Ousted National Security Council official joining House Intelligence Committee: report

Derek Harvey, a former National Security Council (NSC) official, is joining the staff of the House Intelligence Committee, The Atlantic reported.

National security adviser H.R. McMaster ousted Harvey, who advised President Trump on the Middle East, in July along with several other officials.

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn, McMaster’s predecessor, had appointed Harvey to the post before he departed the White House after revelations surfaced that Flynn misled Vice President Pence about his discussions regarding U.S. sanctions on Russia with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. before Trump’s inauguration.

{mosads}The former NSC official, known as a hawkish member, left amid fierce disagreements within the Trump administration over its approach to Iran. 

Harvey reportedly said in July that he hopes “to take advantage of a new opportunity to continue serving.”

The House Intelligence Committee is chaired by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), who recused himself earlier this year from the panel’s investigation into Russia interference in the presidential election.

His recusal came after the California lawmaker accused former President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, Susan Rice, of improperly unmasking the names of Trump transition associates in intelligence reports — information based off of documents he received from the White House.

Harvey has ties both to Capitol Hill and Nunes, The Atlantic notes in its report, which was based on two unidentified sources.