Johnson dismisses Mike Turner from his role as House Intelligence chair
The Ohio Republican has consistently championed funding for Ukraine and has taken a firm stance on various hawkish national security issues.
TroibNews 
Speaker Mike Johnson removed Rep. Mike Turner from his position as chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Wednesday, expressing a desire to give the panel a “fresh start” in light of the new Congress and a new president.
Johnson faced pressure from conservative hard-liners within the House and other Republicans aligned with President-elect Donald Trump to take action against Turner for several months. During a meeting between Johnson and Turner on Wednesday night, Johnson pointed to Trump as a reason for the decision, according to a source familiar with the discussion who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Turner shared with CBS News’ Margaret Brennan that Johnson had mentioned “concerns from Mar-a-Lago” as the basis for the decision.
Having been appointed to lead committee Republicans in 2022 by then-Leader Kevin McCarthy, Turner has garnered criticism from the MAGA faction due to his management of significant intelligence issues, including a notable internal dispute regarding the renewal of certain surveillance authorities last year.
Additionally, Turner has strongly advocated for Ukraine funding and has taken a hawkish stance on national security issues.
In remarks to reporters, Johnson sought to separate the decision from Trump, asserting, “This is not a President Trump decision; this is a House decision.” He added that the course of action was “no slight” to Turner, who had “performed valiantly in a difficult time under difficult circumstances.”
However, the move left many members who are loyal to Turner, including some current Intelligence panel members, taken aback. The selection of the Intel chairman is exclusively at the speaker's discretion, unlike most House panels.
Turner’s support for aid to Ukraine and his management of the surveillance bill for renewing Section 702 powers stirred dissatisfaction among ultraconservatives, who believed he attempted to coerce them into endorsing the legislation by invoking national security concerns.
Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, the leading Democrat on the Intelligence panel, addressed reporters shortly after the announcement. He had fostered a positive relationship with Turner, who had committed to achieving a bipartisan reset in the committee when he took on the top Republican role in 2022. His predecessor, Rep. Devin Nunes, was a staunch Trump ally who frequently clashed with then-Chair Adam Schiff.
“I have ice in my spine right now, because that’ll totally change the dynamic of oversight,” Himes remarked regarding Turner’s ouster. He further noted, “I’m sure that Mike lost some friends” over his actions in maintaining U.S. surveillance powers last year.
Johnson stated he plans to announce a new chair on Thursday. He appointed two Trump loyalists, Reps. Scott Perry and Ronny Jackson, to the committee last year and may elevate one of them to lead it. The panel also has several Republican vacancies that Johnson can fill.
Turner released a brief statement on Wednesday acknowledging his departure from the committee: “Under my leadership, we restored the integrity of the Committee and returned its mission to its core focus of national security. The threat from our adversaries is real and requires serious deliberations."
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Johnson faced pressure from conservative hard-liners within the House and other Republicans aligned with President-elect Donald Trump to take action against Turner for several months. During a meeting between Johnson and Turner on Wednesday night, Johnson pointed to Trump as a reason for the decision, according to a source familiar with the discussion who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Turner shared with CBS News’ Margaret Brennan that Johnson had mentioned “concerns from Mar-a-Lago” as the basis for the decision.
Having been appointed to lead committee Republicans in 2022 by then-Leader Kevin McCarthy, Turner has garnered criticism from the MAGA faction due to his management of significant intelligence issues, including a notable internal dispute regarding the renewal of certain surveillance authorities last year.
Additionally, Turner has strongly advocated for Ukraine funding and has taken a hawkish stance on national security issues.
In remarks to reporters, Johnson sought to separate the decision from Trump, asserting, “This is not a President Trump decision; this is a House decision.” He added that the course of action was “no slight” to Turner, who had “performed valiantly in a difficult time under difficult circumstances.”
However, the move left many members who are loyal to Turner, including some current Intelligence panel members, taken aback. The selection of the Intel chairman is exclusively at the speaker's discretion, unlike most House panels.
Turner’s support for aid to Ukraine and his management of the surveillance bill for renewing Section 702 powers stirred dissatisfaction among ultraconservatives, who believed he attempted to coerce them into endorsing the legislation by invoking national security concerns.
Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, the leading Democrat on the Intelligence panel, addressed reporters shortly after the announcement. He had fostered a positive relationship with Turner, who had committed to achieving a bipartisan reset in the committee when he took on the top Republican role in 2022. His predecessor, Rep. Devin Nunes, was a staunch Trump ally who frequently clashed with then-Chair Adam Schiff.
“I have ice in my spine right now, because that’ll totally change the dynamic of oversight,” Himes remarked regarding Turner’s ouster. He further noted, “I’m sure that Mike lost some friends” over his actions in maintaining U.S. surveillance powers last year.
Johnson stated he plans to announce a new chair on Thursday. He appointed two Trump loyalists, Reps. Scott Perry and Ronny Jackson, to the committee last year and may elevate one of them to lead it. The panel also has several Republican vacancies that Johnson can fill.
Turner released a brief statement on Wednesday acknowledging his departure from the committee: “Under my leadership, we restored the integrity of the Committee and returned its mission to its core focus of national security. The threat from our adversaries is real and requires serious deliberations."
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
