House Speaker Mike Johnson has appointed Republican Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas as the new chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, replacing ousted Rep. Mike Turner. Johnson praised Crawford’s leadership and experience on the committee, noting his principled approach to challenges. Crawford, the most senior member after Turner, previously voted against additional aid for Ukraine, a stance that differed from Turner’s advocacy for it.
Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the committee, expressed concern about the loss of Turner’s national security expertise and bipartisan oversight. Himes shared that Turner plans to focus more on NATO after his removal. Turner, who supported aid to Ukraine and recognized the 2020 election results, had not informed Himes of any possible involvement by former President Trump in the decision.
Speaker Johnson denied any influence from Trump in removing Turner and emphasized the need for a fresh start in the committee. Sources close to Johnson indicated that the speaker wanted to appoint his own chairman, similar to past decisions. Turner stated his pride in his leadership of the committee and its focus on national security during his tenure. The article will be updated with further developments.
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