Biden trolled as it emerges his suspended Iran envoy Robert Malley may have leaked classified material

WASHINGTON, DC: A congressional investigation into President Joe Biden’s suspended special envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, has revealed evidence suggesting that Malley may have shared classified material with individuals outside the US government.

The probe, led by Republican lawmakers, found that Malley, who was quietly placed on unpaid leave last June and had his security clearance suspended two months prior, disseminated sensitive documents to advance his diplomatic efforts concerning Tehran.

Evidence of document transfer

Sources briefed on the investigation informed Semafor that Malley transferred about a dozen documents, some marked “sensitive” and “classified,” to his personal devices.

These documents reportedly included “detailed notes” of his interactions with Iranian officials in the months preceding his suspension, as well as material related to the US government’s response to the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests in Iran. The dissemination of these documents to personal devices raised significant security concerns among GOP lawmakers.

The investigation further revealed that Malley transferred these documents while he was responsible for leading the Biden administration’s diplomatic relations with Iran. The move, according to Republican officials, might have compromised national security and strained diplomatic efforts.

In early May, the top Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees requested the State Department to confirm “troubling allegations” that Malley stored classified material on his personal email account and cellphone, which was allegedly accessed by a “hostile cyber actor.”

Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member James Risch (R-Idaho) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) expressed their concerns in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken dated May 6.

“Specifically, we understand that Mr. Malley’s security clearance was suspended because he allegedly transferred classified documents to his personal email account and downloaded these documents to his personal cell phone,” the letter stated. “It is unclear to whom he intended to provide these documents, but it is believed that a hostile cyber actor was able to gain access to his email and/or phone and obtain the downloaded information.”

A State Department spokesperson confirmed that Malley remains on leave and that the department has provided Congress with information on personnel inquiries related to Iran policy. However, the spokesperson declined to comment on the specific allegations raised by Risch and McCaul.

Comparisons to Hillary Clinton's email scandal

The Malley investigation has drawn comparisons to the 2015 FBI investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server during her tenure.

Clinton was found to have stored tens of thousands of emails on unsecured private servers, including 81 email chains discussing classified information and seven referring to material at the Top Secret/Special Access Program level.

The FBI’s investigation into Clinton revealed startling details, including her lack of understanding of the classification system and the destruction of multiple cell phones "with a hammer" by her aide.

Ultimately, the FBI concluded that Clinton was “extremely careless” but did not charge her with a crime. This precedent has fueled the debate on how Malley’s case should be handled, with critics drawing parallels and demanding accountability, the New York Post reported.

Biden slammed on social media

The allegations against Malley have sparked a wave of backlash on social media.

“I’m sure he did! Everything about this administration is a disaster!” one user posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Holy s***. This is actual treason,” another wrote.

Some users pointed to what they perceived as a pattern of behavior within the Biden administration.

“In his defense, his boss did it regularly so he didn’t know it was a problem,” someone else quipped.

“Since the then former VP Biden was accused of sharing our nation’s secrets with our nation’s adversaries, is it surprising his current staff does too?” a comment read.

“Considering this administration, I’d be more surprised if he HADN’T shared classified material,” another chimed in.

Malley is currently under investigation by the FBI, according to McCaul and Risch.

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