By Jasper Ward
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Representative Mike Turner said on Wednesday he will no longer serve as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee after nearly two years.
According to media reports, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson removed Turner from the role.
“Under my leadership, we restored the integrity of the Committee and returned its mission to its core focus of national security. The threat from our adversaries is real and requires serious deliberations,” Turner said in a statement.
Turner, who said he was proud to have served as chairman of the panel, will serve as senior member of the House Armed Services Committee.
He told CBS News that Johnson cited “concerns from Mar-a-Lago,” referring to the President-elect Donald Trump’s Florida estate, as a reason for his removal.
However, Johnson said he removed Turner because “we just need fresh horses in some of these places,” adding that it was not a 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, according to a CNN reporter.
He said Turner’s successor will be announced on Thursday, according to CNN.
Representatives for Johnson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Turner has served as chairman of the intelligence panel since January 2023.
The chairman of the panel is among eight congressional leaders known as the Gang of Eight who are briefed on classified intelligence matters.
