Intelligence meeting canceled after attacks by far-right activist Laura Loomer, Democratic senator says

Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner said Tuesday that he is being blocked from a scheduled oversight meeting after interference from far-right activist Laura Loomer

Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner said Tuesday that he is being blocked from a scheduled oversight meeting after interference from far-right activist Laura Loomer.

Warner, D-Va., said the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency meeting scheduled for Friday was called off after Loomer launched public attacks on him and the NGA’s director, Vice Adm. Trey Whitworth.

“This nakedly political decision undermines the dedicated, nonpartisan staff at NGA and threatens the principle of civilian oversight that protects our national security,” Warner said in a statement.

“Members of Congress routinely conduct meetings and on-site engagements with federal employees in their states and districts; blocking and setting arbitrary conditions on these sessions sets a dangerous precedent, calling into question whether oversight is now allowed only when it pleases the far-right fringe,” he said.

Warner said that the meeting was scheduled weeks ago and that it was an unpublicized and classified visit.