Scott, Hagerty, Senate Colleagues Press State Department on Handling of Special Envoy for Iran Malley’s Suspension

WASHINGTON – United States Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the State Department Acting Inspector General Diana Shaw calling for an independent investigation into whether Department officials complied with all appropriate laws and regulations with respect to the suspension of Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley’s access to classified information.

The calls for an investigation come in the wake of reports that suggest Special Envoy Malley continued to do State Department work for weeks after the Department suspended his clearance.

“Given the role and responsibilities of the Special Envoy for Iran and the position’s importance to securing U.S. national security interests, we were alarmed to learn that the U.S. Department of State has suspended Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley’s clearance, is conducting an investigation into Malley’s handling of classified information, and only recently placed Malley on leave without pay. We write to request that the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conduct an independent investigation into whether State Department officials complied with all appropriate laws and regulations—including policies and procedures described in the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM)—with regard to the suspension of Special Envoy for Iran Malley’s access to classified information,” the Senators wrote.

Senator Scott was joined by Senators Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).

Read the full letter here.