Johnson removes Mike Turner as House Intelligence chair

Speaker Mike Johnson removed Rep. Mike Turner as chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Wednesday, saying he wanted to give the panel a “fresh start” in a new Congress and with a new president.

But conservative hard-liners in the House and other Republicans loyal to President-elect Donald Trump had been pressing Johnson for months to remove the Ohio Republican. And Johnson cited Trump as a reason for the ouster when the speaker met with Turner Wednesday night, according to a person familiar with the conversation who was granted anonymity to describe it.

Turner told CBS News’ Margaret Brennan that Johnson had cited “concerns from Mar-a-Lago” as the reason for the decision.

First named to lead committee Republicans in 2022 by then-Leader Kevin McCarthy, Turner has made enemies on the MAGA right over his handling of key intelligence matters, including a major internal battle over renewing certain surveillance authorities last year.

He has also been an outspoken advocate for Ukraine funding and other hawkish national security stances.

Commenting to reporters, Johnson deflected blame away from the returning president, saying, “This is not a President Trump decision; this is a House decision.” He also said the decision was “no slight” to Turner, who had “performed valiantly in a difficult time under difficult circumstances.”

Still, the decision blindsided many members who remain loyal to Turner, including some current Intelligence panel members. Unlike most House panels, the selection of the Intel chairman is solely at the speaker’s discretion.

Turner’s support for Ukraine aid and his handling of the surveillance bill — renewing so-called Section 702 powers — sparked unrest among ultraconservatives who argued he tried to strong-arm them into backing the legislation by raising generic warnings of national security concerns.

Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the Intelligence panel, spoke to reporters shortly after the news broke. He had maintained a cordial relationship with Turner, who had pledged to undertake a bipartisan reset on the panel when ascending to the top Republican spot in 2022. His predecessor, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), was a fierce Trump loyalist who had continually clashed with then-Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).

“I have ice in my spine right now, because that’ll totally change the dynamic of oversight,” Himes said of Turner’s removal. He added, “I’m sure that Mike lost some friends” over his role in preserving U.S. surveillance powers last year.

Johnson said he intends to name a new chair Thursday. He named two Trump loyalists, Reps. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) and Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), to the committee last year and could elevate one to lead it. The panel also has several Republican vacancies Johnson can fill.

Turner issued a brief statement Wednesday confirming he was leaving the committee. “Under my leadership, we restored the integrity of the Committee and returned its mission to its core focus of national security," he said. "The threat from our adversaries is real and requires serious deliberations."

Topics

Rep. Rick Crawford expected to serve as House Intelligence chair

Politico - 1d
Mike Johnson picks Rep. Rick Crawford as next intel chairman after ousting previous chair

Speaker Mike Johnson selected Rep. Rick Crawford to serve as the next chairman of the House Intelligence Committee after ousting Rep. Mike Turner.
NBC News - 1d
Speaker Johnson names Rick Crawford to replace Mike Turner atop Intel Committee

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 ...
The Hill - 1d
Top Senate Intel Democrat 'flabbergasted' by removal of GOP House Intelligence chair

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he was “flabbergasted” Thursday by the decision to remove GOP Rep. Mike Turner (Ohio) as the chair of the House ...
The Hill - 1d
Jeffries: 'Shameful' for Johnson to remove Turner from helm of Intel panel

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Thursday joined the chorus of Democrats bashing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) over his decision to replace Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) at the top of ...
The Hill - 1d
Speaker Johnson removes Mike Turner as House Intelligence Committee chairman

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has informed Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, he will no longer be chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, according to a GOP leadership source and a Republican lawmaker ...
NBC News - 1d
Speaker Johnson removes Rep. Turner as House Intelligence chairman

Rep. Mike Turner said the House speaker cited "concerns from Mar-a-Lago," which Mike Johnson denied.
CBS News - 1d
Johnson Ousts Turner as Intelligence Chairman, Bowing to Trump

Representative Michael R. Turner, Republican of Ohio, had at times been critical of the president-elect. He told people that he was axed after an edict from Mar-a-Lago.
The New York Times - 1d
Speaker Mike Johnson maintains House transgender bathroom ban

Speaker Mike Johnson maintained a policy that will bar transgender people from using single-sex facilities that align with their gender identities in the House.
NBC News - Jan. 7
Mike Johnson reelected as House speaker in dramatic vote

The new Congress kicked off in dramatic fashion on the House floor after Republican Mike Johnson won a full term as House Speaker after a razor-thin win. Two votes flipped in his favor after they ...
CBS News - Jan. 4
Republican Mike Johnson elected House speaker after dramatic vote reversals

President-elect Donald Trump congratulated Johnson, who eked out election as speaker of the House after a first ballot was kept open for more than an hour.
CNBC - Jan. 4
House votes to reelect Mike Johnson as House speaker

Mike Johnson will return as House speaker after narrowly winning reelection with the help of President-elect Trump who made some last-minute calls to help flip a few crucial holdouts. NBC’s Julie ...
NBC News - Jan. 4
Mike Johnson Re-elected as House Speaker After Chaotic Vote

Mike Johnson persuaded enough holdouts on the right to keep his post, but the vote reflected the steep challenge he faces in governing a slim and fractious majority.
The New York Times - Jan. 4
Two Republican holdouts flip to reelect Mike Johnson as House speaker

The 119th Congress kicked off Friday with a contentious House speaker vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana kept the gavel after some back-and-forth in his party. CBS News congressional ...
CBS News - Jan. 3
Trump ally Mike Johnson re-elected US House Speaker

