Fox News is reporting that House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) has suggested a top Biden administration official suspended over alleged mishandling of classified documents could have potentially committed treason.
The FBI is reportedly investigating Rob Malley, President Joe Biden’s special envoy to Iran, in relation to the security breach. Despite the gravity of the charges, McCaul conceded to CBS News’s “Face The Nation” host Margaret Brennan there was currently no proof of his alleged misconduct.
“Margaret, I can’t tell you how important this is because if he somehow-you know, worst case scenario, transferred intelligence and secrets to our foreign adversaries,” McCaul said.”If he did, that would be treason in my view.” He went on to issue House Foreign Affairs Committee a deadline for the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security and Management to brief them in a classified space about Malley’s status.
The FBI’s investigation reportedly centers on whether the classified information may have been inadvertently disclosed, misused, or mishandled, according to SemaforNews. This revelation has further raised eyebrows as the implications for the Biden administration’s foreign policy approach to Iran, which has been strained since the 2016 election, are unknown.
Malley is a long-time Biden ally who served in his White House from 2009 until 2013 when he took over as the National Security Council’s Point Person for the Middle East and North Africa. He left the White House in 2013 and returned to the Brookings Institution before being appointed as Biden’s special envoy in January 2021.
Commenting on the investigation, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last week, “We take this seriously and take all allegations of mishandling of classified material seriously.”
McCaul’s remarks likely add to a broader political debate over how the Biden administration is handling its foreign policy relationships, specifically with Iran. It remains to be seen if Malley’s security clearance will be permanently reinstated, and if more evidence emerges. Fox News will continue to follow this story and provide updates.
GOP @RepMcCaul has sent a letter urging the Biden admin. to provide a briefing on the investigation of Special Envoy to Iran Rob Malley by July 25th, but says, "We have been given no answer about his status."
"I can't tell you how important this is," McCaul tells @margbrennan. pic.twitter.com/fCs4L8me61
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) July 16, 2023