A cryptic warning about a “serious national security threat” from the chair of the House Intelligence Committee raised alarms and set off a wave of speculation.
Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) revealed that he asked President Joe Biden to declassify any information related to the mysterious threat in a statement on Wednesday, adding that “all members of Congress” had also been briefed on the “intelligence.”
“Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has made available to all Members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat,” Turner said in a statement.
“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,” the GOP chairman added.
NBC News cited an unnamed Democratic source who said, “This is a serious issue that could lead to a destabilizing situation and a national security threat.”
Democratic source familiar w/threat tells @NBCNews: “This is a serious issue that could lead to a destabilizing situation and a national security threat.”
Described it as a “potential foreign threat” but would not say where the threat is coming from. https://t.co/CcMEdhcstT
— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) February 14, 2024
Other sources reportedly told CNN the “national security threat is a ‘highly concerning and destabilizing’ Russian capability,” according to a post on X.
“White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Wednesday at the White House press briefing that earlier in the week, he reached out to the Gang of Eight to offer himself for a personal briefing on the matter. That briefing will take place Thursday,” Fox News reported.
White House just said that Russia is posing a threat to our national security but won’t say what the threat is.
Anything to take attention away from the real national security threat we can see daily crossing our southern border.pic.twitter.com/o8Y1TVtZxz
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) February 14, 2024
Sullivan added:
“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. That’s his choice to do that.”
“All I can tell you is that I’m focused on going to see him, sit with him, as well as the other House members of the Gang of Eight tomorrow, and I’m not in a position to say anything further from this podium at this time, other than to make the broad point that this administration has gone further, and in more creative, more strategic ways, dealt with the declassification of intelligence in the national interest of the United States than any administration in history.”
ADVERTISEMENT“You definitely are not going to find an unwillingness to do that when it’s in our national security interest to do so.”
NBC News reporter Peter Alexander asked Sullivan at the press briefing, “Can you tell Americans that there’s nothing they have to worry about right now in terms of what he describes as a national security threat?”
“That question is impossible to answer with a straight yes,” Sullivan replied.
.@PeterAlexander asks about Rep. Turner’s statement: “Can you tell Americans that there’s nothing they have to worry about right now in terms of what he describes as a national security threat?”@JakeSullivan46: “That question is impossible to answer with a straight yes.” pic.twitter.com/qYUJfG8urs
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 14, 2024
Rep. Jim Himes, (D-Conn.), reportedly said “people should not panic,” according to The Hill’s Mychael Schnell.
“It’s something that the Congress and the administration does need to address in the medium to long run,” he added.
Former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell found the whole timing of the announcement “very suspect.”
“A Chairman can privately call the DNI or the President and push for a public statement – or a warning – you don’t need this general public statement that raises more questions than it answers,” he wrote on X.
The timing of this generic public announcement is very suspect.
A Chairman can privately call the DNI or the President and push for a public statement – or a warning – you don’t need this general public statement that raises more questions than it answers. @ODNIgov https://t.co/qXQIfrC56d
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) February 14, 2024
Others also voiced reactions on the social media platform.
It must be a complete coincidence that we suddenly discovered an urgent “national security threat” from Russia just as the $61,000,000,000 to Ukraine stalls
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 14, 2024
They’re faking a national security threat from Russia to pass the Ukrainian aid package.
There is no lie that they won’t tell.
Don’t pass the aid package.
— Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) February 14, 2024
I don’t have any idea if this “national security threat” is real.
What I do know is the people telling me it’s real have lied about everything for as long as I can remember.
So count me as skeptical until I see otherwise.
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) February 14, 2024
Wow, what crazy timing. Just as the House Speaker is stalling a bipartisan neocon bill to funnel another $61 billion into the Ukraine proxy war. If he doesn’t obey, he’ll be accused even more of failing to confront the “serious national security threat” from Russia. https://t.co/tcQ5rmp5o6
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) February 14, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.