As Intelligence Committee chair, Turner vocally supported helping Ukraine in its fight against Russia, repeatedly urging the Biden administration to hasten aid. His position was at odds with others in the Trump wing of the party, such as Vice President-elect JD Vance, who tried to block aid and argued the war was unwinnable.
WASHINGTON – House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Dayton, was abruptly fired from his role by House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday, prompting concerns from some members about President-elect Donald Trump's approach to intervening in Congressional affairs.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Donald Trump wasn't involved in the decision to oust the chair. There's reason to believe otherwise.
Johnson sent shockwaves around Capitol Hill when he decided to oust Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio — a staunch NATO supporter who has aggressively pushed for U.S. aid to Ukraine — as chair of the House Intelligence Committee and replace him with Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., a conservative who voted against the most recent Ukraine aid package.
Commenting to reporters, Johnson deflected blame away from the returning president, saying, “This is not a President Trump decision; this is a House decision.” He also said the decision was “no slight” to Turner, who had “performed valiantly in a difficult time under difficult circumstances.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson has removed Republican Rep. Mike Turner as chair of the House Intelligence Committee for the 119th Congress.
WASHINGTON — Speaker Mike Johnson said he selected Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., to serve as the next chairman of the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday, one day after Johnson made the stunning decision to oust Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, from the role.
The Ohio Republican has been an outspoken advocate for Ukraine funding and other hawkish national security stances.