Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), acting chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said congressional oversight is facing a “historic crisis” after the Director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe, notified Congress on Saturday that the intelligence community will be scaling back in-person congressional briefings on election security.
“Congressional oversight of intelligence activities now faces a historic crisis,” Rubio said in a statement. “Intelligence agencies have a legal obligation to keep Congress informed of their activities.”
In his letter to Congress announcing the change, Ratcliffe said that the intelligence community would switch over to written updates on election security issues to ensure that intelligence information “is not misunderstood nor politicized.”
Rubio in his statement said that members of Congress “have a legal obligation to not divulge classified information” and that in his time as chair he has “witnessed firsthand how this delicate balance has been destroyed.”
Earlier this month, William Evanina, the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, released a statement detailing election security threats, including Russian efforts to help Trump win reelection.
Evanina faced criticism from congressional Democrats because his report also noted that China does not prefer that Trump win reelection, while Iran is also engaging in efforts to undermine Trump and U.S. institutions.
Democrats and others have claimed Evanina and the Trump administration are pushing a false equivalency because they say that neither China nor Iran are attempting to undermine the 2020 election like Russia is.
“The statement gives a false sense of equivalence to the actions of foreign adversaries by listing three countries of unequal intent, motivation and capability together,” Democratic leaders said.
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JUST IN: Rubio warns congressional oversight is facing a "historic crisis" following intel chief announcement https://t.co/Q2da3DZAtw pic.twitter.com/30Q4wEavV1
— The Hill (@thehill) August 30, 2020
"And what are *you* prepared to do?" https://t.co/wQucj6h2Ow
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) August 30, 2020
Unfortunately, Congress — which controls spending, including executive branch funding, writes the laws, has the ability to remove members of the exec branch, can declare war etc. — is utterly powerless to do anything in this situation. https://t.co/wLwajMykuI
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) August 30, 2020
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