WASHINGTON – Mike Turner, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee from Ohio, was unexpectedly ousted from his position by House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday. This move has raised alarms among some members about the potential interference of President-elect Donald Trump in Congressional matters.

In an interview with CBS News’ Margaret Brennan, Turner disclosed that Johnson mentioned “concerns from Mar-a-Lago” when explaining the reason for his dismissal—referring to Trump’s residence in Florida.

“I take great pride in my service to the House Intelligence Committee and as its chair,” Turner stated in a post on X. “During my leadership, we prioritized restoring the Committee’s integrity and shifted our focus back to national security. The threats posed by our adversaries are serious and require thorough discussions.”

Democratic committee member Rep. Jim Himes from Connecticut expressed his belief that Turner would have remained independent from Trump if necessary, saying that Turner’s dismissal was unsettling.

However, Johnson refuted claims that the decision originated from Mar-a-Lago, asserting that it was merely an effort to bring in “fresh horses” for the committee.

“This was not a directive from President Trump, but rather a decision made by the House. This is not meant to undermine our outgoing chairman, who has performed admirably,” he stated. The intention was to offer the committee “a fresh beginning, and that’s all there is to it.”

A representative for Trump’s transition team has yet to respond to inquiries for comment.

Turner, who is currently serving his 12th term in a district based in Dayton, has opposed Trump on significant matters: he advocates for more support to Ukraine, has expressed deep concern over Trump’s handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, and has been critical of Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence.

Turner’s quick removal has ignited frustration among several House Republicans who are displeased with Johnson’s management of the situation. Johnson appointed Rep. Rick Crawford, a Republican from Arkansas who opposed aid to Ukraine last year, to replace Turner.

Trump has historically been skeptical of U.S. intelligence agencies, accusing them of attempting to sabotage his presidential campaigns. Intelligence officials maintain that they function in a nonpartisan capacity within the U.S. government. John Ratcliffe, Trump’s pick for the Central Intelligence Agency, assured during his confirmation hearing that he would not allow political motivations to influence the agency.