The chairman of the US House Intelligence Committee has warned of a "threat to national security" related to "destabilizing foreign military potential". The threat is so serious that President Joe Biden must declassify "all information" about it. This statement caused an uproar in American society. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and top lawmakers on Capitol Hill tried to calm public concerns.
Two sources familiar with the discussions on Capitol Hill said the intelligence is related to Russia's desire to launch a nuclear weapon into space, ABC News reported.
This would not mean launching a nuclear weapon on Earth, but rather using it against satellites. Still, "it's very concerning and very sensitive," one of the sources said. While not directly addressing the issue, several members of Congress were quick to frame the issue as serious without stoking public alarm.
"We will work together to deal with this matter, as we do with all sensitive matters that are classified," House Speaker Mike Johnson said.
"As to whether more information can be declassified on this matter, that's a useful discussion, but it shouldn't be held in public," said Rep. Jim Himes.
Ohio Republican Mike Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said his committee had "provided to all members of Congress information concerning a serious threat to national security."
"I want President Biden to declassify all information related to this threat so that Congress, the administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat," Turner said. He said he was providing the information on the matter in a secure place to all members of the House by the rules of the House.
Throughout the afternoon, lawmakers arrived in committee space to review the raw intelligence on Turner's warning, in a secure room in the Capitol basement.
Jake Sullivan said he had already scheduled a classified meeting with congressional leadership ahead of Turner's request.
Sullivan declined to provide further details about the meeting. All he said was that, in general, "Americans understand that there are several threats and challenges in the world that we face every day, such as terrorism."
"I am convinced that President Biden, with the decisions he makes, will guarantee the security of the American people," said the national security adviser./BGNES