Shortly before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Ohio Republican Rep. Mike Turner was unceremoniously fired as chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), and President Trump replaced him with Mike Johnson as chairman. There were reports that he had ordered him to take command. But people close to the decision-making process explained to the Daily Caller the real reason Mr. Johnson chose Mr. Turner.
In early January, Tablet Magazine published the following article: piece Turner reportedly boasted that he would “take over Trump’s IC.” [Intelligence Community]” and tried to get his chief of staff, Adam Howard, hired as senior director of intelligence at the National Security Council. “This is how it’s supposed to happen,” Howard said, the Tablet reported. [Turner’s] It is located in the “instrument” position. Both Mr. Turner and National Security Adviser Mike Walz disputed the idea that Mr. Turner influenced NSC staffing decisions.
“No one is making personnel decisions other than President Trump and the transition team. So that’s it,” Walz told The Caller in an exclusive interview. (Related: Exclusive: ‘Highly Distrustful’: Upcoming Trump NSA Dispute Report Says Neocons Influence MAGA Staffing)
Regardless of its authenticity, people familiar with Turner’s firing told the Caller that the report remains one of a number of factors that influenced Turner’s removal from the top post on the Intelligence Committee. He said there is. However, these people explained that even if the tablet coverage had not fallen, Turner would likely still have been banned.
Mr Johnson’s re-election as speaker of the new parliament gave him the opportunity to elect the chairs of some committees, including the HPSCI, without input from the steering committee. One of the biggest factors in Turner’s firing, Kohler officials explained, was that a majority of the Republican conference believed that Turner was “in collusion with the intelligence community.” Mr. Turner is believed to be more aligned with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and although Mr. Johnson and Mr. Turner had a good personal relationship, Mr. Johnson wanted a change.
“Timing is timing. It’s a new Congress and the speaker has to make appointments to select committees,” the person said, adding, “Mr. Turner was a McCarthyite.”
People familiar with the decision also insisted that Trump had not called for Turner’s firing, as was widely reported at the time. NBC News explained He said Trump’s alleged involvement was “disturbing” and an “unprecedented power dynamic in modern times,” implying that Trump effectively controls Congress through Johnson. But while Mr. Trump and Mr. Johnson discussed Mr. Turner, Mr. Johnson always made the decision about Mr. Turner’s future at HPSCI, the people said.
“The decision was based on a variety of factors, not one specific factor,” another close source told the Caller. Reports on tablets will likely be among those various factors. ”
Congressman Michael Turner (R-Ohio) speaks during a press conference on fiscal year 2023 at the U.S. Capitol on December 14, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, one House Republican, who was granted anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic, said, “I feel like we have a better chance of getting something done on FISA this year without Turner.”
Turner caused a stir last year when Republicans debated whether to add a warrant requirement when updating Section 702 of FISA, which has been used to spy on Americans in the past, including on the Trump campaign. spread out.
During the exchange over the warrant amendment, Turner vaguely warned of an impending “national security threat.” The announcement was reportedly not made in advance by Johnson, and some colleagues accused Turner of pulling the stunt to advance the warrantless FISA update.
“Chairman Mike Turner should lose his job this week for political inaction. His baffling comments caused a market crash and caused unnecessary panic,” Republican Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs tweeted at the time. did.
Speaker Mike Turner should lose his job this week for political inaction.
His incomprehensible statements caused a market crash and caused unnecessary panic.
The stunt conveniently occurred during a week when the state wanted to curtail warrantless government surveillance. pic.twitter.com/9bMdYbXIcM
— Rep. Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) February 16, 2024
Republican Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles wrote to Johnson at the time, demanding that Turner investigate the incident. “It just looks bad,” said fellow Tennessee Republican Tim Burchett. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced to hold a press conference in response to Turner’s comments, urging public vigilance.
The move left a bad taste in the mouths of some of Turner’s Republican colleagues in the House, sources told the Caller, and was another factor in his ouster.
National Security Adviser Mike Walz said in an exclusive interview with the Caller that he has not discussed staffing decisions with Turner since Trump chose him to lead the NSC. Turner also said he is not involved with Trump’s transition team and has no intention of doing so, insisting that “anonymous reports to the contrary are false.” (Related: Exclusive: Mike Walz teases ‘consequences’ for former Intel official who signed Hunter Biden’s disinformation letter)
Prime Minister Johnson announced that he has selected Arkansas Congressman Rick Crawford to serve as HPSCI chairman following Turner’s resignation. I’m saying crawford
He said he would “provide principled leadership” as chairman and “earned the respect of his colleagues through years of faithful service on the committee and through his steady approach to the challenges facing our nation.”
Turner’s office declined to comment for this story.
