GOP Lawmakers claim ex-nuclear envoy Malley mishandled classified docs
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Malley was suspended without pay in the summer of 2023, several months after his security clearance was revoked.
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Robert Malley, US Special Envoy for Iran, is shown on June 20, 2021, in Vienna, Austria (AP)
Republican lawmakers have reportedly received evidence suggesting that former US Special Envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, downloaded classified documents and shared them with individuals outside the US government.
This comes amid an ongoing investigation into Malley's suspension, as reported by Semafor on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Malley was suspended without pay in the summer of 2023, several months after his security clearance was revoked.
The FBI is investigating allegations that he mishandled classified information related to Iran while leading negotiations to revive the Iranian nuclear deal.
According to the lawmakers, Malley allegedly transferred about a dozen documents to his devices.
These documents ranged from sensitive but unclassified to classified and included detailed notes of his meetings with Iranian officials in the months preceding his suspension.
Additional documents pertained to the US response to political protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini.
Read more: What prompted Rob Malley's dismissal? A letter, Tehran Times reveals
Politico reported on Friday that the FBI has initiated an investigation into Malley possibly transferring classified information to his email account, potentially exposing it to foreign actors.
On May 6, Senator Jim Risch and Representative Michael McCaul, the top Republicans on the Senate and House foreign affairs committees respectively, sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
They demanded answers regarding Malley's case, asking, "Did Malley send or attempt to send these documents to anyone who lacked the proper security clearance? Were any of these individuals affiliated with the Iranian government or the Iran Experts Initiative (IEI)?"
This situation is further complicated by a previous report from Axios. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed concerns to Israeli counterparts that "Israel" had been leaking information to the press about the indirect talks between the US and Iran.
The implications of these allegations, if proven true, could significantly impact US diplomatic relations and the security protocols surrounding sensitive information, the report noted.
Read more: Iran lambasts US for threatening ICC with sanctions over 'Israel'
