Lawmakers demand accountability after alleged US intelligence on Israel and Iran leaked

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are demanding answers and accountability after alleged US intelligence about Israel’s preparations to attack Iran was released on a social media account linked to Iran.

The documents, which contained top secret markings and were marked for distribution only to the US and its close intelligence allies, were leaked to a pro-Iran Telegram channel on Friday. They include details of Israel’s preparations for an attack, including munitions, training exercises and more.

“The leak is very troubling. There are some serious allegations being made there, an ongoing investigation, and I’ll be getting a briefing in a couple of hours,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said Sunday morning ) on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We are following it closely.”

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the apparent leak “extremely alarming.”

“Whoever committed this outrageous act is putting our ally at risk, and they must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Wicker said in a statement.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, accused the Biden administration of “continuing to undermine our precious ally Israel at every opportunity” and linked the alleged leak to “anti-Semitic bureaucrats not elected with close ties”. to the Iranian regime” — an apparent reference to reports that at least one official in the current administration was linked to an Iranian influence effort.

Stefanik said the incident “must be fully investigated and those responsible will be held accountable.”

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said Jewish Insider the “apparent leak is extremely troubling,” that he “would be doing everything in my power to make sure we get to the bottom of it” and that he had asked for an update on the situation.

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) told JI that the alleged leak “once again undermines our closest ally and creates a disaster for Israel as it prepares to respond to Iran. We must get to the bottom of it of that and prevent further leaks (and) in the future and it’s up to the Biden-Harris administration to pursue it.”

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) described the incident as “one of the highest breaches of national security.”

“This undermines our credibility with all allies to share information,” Moskowitz said. “This investigation must lead to full accountability and prosecution of whoever is responsible.”