House Intel chair issues cryptic threat warning with FISA reform debate underway

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner on Wednesday issued a cryptic warning about a "serious national security threat" while the debate over reforming the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is underway.

The warning also comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson said he doesn't have plans to vote on the Senate-passed $95 billion foreign aid bill that would send $61 billion to Ukraine 

Turner urged President Biden to declassify information related to the undisclosed threat.

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

"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."

Turner's warning reportedly refers to a Russian capability, according to CNN sources.

In response to Turner's statement, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that earlier in the week he offered to personally brief the "Gang of Eight" on the matter Thursday but declined to provide further details.

The Gang of Eight refers to Democrat and Republican leaders of the House and Senate plus the chairmen and the ranking members of the Senate and House Intelligence committees.

"I am a bit surprised that Congressman Turner came out publicly today in advance of a meeting on the books for me to go sit with him alongside our intelligence and defense professionals tomorrow," Sullivan said.

"I’m not in a position to say anything further from this podium at this time, other than to make the broad point that this administration has gone further, and in more creative, more strategic ways, dealt with the declassification of intelligence in the national interest of the United States than any administration in history."

Rep. Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat and the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, addressed Turner's statement.

“People should not panic — that is unequivocal. People should not panic,” he said on Wednesday. “I don’t want people thinking that Martians are landing or that your Wednesday is going to be ruined. But it is something that the Congress and the administration does need to address in the medium to long run."

The FISA reform bill under consideration in the House does not currently include a provision that would end the warrantless surveillance of U.S. citizens. Conservative lawmakers are calling for the legislation to be amended to include language that would not allow the kind of surveillance that is currently permitted under FISA without obtaining a warrant.

The House Rules Committee could vote on the FISA reform bill as early as Wednesday.