NEW: Lawmakers are opening up about the years-long failure to adequately address Havana syndrome & the more recent growing threat of directed-energy attacks on Americans overseas & at home.
“We owe this to our people,” Senate Intel chair tells me
“The fact that we’re five years into this and we’re still making sure we’ve got the protocols to one, take care of our people who are injured, two, [identify] who did this, and three, [identify] what tools or weapons did they use — these are all critical questions,” Warner says
Senate Intel vice chair Rubio agrees, says “it’s almost like the burden of proof is on these individuals, and given the nature of the injuries they’ve suffered, I don’t think it was initially treated the way it should’ve been.”
Last year, then-Acting SecDef Chris Miller approved a plan for the Pentagon to cover medical care for victims of the suspected attacks who sought treatment at DoD facilities, per @laraseligman.
Meantime, Sen. Collins is working on a bill to fund medical care for all affected.
Biden NSC defends its approach amid demands for more info —
“In our first 100 days, the Biden administration had both more open and closed member and staff engagements on this issue than the entire Trump administration,” NSC spox Emily Horne says.
CIA Director Burns getting lots of credit for the renewed focus as of late
“We need to have it better coordinated, and I think there’s a level of seriousness given to this now that, frankly, was not there until Director Burns came and made this a priority,” Warner says
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
I reported in Feb. 2020 that Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), then-chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, privately warned Johnson that his Biden investigations were aiding Russian disinformation efforts
Graham sticks up for Kerry: “I don’t know if we should trust that tape or not. If it’s true, it’s very damaging. I like John Kerry, but that would not be helpful & it would be very problematic if it were true. But let’s wait and see how authentic this is.” politico.com/news/2021/04/2…
If Zarif’s accounting is accurate, it would not be the first time that a top American official revealed classified information to a foreign adversary. In 2017, Trump reportedly discussed Israeli intelligence information during an Oval Office meeting with top Russian officials.
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) calls for John Kerry’s resignation from the National Security Council. Sullivan says this is the first time he has called for a resignation.
Sullivan says Kerry is “arrogantly killing American jobs ... in the name of climate goals.”
On the Senate floor, Sullivan is now referencing the leaked tape of Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif saying Kerry told him about covert Israeli operations against Iranian assets in Syria.
New: McConnell talks with @politico about the unfinished business of his 36-year Senate career — a longtime fascination with Myanmar so vital to his identity that after the recent military coup, Biden coordinated the U.S. response with him.
McConnell’s interest in Myanmar & friendship w/ Suu Kyi fly under the radar but it’s a defining aspect of a legacy he’s already cemented on judges & more.
The coup has elevated his role & influence even as he runs point on the opposition to Biden’s agenda politico.com/news/2021/04/1…
“On the domestic front, I have not yet witnessed something that I’ve been happy about,” McConnell told me. “But in this area, I think their instincts are good. I think they’re trying to do the right thing.”
He hasn’t spoken w/ his longtime friend Aung San Suu Kyi since the coup.
New: House moving to repeal 2002 Iraq war authorization today w/ bipartisan support. It’s the lowest-hanging fruit for proponents of reform, who now have an amenable White House & pure momentum on her side.
Even if Congress can repeal the Iraq AUMFs, crafting a replacement for the 2001 authorization will be a gargantuan task, w/ its unique complexities & the wide array of factions competing for influence.
Senators are skeptical of Biden’s openness to a new AUMF vote.
Cardin: “We have found a consistency among administrations not to be terribly cooperative in limiting their powers. Without the help of the Biden administration, it’s going to be challenging.” politico.com/news/2021/03/2…
“I would be thrilled to lift the holds on the State Department nominees today if they would only follow the law and issue an interim report identifying all of the companies subject to mandatory sanctions.” politico.com/news/2021/03/1…
“What I would like to see is the administration act expeditiously to stop the remaining section of the pipeline,” Sen. Shaheen (D-N.H.) told me.
But with 90% of it done, the worst outcome would be imposing tough sanctions only to see it finalized anyway.