A group of Republican senators is urging the Department of Defense to investigate a leak of classified information regarding the discovery of the Chinese spy balloon. The alleged leak likened President Joe Biden’s handling of the balloon to that of previous administrations.
Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Budd (R-NC), James Lankford (R-OK), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) said with the leak, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl was likely acting for partisan political purposes. The letter suggested that the leak may have been intentional and requires further investigation.
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“This is not the first time that Under Secretary Kahl has mishandled classified information,” the letter read. “Worse, Under Secretary Kahl’s leak, like his previous leaks, appears to have been made for partisan political purposes. Given Under Secretary Kahl’s repeated and blatant mishandling of classified information for political purposes, we urge you to investigate this conduct.”
Colin Kahl leaked classified information to the press about the Chinese spy balloon. What’s worse, this is not the first time he has used classified information for political purposes.
The @DeptofDefense Inspector General should investigate immediately. pic.twitter.com/RwhF2C9G3X
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) June 6, 2023
Republican senators first accused Kahl of leaking classified information about the Chinese spy balloon in March, claiming that it was meant to deflect criticism of the Biden administration. In April, the senators requested that the FBI investigate Kahl over the accusations. They followed up on the request last month. On Tuesday, they decided to send the matter to the Department of Defense.
In the letter, the senators listed the punishments required for the supposed violation.
“Intentionally leaking classified information is a violation of U.S. law, as well as a violation of the Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement (SF-312) that Kahl signed,” the letter read.
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“That agreement expressly contemplates the termination of a security clearance as a consequence of mishandling sensitive materials. Further, federal law provides serious penalties for intentionally mishandling classified information. For example, 18 U.S.C. $ 793(d) provides for up to ten years in prison for willful unauthorized disclosure. Finally, other federal laws such as the Hatch Act also prohibit the use of one’s official position in the executive branch for partisan political purposes,” it added.
The information in question was classified information about prior Chinese balloon incursions, which the Republican senators claimed was intended to make the incursion look less severe than it was.
