Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, requesting an investigation and possible removal of House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) from his committee, after Turner sent a letter to colleagues raising concerns about “an urgent matter regarding a destabilizing foreign military capability that should be known to all congressional policymakers.”
Ogles believes this was an attempt to create unfounded concerns in pursuit of a “political agenda” to prevent the passage of FISA reform legislation.
The Hill reported Wednesday,
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said there was “no need for public alarm” after the House Intelligence Committee chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) invited President Biden will declassify information about a “serious national security threat.”
“I saw President Turner’s statement on this issue, and I want to assure the American people that there is no need to alarm the public,” Johnson told reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday. “We will work together to address this matter, as we do with all sensitive matters that are classified.”
“We just want to assure everyone: steady hands are on the wheel, we are working on it and there is no need to be alarmed,” he added.
The president would not reveal details of the threat, saying he is “not at liberty to reveal classified information and really can’t say much more.”
As The Gateway Pundit reported in December, Rep. Andy Biggs’ (R-AZ) Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act (PLEWSA), a bipartisan bill aimed at revising Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), it was approved by the House Judiciary Committee in December. The House Intelligence Committee has advanced a competing bill to reauthorize FISA and the power of intelligence agencies to spy on the American people. In a controversial move by the President, both bills were withdrawn last year, which passed the extension of FISA 702 and warrantless surveillance of Americans through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) until ‘April 2024.
With the FBI’s involvement in spying on President Trump as a candidate and president of the United States since 2015, it is clear that intelligence agencies cannot be trusted. Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) told The Gateway Pundit after Biggs’ FISA reform vote was canceled that he has no doubt that intelligence agencies led by Joe Biden would spy on Trump again “in a heartbeat.” ‘eye”.
“In hindsight, it became clear that the intent was not to ensure the security of our homeland and the American people, but rather to secure additional funding for Ukraine and the passage of a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA ) unreformed,” Ogles said in his letter to Mike Johnson, while criticizing Mike Turner for his “reckless disregard of the implications and consequences such information would have on geopolitics, domestic and foreign markets, or welfare and psyche of the American people.”
“This act constituted at a minimum poor judgment and at a maximum a complete breach of trust influenced by the pursuit of a political agenda.”
Ogles also called for an investigation into “whatever impact the President’s statements may have had on the foreign and domestic policy of the United States,” adding, “should the President remain in office, you have the duty and obligation to reassure this body (Congress) and the American administration.” people who the Intelligence Committee processes have not been corrupted by the very institutions they are charged with monitoring.”
News: Andy Ogles calls for investigation into House Speaker Intel Turner’s decision to warn of ‘serious’ Natsec threat
In a letter to President Johnson, Ogles said it “constituted poor judgment at a minimum and a complete breach of trust influenced by the pursuit of a political agenda at a maximum.” pic.twitter.com/EkckbU82lQ
— Liz Elkind (@liz_elkind) February 15, 2024
Read the full letter below:
On February 14, 2024, at approximately 11:35 am, the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence disclosed to the American people an imminent and perhaps existential threat to the United States of America.
This disclosure by the President was made with reckless disregard of the implications and consequences such information would have on geopolitics, domestic and foreign markets, or the well-being and psyche of the American people. In hindsight, it became clear that the intent was not to ensure the security of our homeland and the American people, but rather to secure additional funding for Ukraine and the passage of an unreformed US surveillance law foreign intelligence (FISA). This act represented at a minimum poor judgment and at a maximum a complete breach of trust influenced by the pursuit of a political agenda.
Mr. President, it is with great reticence that I formally request an investigation into, if any, any impact the President’s statements may have had on the foreign and domestic policies of the United States. Furthermore, since the Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence is appointed exclusively by the President and under your direct purview, should the President retain his office, you have the duty and obligation to reassure this body (Congress) and the American people that the Intelligence Committee’s processes have not been corrupted by the very institutions they are charged with monitoring.
Congress has a constitutional obligation to exercise oversight, established by our nation’s Founders. Now is the time to act.
