Johnson Removes Turner as Head of House Intelligence Committee

Representative Mike Turner, a longtime defense hawk, has been removed as chairman of the powerful House Intelligence Committee, House Speaker Mike Johnson said.

The abrupt demotion, particularly so close to an inauguration, was highly unusual. Johnson said he had nothing bad to say about the veteran Ohio congressman. “It’s just the intelligence community and everything related, it needs a fresh start.” Johnson added that a successor would be named on Thursday.

Turner and President-elect Donald Trump have diverged over support for Ukraine in its defense against the Russian invasion. Turner has emerged as one of Ukraine’s strongest backers and ...