House Republicans sent a request to the State Department for information about the suspension of an administration official involved in relations between the United States and Iran.
Mr. McCaul sent his first letter on the matter to Mr. Blinken, demanding additional details following reports Mr. Malley’s security clearance was suspended amid an investigation into his potential mishandling of classified documents.
In a closed briefing held on July 28th, John Bass, Under Secretary of State for Management, and Gentry Smith, Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security, provided insight into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Malley’s security clearance suspension.
However, the committee stated that they still have concerns about the department’s lack of timely communication with Congress.
“Accordingly, we are writing to directly reiterate our request that the department notify and brief the committee upon any relevant developments regarding the status of Mr. Malley’s employment and his ability to access classified information at the department,” the lawmakers said.
The committee expressed bipartisan interest in receiving testimony or a briefing from Mr. Malley on Iran policy.
Despite this, it was discovered that some officials, including Mr. Blinken, were aware of Mr. Malley’s situation and lack of security clearance for several months but did not communicate this information to Congress.
In response to the department’s initial promise to consider the committee’s request for regular updates, the congressmen stated that they are unsatisfied with the state department’s actions, citing the need for greater transparency and accountability on the issue.
The committees have directly restated their demand that the department keep them informed about any relevant developments concerning Mr. Malley’s employment status and his access to classified information.
The committee members asserted that their request was particularly pertinent due to recent news that Mr. Malley will be taking on new roles as a visiting professor at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and as a senior fellow at Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs.
According to the lawmakers, these developments suggest a potential change in Mr. Malley’s employment status and his impending departure from the state department.
The committee has extended its call for improved communication and transparency between the department and Congress, requesting that the department notify and brief the committee in a timely manner when a high-ranking official’s security clearance is suspended or revoked.
Acknowledging Mr. Blinken’s commitment to transparency, the committee stated that they anticipate continued engagement on this “troubling matter.”
In the letter, Mr. McCaul asserted that: “The department’s anemic subpoena response suggests that it is either deliberately obstructing the committee’s oversight, or that its document retention, location, and production procedures are astoundingly deficient. Neither is acceptable.”
The Department of State did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.
