29 Mar 2024
Wednesday 15 May 2019 - 10:11
Story Code : 348879

US lawmakers lament: 'All of us are in the dark over here' on Iran

Reuters - Members of the U.S. Congress complained on Tuesday that President Donald Trumps administration has not shared enough information with them as tensions flared with Iran, with even some Republicans saying they have been left in the dark.

I think all of us are in the dark over here, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters outside the Senate. Asked if he thought lawmakers would be briefed on the situation, he said, I hope so.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, has requested a briefing for House members, but an aide said the administration had not yet agreed.

Senate aides said no briefing had yet been scheduled for the full Republican-controlled Senate, despite appeals from Democrats.

If Iran is responsible for targeted attacks on our service members stationed around the region or any of our national security assets, we should of course respond appropriately and in a way that deters and prevents further assaults, said Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

But it is hard to justify the administrations actions thus far since they insist on stonewalling Congress from receiving any specifics about what these increased threats actually are and our strategy to confront them.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A few congressional committees - including the Senate and House intelligence and the Senate Armed Services panel - said they had arranged briefings for staff or members later this week or had already had one, committee aides said.
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