Below is a transcript of an interview conducted with Republican Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. The interview took place on “Face the Nation” on June 25, 2023.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Joining us now is Congressman Mike Turner, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Good morning, Congressman Turner.
REP. MIKE TURNER: Good morning, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I understand that you, along with other congressional leaders, have been briefed multiple times by the administration regarding the risk posed by the Wagner group. Can you share how the U.S. intelligence compares to the information we had about Putin’s plans to invade Ukraine?
REP. TURNER: Certainly. The Intelligence Committee was well aware of the impending conflict between Prigozhin and Putin. Prigozhin, as seen in public sources, has been critical of the Russian government and Putin through videos released for months. Putin allowed this criticism, which even challenged the premise of the war and NATO’s involvement, to escalate to the point where Prigozhin entered Russia and made it all the way to Moscow. This raises concerns about Putin’s control of his military. A stable government requires control over its military, and the fact that Prigozhin had accomplices and was able to reach Moscow poses challenges for Putin both internationally and domestically. As an authoritarian government, Putin’s power depends on asserting control, and this incident will certainly be a significant issue for him.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Was Putin himself aware of the potential of this uprising?
REP. TURNER: I cannot disclose our intelligence, but the fact that Putin allowed Prigozhin’s videos, which criticized him and called for the removal of the Minister of Defense, to be distributed publicly indicates that he was aware of the threat. Prigozhin’s recent statement even called for the removal of the President himself. So Putin had plenty of public notice regarding Prigozhin’s criticism and the threat he posed, and yet this military action still occurred.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The question arises whether this was a strategic move by Prigozhin or simply a gamble. Do we have any insight into this?
REP. TURNER: Prigozhin is a military man who understands logistics. The fact that he was able to make this trip from Ukraine to Moscow in just 12 hours, getting within two hours of Moscow, indicates careful planning and collaboration with accomplices. This was not a spontaneous decision or a casual trip. It required significant preparation and coordination.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Last month, there were reports that Prigozhin offered to help Ukraine attack the Russian military by sharing information on troop positions. How does this event impact the war in Ukraine? What are Prigozhin’s interests?
REP. TURNER: This event certainly undermines Putin’s position and his efforts to continue the war in Ukraine. Prigozhin’s statements questioning the premise of the war, accusing the government of lies, and denying the involvement of NATO and Nazis in Ukraine make it much harder for Putin to justify sending people to die in this conflict. The exposure of these contradictions weakens Putin politically and challenges his ability to rally support for the war.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary Blinken could not answer certain questions during our interview. Is this due to a lack of intelligence or classified information?
REP. TURNER: I cannot provide a direct answer either, but it is safe to assume that our focus on Russia and Ukraine has been intense. The successes in Ukraine have been partly due to the efforts of the intelligence community. Going forward, it will be crucial to closely monitor the developments in Russia and anticipate the next steps for Putin and the country.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Chairman Turner, please stay with us. We need to take a short break. We will continue our conversation in a minute.
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back. We are here with Chairman Mike Turner of the House Intelligence Committee. I’d like to shift our focus to China. How would you characterize the current relationship between Vladimir Putin and China?
REP. TURNER: President Xi must be concerned about his relationship with Putin. When Xi stood next to Putin in Moscow and proclaimed that they were together in bringing about change against democracy, he did not expect to find himself next to a leader who couldn’t even control his own military. Putin’s recent national address, where he promised punishment for those involved in the uprising, followed by Prigozhin’s vacation in Belarus and the signing of contracts by his troops, does not align with the notion of inevitable punishment. This weakened position of Putin diminishes President Xi’s standing and raises concerns about the stability of Russia.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Last week, the Director of National Intelligence released a declassified summary on the origins of COVID. The findings were inconclusive. Why is there still uncertainty?
REP. TURNER: The declassified summary by Director Haines represents their understanding of the intelligence they have reviewed. However, we have requested the full declassification of the information regarding the COVID and Wuhan lab’s activities. The summary is a limited representation, and we need access to the complete intelligence to gain a clearer understanding of the situation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thank you, Chairman Turner, for sharing your insights. We appreciate your time.
REP. TURNER: Thank you, Margaret. It was my pleasure.
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