The 'threat is grave': House Intel chairman sparks panic with cryptic warning about a 'serious national security threat'
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) is warning Americans about a "serious national security threat."
In a cryptic statement on Wednesday, Turner said he shared sensitive intelligence about the threat with all members of Congress and called on President Joe Biden to declassify information about the threat.
The statement said:
Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has made available to all Members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat. I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat.
Turner did not provide any further details.
But it is important to note that, according to Turner, the House Intelligence Committee agreed in bipartisan fashion to notify Congress of the threat.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed the existence of the threat, telling reporters he plans to brief the Gang of Eight on Thursday. He declined, however, to elaborate on the nature of the threat.
"I reached out earlier this week to the Gang of Eight to offer myself for up for a personal briefing to the Gang of Eight, and in fact, we scheduled a briefing for the four House members of the Gang of Eight tomorrow. That's been on the books," he said. "So I am a bit surprised that Congressman Turner came out publicly today in advance of a meeting on the books for me to go sit with him alongside our intelligence and defense professionals tomorrow.
"I'm not in a position to say anything further from this podium at this time," Sullivan added.
Sullivan, moreover, declined to reassure the American people they are not at risk, telling reporters, "That question is impossible to answer with a straight 'yes.'"
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The letter that Turner sent members of Congress said the urgent threat is about "a destabilizing foreign military capability," CNN reported.
Meanwhile, sources who have seen the intelligence told CNN that the threat "is, in fact, a highly concerning and destabilizing" Russian capability the U.S. only recently learned about.
Fox News corroborated CNN's reporting about a Russian capability, saying that the "the potential seriousness of the threat is grave" — though not immediately urgent.
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the ranking member of the House Intel Committee, said people "should not panic," but praised Turner, saying he "is right to highlight this issue," which Himes described as "so sensitive."
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CBS anchor ends interview when GOP lawmaker gives perfect reason Biden should face 'consequences' for classified docs scandal
CBS News anchor Margaret Brennan ended an interview with Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) on Sunday when he explained why President Joe Biden should face consequences for retaining classified documents.
Several news outlets reported last week that special counsel Robert Hur, appointed to investigate Biden's retention of classified documents at his post-vice presidential office in Washington and his personal residence in Delaware, will conclude his investigation giving the president nothing more than a public scolding for violating laws prohibiting the improper retention of classified documents.
On "Face the Nation," Brennan asked what signal not charging Biden sends to the "national security world." Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, made clear it's not a good one.
"This will be certainly devastating, continuing to be devastating, for the Department of Justice and to the Biden administration with their two-tier system of justice," he said.
"Biden has been found to be a serial classified document hoarder. Over a 10-year period, he's been taking classified documents — some of the most sensitive that threaten our national security — home without any protection, and certainly able for others to be able to access them," Turner explained.
If Biden is let off scot-free, Turner said it will be clear that leaders of only one party face consequences for improper retention and storage of classified information.
"There needs to be consequences," he said. "The fact that Hillary Clinton, who had over 100 classified documents at home when she was secretary of state, and Vice President Biden, both under Obama at the same time, were taking classified documents home and certainly had them be vulnerable, with no consequences, shows the Department of Justice is not pursuing Democrats."
It was at that point that Brennan attempted to defend Biden, suggesting that Donald Trump did worse and therefore the double standard is justified.
"As you know, there is a difference with the case against President Trump, who refused to hand over documents fully and violated the Espionage Act — that's the charge against him — because he didn't work with the government to hand those over," the anchor said.
But Turner made it clear that Trump's alleged wrongdoing does not absolve Biden's.
"As you know, Margaret, Biden had these documents for over 10 years," Turner snapped back.
"You can't hoard documents in your home for a decade-long period, concealing them, taking them home as a senator, vice president, and then suddenly say, 'Hey, two weeks while I was president, I cooperated and, therefore, it doesn't count that I spent 10 years as a serial classified document hoarder,'" he added.
And with that, Brennan ended the interview.
Rep. Mike Turner (OH-10) | CBS Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan www.youtube.com
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