By Mary Rooke, Daily Caller News Foundation | January 16, 2025
In probably one of the most critical moves since being re-elected as House Speaker, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson removed Ohio Rep. Mike Turner as the chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI or House Intelligence Committee).
The HPSCI oversees our intelligence community (IC), including portions of the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, State, Treasury, and Energy. As chair, Turner was a member of the “Gang of Eight” congressional leaders who received some of the most sensitive, classified briefings from the intelligence community. It’s an extremely powerful position going into the new Trump administration, which has promised to reform America’s intel community. The chair of the House Intelligence Committee could make or break Trump’s agenda.
Recently, Congressional Republicans have reportedly been critical of Turner, accusing him of “neglecting [his] constitutionally mandated oversight duties and instead covered for the IC” and alleging he boasted about “taking over Trump’s IC,” Tablet Magazine reported.
“The sources say that they have impeded efforts to investigate anything that might have embarrassed Biden administration intelligence officials,” the outlet reported. “Perhaps most oddly, Turner and Howard spooked the country with a vague warning of a security threat to prevent consideration of reforms to 702, the authority for the warrantless bulk data collection of American communications. When 702 was up for reauthorization in spring 2024, House Speaker Mike Johnson wanted to give the Judiciary Committee the opportunity to make amendments protecting U.S. privacy rights. But Turner moved to block the bill from coming to the floor with an amendment process.”
Russia’s possession of a space-based weapon was the “security threat” used to protect warrantless spying on Americans. Turner claims that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was used to collect the information that led to the discovery of the Russian weapon. Several Democrats admitted after being briefed about the weapon that America was not in immediate danger despite Turner sounding the alarm.
Republicans have widely attacked Section 702 of the FISA as an abuse of power by the federal government. President-elect Donald Trump and millions of Americans have been victims of the federal government using warrantless tapping. It caused Trump’s first impeachment and gave former President Barack Obama the ability to spy on Trump while he was running for president against Hillary Clinton.
Johnson told reporters that the move to oust Turner was “not a President Trump decision” but a “House decision,” adding that he’s a “Mike Turner fan” but that the House “just need fresh horses in some of these places.” Johnson has reportedly tapped Arkansas Rep. Rick Crawford to be the new chair.
If the new Trump administration is going to be successful at reforming the intel community, it needs someone in the chair position who won’t cover for agencies willing to abuse their power. One of the greatest obstacles to Trump’s first term was the “Deep State’s” ability to circumvent his agenda. Trump needs a valiant defender; anything less is unacceptable.
Mary Rooke is a commentary and analysis writer at the Daily Caller News Foundation
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