HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON REMOVED HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE CHAIR REP. MIKE TURNER, A REPUBLICAN FROM OHIO, WITH PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP BACKING THE MOVE, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTS.

THE JOURNAL REPORTS TRUMP “DIRECTLY WEIGHED IN ON THE DECISION.”

SHORTLY AFTER THE DECISION, A REPORTER ASKED JOHNSON IF TRUMP HAD AN OPINION ON THE MATTER, HE RESPONDED SAYING: “THIS IS NOT A PRESIDENT TRUMP DECISION. THIS IS A HOUSE DECISION, AND THIS IS NO SLIGHT WHATSOEVER TO OUR OUTGOING CHAIRMAN. HE DID A GREAT JOB.”

JOHNSON SAID WITH A NEWLY SWORN IN CONGRESS, QUOTE “WE JUST NEED FRESH HORSES IN SOME OF THESE PLACES.” HE PRAISED TURNER FOR SERVING VALIANTLY UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

PEOPLE CLOSE TO TRUMP TOLD THE JOURNAL TURNER OFTEN HELD TRADITIONAL FOREIGN POLICY VIEWS THAT CLASHED WITH TRUMP’S “AMERICA FIRST” AGENDA.

TURNER HAS BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR SENDING AID TO UKRAINE IN IT’S ONGOING WAR WITH RUSSIA – WHILE THE INCOMING PRESIDENT HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF SENDING FUNDING TO UKRAINE, EXPRESSING HE WANTS THE FIGHTING TO END.

THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AND ENSURING THAT U.S. INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES AND OPERATIONS ARE EFFECTIVE, LAWFUL, AND ALIGNED WITH NATIONAL INTERESTS.

THE COMMITTEE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE INTELLIGENCE-RELATED MATTERS, INCLUDING LOOKING INTO ABUSES OF POWER, INTELLIGENCE FAILURES, OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY OF INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS.

THE COMMITTEE’S WORK OFTEN REQUIRES MEMBERS TO DEAL WITH CLASSIFIED INFORMATION AND TO WORK CLOSELY WITH EXECUTIVE AGENCIES.

JOHNSON SAID HE HOPES TURNER REMAINS A MEMBER OF THE INTELLIGENCE PANEL.

IT’S UNCLEAR WHO WILL REPLACE TURNER; HOWEVER, JOHNSON SAID A SUCCESSOR WOULD BE NAMED ON THURSDAY.