Leading Republicans reveal allegations on why Biden envoy to Iran was suspended
Top congressional Republicans revealed the reason they believe the Biden administration’s special envoy to Iran may have been suspended from his position in a letter to State Secretary Antony Blinken requesting confirmation.
Robert Malley was the subject of controversy and scrutiny last year when lawmakers expressed anger over the administration being evasive about the reason for his absence, with it eventually being revealed that he had been suspended and put under investigation by the FBI for unknown reasons.
This week, leading Republicans on foreign affairs released a letter detailing the apparent reason for the suspension and investigation, claiming Malley improperly stored classified data on his personal phone that were then stolen by a hacker.
“Specifically, we understand that Mr. Malley’s security clearance was suspended because he allegedly transferred classified documents to his personal email account and downloaded these documents to his personal cell phone,” the letter, signed by House Foreign Affairs Chairman Mike McCaul (R-TX) and Senate Foreign Affairs ranking member Jim Risch (R-ID), read. “It is unclear to whom he intended to provide these documents, but it is believed that a hostile cyber actor was able to gain access to his email and/or phone and obtain the downloaded information.”
“The allegations we have been privy to are extremely troubling and demand immediate answers,” the congressmen added. “These allegations have substantial impact on our national security and people should be held accountable swiftly and strongly. We look forward to your immediate response.”
The letter demanded answers to a long list of questions, including one asking whether the alleged hackers that got into his phone were affiliated with Iran.
The letter didn’t reveal how the two congressmen obtained the information, but it was clear that it wasn’t from the Biden administration.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the State Department for comment.
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The reveal is a major one, as no information has previously been released about why Malley was suspended despite several pleas.
Malley began his career during the Clinton administration and earned his name as the architect of former President Barack Obama’s 2015 Iran nuclear deal. He attempted to revive the deal in 2021 under Biden to no avail. He was suspended in April 2023.
