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Congressman Mike Turner speaks during a House Republican press conference on December 14, 2022.
Washington
CNN
—
The committee announced Wednesday that House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner has made information about “grave national security threats” available for consideration by all members.
Two sources and a U.S. official told CNN the threat was linked to Russia, although Turner and the White House remained vague about what it meant. Sources familiar with the information characterized the information as “very sensitive.”
One of the sources who has seen the information admitted: “In fact, what we have recently realized is a very worrying and unstable 'Russian capability.'
but, Ambiguous statement posted on X While the announcement by the House Intelligence Committee and the lack of immediate additional information caused initial concerns, other leaders in Congress sought to allay public concerns. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday afternoon there was no cause for alarm.
“We just want to make sure everyone has their hands on the wheel,” Johnson said. “We are working on it and there is no need to worry.”
Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House committee, said the information was not “a cause for panic.”
“Whether this issue can be further declassified is a worthy discussion, but not one that should be held in public,” Himes said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Senate officials on the committee said they have been “following this issue closely from the beginning.”
A statement from Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio said, “In the meantime, we will continue to disclose information sources and methods that may be key to maintaining a wide range of options for U.S. action.'' “We have to be cautious about the possibilities.”
The White House also expressed some displeasure with Turner, who issued the warning ahead of a national security official's meeting with key lawmakers scheduled for Thursday. “I was a little surprised that Mr. Turner came out publicly today,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said at a press conference Wednesday, looking ahead to Thursday's meeting schedule.
“I contacted Turner to meet him,” Sullivan said. “Turner has appeared in public. I'm going to see Turner tomorrow. I'd like to leave it there for today.”
Sullivan did not elaborate on the nature of the threat. “I am not in a position to say anything further from this podium at this time,” he said.
Wednesday's warning was vague, but as the war in Ukraine continues and the United States faces challenges to Russia's military capabilities and prospects for additional aid to Kiev, it is clear that Russia's long-standing destabilizing influence in Europe and around the world is on the rise. I've been concerned.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr. Turner wrote to his colleagues saying the urgent issue “concerns destabilizing foreign military capabilities.”
In a letter to his colleagues, Turner said the House Intelligence Committee voted on Feb. 13 to release certain information that members can review, and that members had between Wednesday and Friday to do so. He said he would be given time to view it.
Turner also called on President Joe Biden to declassify “all information related to this threat.”
Sullivan emphasized that the Biden administration has “worked more creatively and strategically than any administration in history to declassify information that serves our national interests.”
“So if it's in the national security interest, there's absolutely no reason we wouldn't want to do that,” he said.
CNN's Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.
This story has been updated with additional information.
