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Politics


SPEAKER JOHNSON URGED TO PROBE INTEL CHAIR’S ‘RECKLESS’ LEAK OF NATIONAL
SECURITY THREAT AFTER RUSSIA REVELATIONS

By Josh Christenson

Published Feb. 15, 2024, 4:11 p.m. ET

House Freedom Caucus member Andy Ogles asked Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday to
probe Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner’s decision to reveal a
“serious national security threat” to the American public that could involve
Russian space nukes.

Ogles (R-Tenn.) wrote a letter to Johnson (R-La.) demanding a formal inquiry of
the disclosure and accusing Turner (R-Ohio) of doing so with “a reckless
disregard of the implications and consequences said information would have on
geopolitics, domestic and foreign markets, or the well-being and psyche of the
American people.”

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The “urgent” threat, as one Hill source described it to The Post, concerned
Russian plans to deploy nuclear weapons into space to shoot down Western
satellites, current and former US intelligence officials later told media
outlets.

The potential attacks would threaten communications, as well as scientific and
military tools, but were not designed to drop bombs onto the Earth’s surface,
according to ABC, the New York Times and the Washington Post.

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Ogles claimed that Turner surfaced the classified material to ram through an
additional $60 billion of Ukraine funding amid the nation’s war with Russia and
reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) without reforms
sought by data privacy hawks.


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LIFE


PUTIN’S PLANS FOR SPACE NUKES SHOULD WAKE UP THE LEFT AND RIGHT

5
Rep. Andy Ogles asked Speaker Mike Johnson to probe Intelligence Committee
Chairman Mike Turner’s decision to reveal a “serious national security threat”
to the American public that could involve Russian space nukes. Michael
Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock

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“This act constituted poor judgment at a minimum and a complete breach of trust
influenced by the pursuit of a political agenda at maximum,” he said.

“It is with great reticence that I formally request an inquiry as to any impact
the Chairman’s statement may have had on US foreign and domestic policy.”

He implied that the conclusions of the inquiry could result in Turner’s ouster
as chairman — and called on Johnson to “reassure” Congress and the nation that
the Intelligence Committee has not been “corrupted” by executive branch agencies
it oversees.

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5
Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that he had also written to the White House
last month about the issue — and scheduled a briefing by national security
adviser Jake Sullivan with the Gang of Eight for Thursday. AP

In a Thursday statement, Turner fired back that his committee “worked in
consultation with the Biden Administration to notify Congress of this national
security threat” — confirming a degree of executive branch coordination.

“In addition, language in the bipartisan notification issued by the Chair and
Ranking Member to all Members of the House was cleared by the Administration
prior to its release,” Turner said.

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“The House Intelligence Committee voted 23 to 1 to make this information
available to Members of Congress. White House officials confirmed that, in their
view, the matter was ‘serious.’”

5
In a Thursday statement, Turner fired back that his committee “worked in
consultation with the Biden Administration to notify Congress of this national
security threat” — confirming a degree of executive branch coordination. REUTERS

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Thursday dismissed
talk of the leak as an intentional effort to pressure House Republicans into
giving Ukraine more funding, calling the speculation “bollocks.”

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Ogles later told Politico that he “chose not to look at the classified
information” in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) at the US
Capitol — but stressed that “doesn’t mean I don’t know what’s in it.”


THE LATEST ON RUSSIA'S INTEREST IN PUTTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN SPACE:

 * Russia is reportedly interested in putting nuclear weapons in space to take
   out Western satellites, according to US intelligence.
 * The reports came after House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner
   announced that Congress was made aware of a “serious national security
   threat” and demanded that President Biden declassify all information related
   to the threat.
 * It is not yet clear if Russia has space-based nuclear capability, but the
   Washington Post has reported that the country has already “experimented with
   the use of nuclear explosions or directed energy to disable satellites.”
 * The US and Russia agreed to the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which prohibits
   them from “placing in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear
   weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction.”
 * The Pentagon confirmed that six US satellites, including ones with advanced
   missile tracking technology, were launched into orbit on Wednesday.

Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that he had also written to the White House
last month about the issue — and scheduled a briefing by national security
adviser Jake Sullivan with the Gang of Eight for Thursday.

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He added that there was “no need for public alarm” but couldn’t discuss matters
further.

5
It remains unclear whether Russia would need nuclear weapons orbiting in space
to obliterate enemy satellites or whether the Kremlin has even developed the
capability to do so yet. Dm – stock.adobe.com

Sullivan expressed frustration with Turner during a Wednesday White House press
briefing for having disclosed the information but told reporters the
administration was “protecting the national security of the United States.”

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It remains unclear whether Russia would need nuclear weapons orbiting in space
to obliterate enemy satellites or whether the Kremlin has even developed the
capability to do so yet.

Johnson has thus far declined to bring a $95 billion national security
supplemental passed Monday by the Senate to the House floor, as he faces
pressure from conservative members from his caucus to block Ukraine aid.

5
A Russian tactical missile system outside Moscow in 2015. REUTERS

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) drew a direct comparison between
the leaked threat and Ukraine’s conflict in a Wednesday statement, saying the
“most urgent national security threat facing the American people right now is
the possibility that Congress abandons Ukraine and allows Vladimir Putin’s
Russia to win.”

Freedom Caucus members had also been lobbying this week for a bill to reform
FISA and end warrantless surveillance of US citizens by the FBI, among other
provisions, but it was pulled abruptly from a scheduled floor vote following
Wednesday’s events.

What do you think? Post a comment.

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House Intelligence Committee ranking member Jim Himes (D-Conn.) told CNN
Wednesday he had disagreed with Turner’s decision to disclose the national
security threat publicly, saying it was “significant” but “not a cause for
panic.”

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), another Freedom Caucus member, sided with Himes,
noting the release’s “bizarre timing considering we are trying to end
warrantless government surveillance this week.”


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Filed under intelligence ,  national security ,  nuclear weapons ,  russia , 
ukraine war ,  us house of representatives ,  2/15/24
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