioned he was “a Mike Turner fan” and “he did a terrific job” main the committee that oversees the intelligence group, however added that the panel “wants a recent begin.”
“That is what that is about, nothing else,” he mentioned.
Johnson mentioned he would announce Turner’s substitute Thursday.
Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the highest Democrat on the committee, mentioned the choice “sends a shiver down my backbone.” He praised Turner’s management, saying he was assured in his skills to conduct unbiased oversight of the intelligence businesses.
“He was not fast to bend the knee,” he mentioned, calling Turner’s removing “an enormous blow to our capacity to do oversight.”
Turner didn’t handle his removing in a press release issued by his workplace.
“I am very proud to have served on the Home Intelligence Committee and as its chairman. There are nice members on the Committee, and I am honored to have served with them,” he mentioned. “Underneath my management, we restored the integrity of the Committee and returned its mission to its core focus of nationwide safety. The risk from our adversaries is actual and requires critical deliberations.”
Turner had beforehand acquired criticism from members of the conservative Home Freedom Caucus over his protection of Part 702 of the Overseas Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. Part 702 is a key however controversial nationwide safety surveillance software in impact since 2008 that was prolonged by Congress and signed into legislation final April by President Biden for an additional two years.
Turner additionally had been an advocate for U.S. assist of Ukraine in its battle with Russia, placing him at odds with the ascendant MAGA wing of his get together.
Final yr, Johnson named two Trump loyalists to the committee, Rep. Scott Perry of California and Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas. On the time, Perry was beneath FBI investigation.