Republican secures votes after backroom deal quells brief party rebellion
Financial Times - Jan. 3
Rep. Norman on changing his House speaker vote to support Mike Johnson

South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman was one of the lawmakers who switched votes during the first round of voting for House speaker. Norman says he spoke to President-elect Donald Trump about his ...
CBS News - Jan. 3
Rep. Donalds reacts to Mike Johnson's reelection as House speaker

Florida Rep. Byron Donalds says he was confident in Mike Johnson's ability to win the House speakership. CBS News' Nikole Killion spoke to Donalds after the House vote.
CBS News - Jan. 3
How Donald Trump reacted to Mike Johnson winning the House speaker vote

President-elect Donald Trump congratulated Mike Johnson on social media after the Louisiana representative won his bid to remain as House speaker. CBS News' Ed O'Keefe has more.
CBS News - Jan. 3
How Mike Johnson won the fight to remain as House speaker

It only took one round for Mike Johnson to win his bid for House speaker but only after two Republican lawmakers switched their votes to support the Louisiana representative. CBS News' Scott ...
CBS News - Jan. 3
Mike Johnson addresses House of Representatives after winning speaker bid

House Speaker Mike Johnson delivered remarks after winning his bid to retain the leadership role. Johnson reiterated the Republican goals for the 119th Congress as President-elect Donald Trump ...
CBS News - Jan. 3
Mike Johnson elected House speaker, easing concerns over delays to market-friendly bills

The Republican-run U.S. House of Representatives on Friday re-elected Mike Johnson as its speaker on the first ballot after two GOP lawmakers changed their votes, an outcome that eases some ...
MarketWatch - Jan. 3
How Mike Johnson got enough support to secure the House speakership

House Speaker Mike Johnson ended up with the support of two Republican lawmakers who switched their votes in the first round of voting for a leader in the lower chamber. Maura Gillespie, a ...
CBS News - Jan. 3
Mike Johnson secures US House speakership after facing internal dissent

Three Republicans voted for someone else, but two later changed their votes while all Democrats backed Jeffries. After initially facing internal dissent, the Trump-endorsed Republican Mike ...
The Guardian - Jan. 3
Mike Johnson reelected as House speaker | Special Report

Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson has secured enough votes to remain House speaker after a tense round of voting led to three holdouts. Two defectors ended up changing their votes to support Johnson. ...
CBS News - Jan. 3
Mike Johnson re-elected as House speaker

The House Republicans have voted to re-elect Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., as House speaker. NBC News' Julie Tsirkin and Garrett Haake report on Capitol Hill on how Johnson worked to flip opposition ...
NBC News - Jan. 3
Mike Johnson seems to lack the votes to remain House speaker in first round

House Speaker Mike Johnson will have to court his Republican colleagues some more to obtain enough support to retain his gavel. At least three lawmakers voted against him during the first round of ...
CBS News - Jan. 3
Will Trump's endorsement be enough for Mike Johnson to remain House speaker?

Mike Johnson may face Republican resistance in his quest to retain the House speakership. This comes after President-elect Donald Trump endorsed Johnson's bid. CBS News' Taurean Small and Ed ...
CBS News - Jan. 3
Why some Republicans remain skeptical of House Speaker Mike Johnson

Some Republicans remain hesitant as they prepare to vote for House speaker. This comes as Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson seeks to retain the gavel. CBS News' Taurean Small reports.
CBS News - Jan. 3
Why House Speaker Mike Johnson could face a challenge during leadership vote

House Speaker Mike Johnson may not have the votes needed to retain the gavel even with President-elect Donald Trump's endorsement. CBS News' Taurean Small and Libby Cathey report.
CBS News - Jan. 3
Speaker Mike Johnson re-elected to lead Republican-controlled House

The 119th Congress begins with Republican majorities in both chambers and a vote to re-elect Mike Johnson as House speaker.
NBC News - Jan. 3
119th Congress set to begin with a House speaker vote to re-elect Mike Johnson

With the 119th Congress is set to begin, Republicans will take full control of the House and Senate for the first time since 2019 and face an early test in re-electing House Speaker Johnson with a ...
NBC News - Jan. 3
Will House Speaker Mike Johnson retain the gavel?

Members of the House of Representatives are set to vote for the speaker role on Capitol Hill as the current lower-chamber leader, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, awaits his fate. Johnson is still ...
CBS News - Jan. 3
What are Mike Johnson's chances of being House speaker again?

Rep. Mike Johnson's hold on the speaker's gavel will be tested Friday by the new House of Representatives. So what are his chances and how many votes will it take? Political strategists Chuck Rocha ...
CBS News - Jan. 2
Mike Johnson says he expects House speaker vote to go "smoothly"

The new Republican-controlled Congress will be sworn in Friday as Mike Johnson hopes an endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump can keep him in the speaker's office. Daniella Diaz, ...
CBS News - Jan. 2
House speaker Mike Johnson faces crucial Friday vote as support in doubt

The embattled Republican can only afford to lose one vote as GOP prepares to elect its congressional leader. Mike Johnson ’s grip on the House speakership faces a crucial test on Friday, as ...
The Guardian - Jan. 2
Mike Johnson fights for GOP votes to win House Speaker election

Even as President-elect Trump has said Speaker Mike Johnson has his “complete and total endorsement,” for re-election, Johnson is scrambling to lock down his own party's support, as he'll need ...
NBC News - Jan. 2
Trump endorses Mike Johnson to remain as House Speaker

President-elect Trump rang in the new year at his Mar-a-Lago home, less than three weeks before Inauguration Day, telling reporters that he would attend President Carter’s funeral and reiterated ...
NBC News - Jan. 1