GOP Senators Accuse Pentagon Official of Leaking Classified Information on Chinese Spy Balloon

Two Republican senators claim that Colin Kahl, a Pentagon official, leaked classified information concerning Chinese spy balloons in an attempt to shift blame to the Biden administration for its mishandling of the situation.

Kahl was appointed by President Joe Biden as his undersecretary for defense policy. He provided classified information to reporters. It revealed that spy balloons from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), may have entered the United States during Trump’s administration, Sens. Roger Wicker (R., Miss.) Marco Rubio, R., Fla. wrote in a March 10, letter.

This is the first instance Kahl has been identified by the leaks. These leaks seem to have been an attempt at shifting blame away from Biden, who allowed the Chinese spy ball to fly across the United States before taking it down.

The Pentagon official however forgot to mention that the Chinese previous balloons were discovered later. Trump’s administration was unable to respond.

“In addition, soon after the balloon became public knowledge, Dr. Kahl leaked previously classified information to the press about prior Chinese surveillance balloons during the Trump administration,” In their letter, the senators made these remarks.

“It remains unclear whether this leak was cleared internally through the proper channels. Either way, it was a brazen attempt to shift blame. Most egregiously, Dr. Kahl omitted a key detail in his distribution of this sensitive information to the press – the prior Chinese balloons were only discovered much later. The Trump administration did not have an opportunity to respond at the time.”

Near the end, they stated that they “sincerely hope you will hold Dr. Kahl accountable for his politicization of previously classified materials. This type of behavior is the reason every Senate Republican voted against Dr. Kahl’s nomination in 2021.”

More information regarding China’s spy balloons continues to surface. The United States Northern Commands and Southern Commands chiefs stated that China had taken down its spy balloon just as another was about to fly into the United States. reported.

“What I understand is the PRC actually terminated that balloon in the Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of South America,” Gen. Glen VanHerck is the head of the U.S. Northern Command. He spoke to the House Armed Services Committee during a hearing.

Gen. Laura Richardson, head of U.S. Southern Command, confirmed that this was true. The time and location of the takedown as well as the exact position of the balloon remains were not disclosed by either party.

The Epoch Times requested comment from the Pentagon but they did not respond immediately.