Rep. Eric Swalwell faces multiple sexual misconduct allegations from former staff and others, prompting House Democratic leaders to call for him to drop out of the California governor race. Swalwell denies the claims and vows to fight them.
Posts tagged as “The House Intelligence Committee”
Minnesota has sued the Trump administration’s DOJ and DHS for obstructing investigations into three shootings involving federal officers during Operation Metro Surge, alleging withheld evidence and blocked access to critical information. The lawsuit claims violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and the 10th Amendment, with state officials denied access to key evidence and identities of involved federal agents. Separately, the DOJ has requested classified records related to former CIA Director John Brennan amid a grand jury investigation into his role in the 2016 Russia interference assessment, drawing criticism from Brennan’s legal team and political allies.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian infrastructure as necessary escalations to de-escalate tensions, while also explaining the easing of sanctions to release Iranian oil onto global markets as a strategic move against Iran. Iran warned of retaliatory attacks on U.S. and allied infrastructure if its fuel and energy facilities were targeted, though the U.S. has so far avoided directly hitting Iran’s oil infrastructure. Meanwhile, growing political opposition in Congress criticized the administration for lack of authorization, transparency, and a clear strategy, calling for an end to the conflict.
Significant leadership changes occurred at the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command with the removal of Gen. Timothy Haugh, confirmed by top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees. Lt. Gen. William Hartman has been appointed as the acting NSA director, taking over from Haugh, who has over 30 years of experience in intelligence and cyber operations. The reasons for Haugh's dismissal remain unclear, and the implications of this leadership transition are yet to be fully understood.
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally included in a Signal group chat where Trump administration officials discussed sensitive national security matters, including a U.S. military operation targeting Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. This incident has raised significant concerns about the handling of classified information, particularly focusing on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who shared operational details in the chat. In response, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe are set to testify before the House Intelligence Committee to address the leak and discuss protocols for safeguarding classified information.
The Republican Party is in a state of disarray as they attempt to fill the role of Speaker of the House. Rep. Jim Jordan has won the caucus vote, but has been unable to garner enough support from both the Republican establishment and the Trumpist right. In an effort to rally support, the party has launched a press campaign and enlisted right-wing media and activists.
The House Oversight and Accountability Committee has scheduled a hearing on UFOs, or unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), for next Wednesday. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) announced the hearing at a news conference Thursday, and the committee will hear testimony from three witnesses, including a former U.S. intelligence official and two former Navy servicemen who have claimed to have spotted UAPs. The hearing is the second on the topic held by the House Intelligence Committee, and it is unclear what new information the committee may uncover.
The House of Representatives voted to formally censure Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, on Wednesday in a 213-209 party-line vote. The resolution was authored by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and was the first time in history that a sitting member of Congress has been censured by the House. Speaker Kevin McCarthy read a verbal rebuke to Schiff on the House floor, to which a large group of House Democrats shouted “shame, shame!” in response.