DAYTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) removed Mike Turner (OH-10) from his position as House Intelligence Committee chairman on Wednesday, according to CBS News.
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Turner confirmed to a CBS News correspondent that Johnson fired him from the position citing “concerns from Mar-a-Lago.”
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Johnson said he decided to remove Turner because the “intelligence community and everything related to (the committee) needs a fresh start.”
The House Intelligence Committee oversees the nation’s intelligence agencies and holds tremendous influence over law enforcement and foreign policy, according to the AP.
Turner was appointed chairman of the House Intelligence Committee in January 2023 after serving on the committee since 2015. He was elected to Congress in 2002.
The Congressman released the following statement on his removal.
“I’m very proud to have served on the House Intelligence Committee and as its chairman. There are great members on the Committee, and I’m honored to have served with them.
“Under my leadership, we restored the integrity of the Committee and returned its mission to its core focus of national security. The threat from our adversaries is real and requires serious deliberations.
“As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have been and will continue to be a strong advocate for the military and our national defense. My work to expand missions and capabilities at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base continues. Furthermore, I look forward to welcoming the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to Dayton in the coming months.”
— Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10)
When approached by reporters on Wednesday, Johnson said “This is not a President Trump decision, this is a House decision.”
Johnson said he has nothing negative to say about Turner’s time as chairman.
“He’s done a great job in a difficult time under difficult circumstances,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he will announce the new chair for the committee on Thursday, according to CBS News.
The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Jim Himes, in a statement called Turner “a serious, security focused lawmaker dedicated at his core to the national security of the United States and to the thoughtful oversight of the Intelligence Community.”
Himes added, “The removal of Chairman Turner makes our nation less secure and is a terrible portent for what’s to come.”
We will continue to follow this story.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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