US State Department removes bio of Iran envoy off of website
The United States Department of State removed the biography of its Iran envoy, Robert Malley, following an investigation into his mishandling of classified information.
The State Department has deleted its envoy on Iran, Rob Malley's biography from its official website in light of a probe into the diplomat's alleged mishandling of classified information, The Washington Free Beacon reported.
The website underlined that Malley's bio has been deleted from the State Department's website, which could mean that he lost his post despite Washington saying he is "on leave" due to undisclosed reasons.,
The situation is similar over on Twitter, with the Iran envoy's official page no longer showing Malley's image and instead showing that of acting special envoy Abram Paley who has taken on the duties of the embattled diplomat in light of the investigation into his actions.
Though he has been off the court for months now, it was only last month that Malley was announced to have been on paid leave before news broke out that he was being investigated for mishandling classified information.
In the wake of the news, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul sent a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting a briefing on matters related to Malley over his unpaid leave.
Although Malley is under investigation by the FBI and has reportedly had his security clearance revoked, the State Department has failed to provide lawmakers with substantive information on the situation, the letter, dated Thursday but released Friday, said.
"As a senior Department official charged with a highly sensitive role, Special Envoy Malley enjoyed access to critical intelligence and numerous senior State Department, Executive Branch, and foreign officials. It is alarming that the Department chooses to withhold even the most basic of details from Congress, such as the timeline of Special Envoy Malley's leave, clearance status, accesses, and foreign contacts," the letter said.
Read next: US Congress demands info on probe into Iran envoy suspension
The text also requests arrangements for a classified briefing with two State Department officials no later than July 17. The committee is prepared to compel the appearance of requested witnesses should they refuse to cooperate, the letter added.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee has sought Malley’s testimony on Iran policy for months, the letter said. However, the State Department has cited personal leave as cause for Malley’s unavailability, and never informed lawmakers about his security clearance being suspended.
The lawmaker also expressed concerns to Blinken that the State Department may have misled Congress and the public about the situation, according to the letter.
Earlier on the Chairman of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs called on the State Department to provide information about a decision to place the US special envoy Iran Robert Malley on leave amid an investigation into his handling of classified documents.
The suspension of Malley's clearance is independently troubling, and the main concern is compounded by the State Department's failure to respond to the committee's efforts to conduct oversight of its negotiations and policies toward Iran, explaining that "Since April 11, the committee has repeatedly requested [Malley's] testimony, which the department has not fulfilled, despite [his] numerous press engagements dating back to May 30, 2023."
White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said last month that the US policy of pressuring Iran will remain unchanged despite the leave of Iran envoy Rob Malley.
Kirby also emphasized that the US will maintain pressure on Iran and collaborate with its allies to confront Tehran's alleged nuclear goals - although Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes - as well as support for Russia.