Johnson names Rick Crawford new Intel chairman as Mike Turner blames Trump for his ouster
Speaker Mike Johnson has tapped “America First” acolyte and CIA Subcommittee Chairman Rick Crawford as the new chairman of the House Intelligence Committee after a dramatic shakeup Wednesday saw the ouster of Mike Turner.Johnson (R-La.), 52, opted against reappointing Turner (R-Ohio), 65, to the powerful spy committee without a clear public rationale, riling up Republicans and Democrats on the panel alike and fueling suspensions that President-elect Donald Trump was behind the move.“Our intelligence community and its oversight must maintain the highest levels of trust.The House Intel Committee will play a pivotal role in this work in the new Congress, and Rick Crawford will provide principled leadership as its chairman,” Johnson said in a statement Thursday.“Outgoing Chairman Mike Turner deserves our gratitude for his leadership and critical work in the 118th Congress.
He led the committee well during a very challenging period of our nation’s history.”Turner had been the top Republican on the Intelligence Committee since 2022 after his predecessor, former Rep.Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) joined Trump’s Truth Social company as its CEO.
Trump, 78, later tapped the 51-year-old close ally to helm the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.Due to term limits on the committee, which apply to rank-and-file members but not the chair, Turner is now off the Intelligence Committee altogether.Turner, who hails from the same state as Vice President-elect JD Vance, told CBS News that Johnson gave him the boot due to “concerns from Mar-a-Lago.” Johnson later downplayed any Trump involvement.
“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 told reporters Wednesday evening.After accepting the chairmanship, Crawford (R-Ark.), 58, echoed many of Trump’s gripes about the intelligence community.“I have witnessed firsthand that abuse within our na...