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WASHINGTON – House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) issued an unusual statement Wednesday warning of a “grave national security threat” without providing additional details. The White House pre-empted a scheduled briefing for Congressional leaders.
Four sources familiar with the matter told NBC News that the threat is Russia’s military capabilities.
President Joe Biden is tracking national security threats and has directed White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan to engage with Congressional leaders, two U.S. officials said.
White House officials acknowledged the problem was “serious” but said there were ways to “contain” the threat without causing mass panic.
In Turner’s book, statementdid not identify the threat, but said his committee had “disclosed information to all members of Congress regarding significant national security threats” on Wednesday.
Turner said he is asking Biden to “declassify all information regarding this threat so that Congress, the administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions needed to address this threat.”
The statement did not provide additional details, including the nature of the threat. On Wednesday afternoon, members of Congress began trickling in and out of a heavily guarded room in the basement of the Capitol known as the SCIF, where the most sensitive classified information is shared with lawmakers.
Sullivan addressed Turner’s remarks at a news conference a short time later, suggesting he was taken aback by the congressman’s comments since he had already scheduled a meeting for Thursday. U.S. officials confirmed Thursday’s briefing was related to the threats highlighted by Turner.
The revelations of Russia-related threats come as Mr. Biden and the Senate urge the Republican-controlled House to pass aid to Ukraine in its war against the country, as well as aid to Israel and Taiwan. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said he would not bring the Senate-passed aid package to a vote because he wants to add conservative border security measures.
Turner recently returned from a trip to Ukraine with a congressional delegation and said Friday that lawmakers have “access to information about the risks facing not just our ally the United States, but the world as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.” ”
“There is overwhelming support in the House and Senate when it comes to supporting Ukraine,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump faced strong backlash after saying at a campaign rally on Saturday that he would encourage Russia to attack unless NATO countries contribute enough to defense as part of the alliance’s mutual protection agreement. . He said he urged Russia to “do whatever they want” to these countries.
Mr. Trump also helped kill a major foreign aid and border security deal in the Senate this month.
Several leading politicians, including Mr Johnson, said there was no cause for alarm.
“I want to assure the American people that there is no need to raise alarm,” Johnson said on Capitol Hill. “We’re going to work together to address this issue. We’re all dealing with classified and classified matters, so beyond that I’m not at liberty to disclose any confidential information and in fact I can’t say much more, but we just want to assure you that everyone is firmly on the wheel, we are working on it and there is no need for alarm. ”
“People shouldn’t panic. That’s clear. People shouldn’t panic,” said Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee.
“While Turner is right to highlight this issue, it is a very sensitive issue and we are not discussing it publicly at this time,” Himes told reporters. “And we don’t want people to think that Martians are going to land or that your Wednesday is going to be ruined. But this is an issue that Congress and the administration need to address in the medium to long term.”
Sullivan said in a press conference Thursday that he contacted the Group of Eight, the top leaders of both the House and Senate, earlier this week and “offered to participate in a personal meeting.”
“It was on the books, so Congressman Turner will come out publicly today ahead of the books meeting, and tomorrow I’ll be there with intelligence and defense experts,” Sullivan told reporters. I’m a little surprised that this happened.”
He added: “It’s his choice whether to do that or not. All I can say is that I’m focused on meeting with him tomorrow and meeting with him and the other members of the Group of Eight.” Of course, I’m not like that.” I am in a position to say something more from this podium. ”
Sullivan declined to provide further details about the meeting, but said he was the one who initiated the meeting.
“I personally reached out to the Gang of Eight. In fact, it’s highly unusual for a national security adviser to do something like that, and that’s why I did it,” he said.
Asked whether the public should be concerned about this threat, Professor Sullivan said: “In some ways, it’s impossible to answer that question with a straight ‘yes’…because there are so many different threats and challenges in the world. Because Americans understand that.” We deal with it every day, and the threats and challenges range from terrorism to state actors, and we must fight them. ”
“I am confident that the decisions President Biden has made will continue to ensure the safety of the American people.I stand at this podium and look you in the eyes with confidence. “We can and will protect the national security of the United States and the American people, and we believe we are doing so,” Sullivan said. .
“This is a serious issue that could lead to instability and national security threats,” a Democratic Party official familiar with the threat told NBC News.
The source described this as a “potential foreign threat” but did not say where the threat came from.
Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.) said he urges all members of Congress to look at the information. “I also ask the president to take this issue seriously. And it’s not a political issue. This is something that needs the attention of members of Congress and the executive branch,” he said.
Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colorado, said this is “one of the very volatile things that we have to deal with. … This is something that requires our attention. No doubt. “No. It’s not an immediate crisis, but it’s certainly something we have to deal with.” You have to think about it very seriously. ”
“I think more information will be available as needed, and hopefully sooner rather than later,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said Wednesday.
Senate leaders are not expected to attend Thursday’s briefing as the Senate is currently in a two-week recess.
Two sources with direct knowledge said that Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) and his top official, Marco Rubio (R-Florida), were identified by Turner several weeks ago. They were briefed on national security threats. This information is made available to all members of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
One source said the threat is “not unrelated” to the issues being addressed in the currently stalled national security supplemental funding package, which includes aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, but is “directly linked.” ”, he pointed out. Let me explain in more detail.
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