WASHINGTON – On Friday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and twenty-nine of his Republican colleagues in signing a letter demanding a full account of actions by a senior Pentagon official who allegedly served as part of an Iranian influence operation.  

Chief of staff to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, Ariane Tabatabai, allegedly engaged in an Iranian government-linked initiative to bolster Iran’s image and reinforce Tehran’s national security priorities. According to communications in leaked emails, Tabatabai asked Iranian foreign ministry officials for input on her speaking engagements and may have consulted with the Iranian government prior to providing a congressional briefing. 

In the letter, the senators assert that, given the facts, it is unconscionable that a senior defense official would continue to hold a sensitive position despite her alleged participation in an Iranian government influence operation. 

The senators wrote, “[W]e urge you to suspend Ms. Tabatabai's security clearance immediately pending further review.”  

Sens. Johnson and Wicker were joined on the letter by Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Kennedy (R-La.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and John Thune (R-S.D.).

The full text of the letter can be found here. 

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