Washington — Republican Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio was faraway from his place atop the highly effective House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, telling CBS News that House Speaker Mike Johnson fired him, citing “considerations from Mar-a-Lago.” Turner additionally confirmed Friday evening that he had been faraway from the committee fully.
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, denied that the choice got here from President-elect Donald Trump.
“This is a House resolution,” he stated, “This isn’t any slight no matter to our outgoing chairman.”
Johnson stated he was “a Mike Turner fan” and “he did an excellent job” main the committee that oversees the intelligence group, however added that the panel “wants a recent begin.”
“That’s what that is about, nothing else,” he stated.
Johnson stated he would announce Turner’s alternative Thursday.
Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the highest Democrat on the committee, stated the choice “sends a shiver down my backbone.” He praised Turner’s management, saying he was assured in his talents to conduct unbiased oversight of the intelligence businesses.
“He was not fast to bend the knee,” he stated, calling Turner’s elimination “an enormous blow to our capacity to do oversight.”
Turner didn’t handle his elimination in a press release issued by his workplace.
“I’m very proud to have served on the House Intelligence Committee and as its chairman. There are nice members on the Committee, and I’m honored to have served with them,” he stated. “Under my management, we restored the integrity of the Committee and returned its mission to its core focus of nationwide safety. The menace from our adversaries is actual and requires severe deliberations.”
Turner had beforehand obtained criticism from members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus over his protection of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. Section 702 is a key however controversial nationwide safety surveillance tool in impact since 2008 that was prolonged by Congress and signed into regulation final April by President Biden for one more two years.
Turner additionally had been an advocate for U.S. assist of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, placing him at odds with the ascendant MAGA wing of his celebration.
Last yr, Johnson named two Trump loyalists to the committee, Rep. Scott Perry of California and Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas. At the time, Perry was under FBI investigation.
