House Republicans are questioning Secretary of State Antony Blinken over a former Biden official who has been accused of mishandling classified documents and linked to an alleged “Iranian spy ring.”
House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) sent a letter to Blinken on Wednesday asking for State Department communications involving Robert Malley, who used to be special envoy to Iran, and his security clearance. Malley is under criminal investigation by the FBI over his handling of classified documents and has been accused of being linked to an “Iranian spy ring” operating to shift U.S. policy to favor the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the Biden Administration’s efforts to conceal details about its ongoing secret nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran from Congress, ignoring statutory obligations for congressional oversight,” Comer and Grothman wrote. “The Administration’s lack of transparency is even more troubling in light of press reports about Iran’s direct role in this weekend’s horrific attack on Israel by Hamas and additional revelations that former Special Envoy for Iran (SEI), Robert Malley, and members of his negotiating team may have had compromising ties to the Iranian regime.”
Malley is facing claims that he advanced several operatives in an alleged Iranian spy ring, including helping an alleged Iranian asset named Ariane Tabatabai infiltrate her way into the State Department and Pentagon.
“The ongoing investigation into Mr. Malley’s security violations are so serious that he was suspended from his position without pay. Further, the investigation was initially hidden from Congress, the American people, and even his fellow State Department officials,” the letter to Blinken said.
The lawmakers want State Department communications and documents about whether “Malley’s relationships with Iranian regime officials and senior members of Iran’s proxy groups” were made known to officials when reviewing his security clearance for the special envoy position.
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They also want documentation on government discussions of Malley and his access to classified information and requested a list of people who were present at discussions about Iran’s holding of American hostages. Last month, the Biden administration signed off on a deal to release five Iranian prisoners and $6 billion in frozen assets in exchange for five Americans held captive in Iran.
The decision has faced increasing scrutiny after Hamas terrorists, reportedly backed by Iran, launched a surprise attack against Israel last week.