Johnson sent shockwaves around Capitol Hill when he decided to oust Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio — a staunch NATO supporter who has aggressively pushed for U.S. aid to Ukraine — as chair of the House Intelligence Committee and replace him with Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., a conservative who voted against the most recent Ukraine aid package.
As Intelligence Committee chair, Turner vocally supported helping Ukraine in its fight against Russia, repeatedly urging the Biden administration to hasten aid. His position was at odds with others in the Trump wing of the party, such as Vice President-elect JD Vance, who tried to block aid and argued the war was unwinnable.
Speaker Mike Johnson tapped CIA Subcommittee Chairman Rick Crawford as the new head of the House Intelligence Committee after a dramatic shakeup saw the ouster of Mike Turner.
House Speaker Mike Johnson removed Intelligence Committee chair Rep. Mike Turner who had been a strong defender of NATO and aid for Ukraine in defending itself against Russia.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will not make Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) chair of the House Intelligence Committee in the 119th Congress, a source familiar with the decision confirmed to The Hill.
Representative Mike Turner has reportedly been removed from his role as House Intelligence Committee chairman.
Turner confirmed to a CBS News correspondent that Speaker Mike Johnson removed him from the position citing concerns from Mar-a-Lago.
The Ohio Republican has been an outspoken advocate for Ukraine funding and other hawkish national security stances.
When Speaker Mike Johnson summarily fired House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner this week, everyone assumed it was about Donald Trump. Actually, it was about power — not the incoming president’s, but Johnson’s.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Thursday selected Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) to chair the House Intelligence Committee, elevating the veteran panel member to the role after he removed Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) from the top job.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has informed Congressman Mike Turner that he will no longer serve as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, according to media reports. "We just need fresh horses in some of these places … this is not a President Trump decision," Johnson said on Wednesday, according to a CNN reporter.