House Speaker Mike Johnson has appointed Republican Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas as the new chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, following the removal of Rep. Mike Turner from the position on Wednesday. Johnson praised Crawford in a statement, calling him a “principled leader” who has earned the respect of his colleagues due to his dedicated service on the committee and his steady approach to national security challenges.
Crawford, who is a senior member of the Intelligence Committee after Turner, had previously voted against additional aid to Ukraine last April, a stance that differs from Turner’s strong support for Ukraine.
Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the committee, expressed concern over Turner’s removal, stating that it diminishes bipartisan oversight and costs Congress a significant amount of national security expertise. Himes emphasized that Turner had deep knowledge of national security matters.
Turner, who has been a supporter of Ukraine aid and was a proponent of certifying the 2020 election, plans to spend more time focusing on NATO. Himes did not elaborate on whether former President Donald Trump played a role in Turner’s ousting but noted ongoing speculation about the influence of Mar-a-Lago or the Republican conference.
Speaker Johnson denied any involvement from Trump, clarifying that the decision was made within the House. He emphasized that Turner did a great job but that the Intelligence Committee needed a “fresh start.”
A source close to Johnson revealed that the Speaker wanted to select his own committee chair, just as former Speaker Kevin McCarthy had done when Turner was initially appointed. Turner, in a statement, expressed pride in his tenure as chairman and the work done to restore the committee’s integrity and focus on national security.