Rep. Michael McCaul, GOP Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, calls on the State Department to provide a detailed description of the allegations against Iranian envoy Rob Malley that led to his security clearance being revoked, according to a new letter obtained by CNN.
The letter comes after CNN first reported that Malley’s clearance had been revoked as part of an internal investigation into his handling of classified documents.
“These reports raise serious concerns about both Malley’s conduct and whether the State Department misled Congress and the American public,” McCaul wrote. “While the suspension of Special Envoy Malley’s authorization is independently troubling, our concern is compounded by the State Department’s failure to respond to the Committee’s efforts to monitor its negotiations with Iran and its policy to against Iran.”
“Senior State Department officials informed the Committee that Special Envoy Malley was unable to testify or make a briefing because he was on personal leave due to the illness of a staff member. his immediate family, for whom my staff have expressed sympathy. At no time did the Department indicate that Special Envoy Malley’s security clearance was suspended or under review, or that he was under investigation for potential misconduct,” it said. -he adds.
McCaul said the Department’s failure to inform Congress about the matter “demonstrates a lack of candor at best and represents deliberate and potentially illegal misinformation at worst.”
McCaul specifically requests from the department “all documents and communications referring to or relating to the review and/or suspension” of Malley and “allegations and/or investigations of potential misconduct against him.”
McCaul also demanded that Secretary of State Antony Blinken provide a detailed account of all allegations, investigations, and/or findings of misconduct related to Malley.
On Thursday, State Department spokesman Matt Miller confirmed to CNN that Malley was on leave, although he said earlier in the day that Malley was still the special envoy for Iran.
“Rob Malley is on leave and Abram Paley is acting special envoy for Iran and leading the Department’s work in this area,” Miller told CNN Thursday afternoon, after saying earlier in the day that Malley was staying. at this post.
Malley told CNN he expects the investigation to be resolved soon.
“I have been informed that my security clearance is under review. I have not received any further information, but I hope that the investigation will be resolved favorably and quickly. In the meantime, I am on leave,” a Malley said Thursday.
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