Top Republicans claim classified docs were stolen from U.S. special envoy to Iran's personal phone

U.S. special envoy to Iran Robert Malley, who is still on unpaid leave, had his security clearance revoked last year because classified documents were on his personal email and smartphone, which were stolen by a "hostile cyber actor," according to top GOP lawmakers.

His security clearance was reportedly suspended in April 2023.

“We remain deeply frustrated by the Department's lack of responsiveness to our requests for information needed to conduct appropriate oversight,” wrote top Republicans on both the Senate Foreign Relations and the House Foreign Affairs committees to Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a letter dated May 6. “Due to the Department's evasiveness and lack of transparency, we have worked to glean information from other sources.”

Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, and Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, requested that Blinken confirm that classified information on Malley's personal device was downloaded by a hostile cyber actor, which was not named in the letter.

The lawmakers also asked Blinken in the letter to answer several additional questions.

“Did Mr. Mailey send or attempt to send these documents to anyone who lacked the proper clearance,” Blinken was asked in the letter. “Were any of these individuals affiliated with the Iranian government or the Iran Experts Initiative?”