Congressional Briefing On US Envoy Malley Reveals Little

A classified briefing Friday at the US House Foreign Affairs Committee by administration officials did not reveal the reasons for the suspensions of US Iran envoy Rob Malley.

The Jewish Insider reported that committee Chairman Michael McCaul said officials had not been able to offer details on Malley’s status regarding an investigation over his security clearance.

Iran International first reported June 29 that Malley’s security clearance had been suspended and he has been under investigation related to his handling of classified documents. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is reportedly involved in the investigation, although until now no official details have been announced, except that Malley is on “unpaid leave.”

Chairman McCaul (R-TX) had threatened the Biden administration with subpoena if they failed to brief his committee on Malley’s status. While he had been suspended perhaps as early as April, the administration did not inform Congress about it.

“We don’t really have any details” on the Malley investigation “because it’s an ongoing investigation,” McCaul said according to the Insider. He also said that the administration will likely not be able to provide a full briefing until the investigation ends.

A spokesperson from the Committee told Iran International that officials refused to provide any significant new information, including the reason Malley's security clearance was revoked, citing the Privacy Act, but the Committee will try again to obtain more information.

McCaul was quoted by the Insider as saying, “They couldn’t get into the details,” adding, “the question is, is the FBI involved because if they are, then that’s a national security problem.”

Malley who was chief US nuclear negotiator with Iran has been replaced by Abram Paley as acting envoy.