Mike Turner asks Biden to declassify ‘national security threat’ details

House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio) made a cryptic call for President Biden to declassify information about a “serious national security threat” to allow for public discussions about how the U.S. should respond.

The ranking member on the panel, Jim Himes (D-Conn.), however, cautioned the matter was not one of great urgency and that “people should not panic.”

“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 the 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.” 

Late Tuesday, Turner sent a dear colleague letter noting the committee had voted to make information about “an urgent matter with regard to a destabilizing foreign military capability that should be known by all Congressional Policy Makers.”

Lawmakers are invited to the committee’s SCIF space to review the information over the rest of the week, according to the letter obtained by The Hill.

Turner, who often sends statements in conjunction with Himes, did not do so Wednesday.

Himes held back criticism of Turner but said, “Thanks, Mike,” when a reporter noted the panic being caused by the statement.

“Look, Mike is right to highlight this issue. But it’s so sensitive that [we’re] right now not publicly discussing. And I don’t want people thinking that, you know, martians are landing or that your Wednesday is going to be ruined. But it’s something that the Congress the administration does need to address in the medium to long run,” Himes said.

During a White House briefing Wednesday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said he was “surprised” Turner sought to go public with the information as the White House was in the midst of organizing a briefing.

“I reached out earlier this week to the Gang of Eight to offer myself up for a personal briefing for the Gang of Eight and scheduled a briefing for the four House members for tomorrow,” Sullivan said.

“All I can tell you is I’m focused on going to see him, sit with him as well as the other House members of the Gang of Eight,” he added.

The offices of Senate Intelligence Chair Mark Warner (D-Va.) and ranking member Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Mychael Schnell and Brett Samuels contributed.