Several Republican lawmakers are demanding answers from the Biden administration after a top aide was stripped of his security clearance for allegedly mishandling classified documents.
Led by House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, Republicans want to know why “special envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, has been stripped of his security clearance and placed on unpaid leave until an investigation is completed,” Fox News reported.
McCaul sent a detailed letter demanding answers to Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week, the outlet reported. He said Malley’s suspension earlier this year brings up “serious concerns both regarding Malley’s conduct and whether the State Department misled Congress and the American public.”
“While the suspension of Special Envoy Malley’s clearance is independently troubling, our concern is compounded by the State Department’s failure to respond to the Committee’s efforts to conduct oversight of its negotiations with and policy toward Iran. Since April 11, 2023, the Committee has repeatedly requested Special Envoy Malley’s testimony, which the Department has not fulfilled, despite Special Envoy Malley’s numerous press engagements dating back to May 30, 2023,” McCaul wrote.
The Texas lawmaker said that Malley declined to provide testimony to the committee because a close family member was suffering an illness, the letter stated. But, At no point did the Department indicate that Special Envoy Malley’s security clearance was suspended or under review, or that he was being investigated for potential misconduct,” wrote the congressman.
“The Department’s failure to inform Congress of this matter demonstrates at best a lack of candor, and at worst represents deliberate and potentially unlawful misinformation,” McCaul noted further.
1) When did the investigation that led to the suspension of Malley's clearance begin?
When were @SecBlinken & @POTUS informed of it?
Why did they allow Malley to continue in his diplomatic role while under investigation?
— Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) June 30, 2023
“We do not comment on congressional correspondence,” the State Department told Fox News. “Rob Malley is on leave and Abram Paley is serving as acting Special Envoy for Iran and leading the Department’s work in this area. We have nothing further to offer at this time.”
“I have been informed that my security clearance is under review. I have not been provided any further information, but I expect the investigation to be resolved favorably and soon. In the meantime, I am on leave,” Malley told Fox News.
