Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) defended his removal of Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) as House Intelligence Committee Chair as his own decision, not one ordered by President-elect Donald Trump. Turner had served on the committee since 2015.

Rep. Mike Turner last year warned of a “national security threat” in what some Republicans considered a political ruse.

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.