More Info on That 'National Security Threat' - and a Lot of People Have Questions

My colleague Susie Moore reported earlier on a cryptic statement made by Chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Mike Turner (R-OH) asking that Joe Biden immediately declassify information related to a "serious national security threat."

“Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has made available to all Members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat.
“I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat.”

That immediately sent people off to the races, wondering and worrying what that was all about.

Turner sent out an email to House members that they should "go to SCIF for a briefing on FISA ahead of a possible vote this week."

Then National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan made things worse by not offering any further information, apart from saying he was briefing members of Congress on Thursday on the matter. Oh, and that he was confident in Biden being able to deal with any challenges. That's not exactly the most assuring thing, given how Biden has failed at virtually everything so far.

There were also reports indicating the issue was "space-related" and even "Russian space" related.

Here's Politico's Olivia Beavers mentioning that the matter may be "space-related."

There are two separate things happening in HPSCI this week — one is FISA debate and another was their vote to make certain material available for members to review in the scif that I’m told is space related
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) February 14, 2024

Fox News referenced "space-based Russian military capabilities."

BREAKING: Purported 'National Security Threat' mentioned by Rep. Turner relates to space-based Russian military capabilities - FNC
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 14, 2024

Our sister site, Townhall also noted:

According to NBC News, Democrats also called the matter "a serious issue that could lead to a destabilizing situation and a national security threat" and confirmed it was a "potential foreign threat," but did not tell the outlet which foreign entity from which the threat emanated.

ABC is apparently reporting Russia wants to put nuclear weapons in space.

ABC NEWS: "Two sources familiar with deliberations on Capitol Hill said the intelligence has to do with the Russians wanting to put a nuclear weapon into space. This is not to drop a nuclear weapon onto Earth but rather to possibly use against satellites." https://t.co/e9u1hztpi8
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 14, 2024

But now a Politico national security reporter has a post scaling some of this back.

NEW: Per sources, this national security warning is not an urgent situation that the US needs to concern itself with "today." It is a longer-term problem. And this raw intel has existed on the Hill for some time. Not sure what prompted the Turner statement.
— Erin Banco (@ErinBanco) February 14, 2024

Per sources, this national security warning is not an urgent situation that the US needs to concern itself with "today." It is a longer-term problem. And this raw intel has existed on the Hill for some time. Not sure what prompted the Turner statement.

Should note that multiple sources say there have been different versions of the intel circulating and at first it was only available to a certain group, then it was opened up. Again, the intel itself isn't super new
— Erin Banco (@ErinBanco) February 14, 2024

Banco said the intel isn't "super new." She said, "More statements expected from members soon to try and diffuse the panic."

So that's prompting many to speculate on whether this is about trying to hype the FISA or Ukraine aid votes.

We know why. The vote. https://t.co/657oruEIdp pic.twitter.com/EYfZcdnKle
— Sandy 〽️ (@RightGlockMom) February 14, 2024

We know why he did it. He’s abusing his position pic.twitter.com/kuKSqHZfUb
— Banana Republic Justice Swan 🍌 (@TheWuhanClan) February 14, 2024

House Speaker Mike Johnson has now also weighed in and said that there is no cause for alarm and that he had asked the White House for a meeting on the matter last month, which they are now having on Thursday. If it took a month, that suggests it's not immediately an emergency crisis, although obviously significant.