JUST IN: House intel chairman warns of 'serious national security threat'

On Wednesday, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee alerted members of Congress about a "serious national security threat."

Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) issued a statement on the matter and urged President Biden to declassify information related to the alleged threat so that Congress and the Biden administration can take the "necessary" actions to "respond to the threat."

"Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has made available to all Members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat," wrote Turner.

"I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat," he added.

The statement did not include additional details pertaining to the threat.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke to reporters at a press briefing shortly after Turner released the statement. Sullivan did not provide details on the threat but stated that he was baffled by the congressman's statement, according to NBC News.

Sullivan said that the Biden administration already had a planned briefing for Thursday, which a US official later confirmed is related to the national security threat.

Reporters asked Sullivan during the briefing on Wednesday if Americans should be concerned about the threat, to which Sullivan responded: "In a way, that question is impossible to answer with a straight 'yes' ... because Americans understand that there are a range of threats and challenges in the world that we’re dealing with every single day, and those threats and challenges range from terrorism to state actors, and we have to contend with them."
 

"I am confident that President Biden, in the decisions that he has taken, is going to ensure the security of the American people going forward, and I will stand here at this podium and assert that, look you in the eye with confidence that we believe that we can and will and are protecting the national security of the United States and the American people," said Sullivan.

A source familiar with the matter reportedly told the network: "This is a serious issue that could lead to a destabilizing situation and a national security threat."

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the situation and told reporters in the Capitol on Wednesday that there is no need for American citizens to panic.

"I saw Chairman Turner’s statement on the issue and I want to assure the American people, there is no need for public alarm," said Johnson. "We are going to work together to address this matter as we do all sensitive matters that are classified."

"We just want to assure everyone steady hands are at the wheel, we’re working on it, and there’s no need for alarm," added Johnson.

This is a developing story. Refresh the page for updates.