Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., blasted House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner, R-Ohio, for requesting the declassification of intelligence on a "serious national security threat."
Ogles, appearing Friday on Newsmax's "Wake Up America," reiterated his call for an inquiry into Turner's actions.
"So, we're on the eve of a vote on FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is the ability for the government to spy on foreign nationals," Ogles said. "But it's been used to spy on Americans. So this is what you need to know: Your government spies on you. They can spy on you. We've had Americans that have been spied on because of their religion, because of their political party.
"You've had agents spying on their girlfriends using FISA. So it's a problem. It's got to be reformed now. The Intel chairman wanted to pass this without any reforms. No Fourth Amendment protection. In other words, you have to get a warrant if they want to spy on you. And so, for him to release this information to imply that there was this imminent, existential threat to the United States of America to try to scare members of Congress into passing FISA is a breach of trust in his role."
Ogles said Turner's announcement affected financial markets, domestic and international.
"And you can't be that reckless with your words when you're chairman of Intel," Ogles said. "I won't say it's bogus. But what I will say he was, in my humble opinion, trying to influence the votes, which is why I called on the speaker for an inquiry because you have to understand the Intel Committee is appointed by the speaker.
"They serve at the will of the speaker. The chairman is appointed by the speaker. So anything that does or doesn't happen as it pertains to this situation is on the speaker."
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Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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