House Intelligence chair, Mike Turner, is currently under scrutiny for his recent public warning regarding a national security threat. It was later confirmed that the threat pertained to Russia’s nuclear capabilities in space.
Turner caused a stir on Capitol Hill on Wednesday with a mysterious message regarding a “serious” threat. He urged the White House to declassify any information pertaining to it.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, has urged Speaker Mike Johnson to initiate an official investigation into Turner’s statement. Ogles characterized the statement as “reckless” and accused Turner of attempting to garner support for two legislative priorities: providing additional aid to Ukraine and renewing a contentious surveillance power.
Lawmakers and intelligence officials in the Biden administration, from both the Democratic and Republican parties, were taken aback by Turner’s unexpected remarks. Many of them expressed anger over his public and ambiguous warning, as it has the potential to cause concern among the general public.
John Kirby, the top national security spokesperson for President Joe Biden, confirmed on Thursday that Russia is developing an antisatellite capability. However, he emphasized that it has not been deployed as an active capability.
According to Kirby, the focus of discussion is not on a weapon that can be utilized to harm individuals or cause physical damage on Earth.
Turner’s cryptic public statement has left many wondering about his motives. Some speculate that he may be emphasizing the need for Congress to pass additional aid for Ukraine or to reauthorize the surveillance tool. However, the vague nature of the statement has also caused confusion among lawmakers and policymakers. They are unsure about the immediate threat posed by Russia’s efforts to develop new space capabilities and whether the U.S. has the ability to defend against any potential offensive devices launched by Moscow.
Turner defended his warning, stating that his committee had collaborated with the Biden Administration to inform Congress about this national security threat.
According to a statement, the Administration had cleared the language in the bipartisan notification issued by the chair and ranking member to all members of the House before its release. The House Intelligence Committee voted 23 to 1 in favor of making this information accessible to members of Congress. White House officials also acknowledged the seriousness of the matter.
It is quite uncommon for the head of a congressional intelligence committee to make such a public statement.
According to Kirby, the intelligence community has expressed significant concerns regarding the extensive declassification of this intelligence.
The administration did not give a green light for this information to be made public yesterday. It is false to assume that they did. The plan was always to eventually share this information with the American people, and that is still going to happen.
During a White House briefing on Wednesday, Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, expressed his surprise at Turner’s statement, but acknowledged that it was his decision to make.
According to anonymous sources familiar with classified information, recent intelligence shared with Congress reveals that Russia is making progress in the development of an antisatellite weapon that incorporates nuclear technology. This weapon could potentially be used in space to destroy American satellites, including those utilized by the military. However, it is important to note that Moscow still has a considerable way to go before completing this project.
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) expressed his disapproval of Turner’s decision, describing it as a “very risky move.”
According to a senior intelligence official, Turner’s actions may have been an attempt to raise awareness regarding the significance of passing legislation on Section 702, a foreign surveillance power that is currently up for reauthorization. This official also indicated that some of the information was obtained through the use of Section 702.
Section 702 has received criticism due to its inclusion of data from American citizens. Turner is against the proposed changes that would add more legal obstacles to the use of this authority, citing concerns that it would impede essential national security efforts.
Turner’s intention in this move, according to other staff and lawmakers on Capitol Hill, was to emphasize the importance of Congress passing the foreign aid supplemental bill. The bill allocates $60 billion to Ukraine for its ongoing conflict with Russia.
According to one insider, several lawmakers are expressing their frustration with the way the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, handled the disclosure. Representative Jim Himes (D-Conn), who serves as the committee’s top Democrat, had been informed beforehand about Turner’s plan to release the statement and had advised against it, as per a congressional aide.
Sullivan had a briefing with the House Intelligence Committee before Turner made his statement. Despite this, he is still planning to attend the briefing on Thursday afternoon.