Washington, November 25, 2025 – Information, confirmed by multiple sources from the U.S. administration, the intelligence community, and Capitol Hill, caused unexpected turmoil in Washington and opened a debate about the conduct of a legislator with direct involvement in national security and organized crime issues. Crenshaw, a Republican representative from Texas and former Navy SEAL, traveled to Mexico as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee's cartel working group, a role he no longer holds due to the dissolution of the group. That a diplomatic incident led to a CIA cable warning —an extremely unusual event— highlights the sensitivity of the bilateral relationship and the weight Washington places on joint work in the fight against cartels. The political future of Crenshaw is now under observation. Among the attendees was also Democratic Representative Lou Correa of California. The cable sent from the CIA station not only reflected concern over the specific episode but also the diplomatic impact at a time when bilateral cooperation on intelligence, narcotics, and organized crime is going through a critical phase. Although he emerged unscathed from the attempt to remove him from the Intelligence Committee, the existence of the cable sent from the CIA's office in Mexico could open the door to new internal pressures and a stricter analysis of his conduct on official missions. In a statement that Crenshaw shared on social media, the House leader described him as “our go-to for addressing the threat of drug cartels,” highlighting his experience as a former SEAL and his influence on the national security agenda. The episode occurs in a context of growing friction between the United States and Mexico over operations against transnational criminal organizations and the increasingly active role Congress plays in overseeing intelligence agencies. However, the repercussions of the internal report were immediate in Washington. That a U.S. delegation entrusted with sensitive matters for both countries was exposed by the behavior of one of its members caused alarm within the agency and forced internal reviews of protocols for official travel. The CIA declined to make public comments, preserving the confidentiality of classified communications. The decision exposed internal tensions within the Republican bloc and hinted at a political struggle between sectors seeking to discipline Crenshaw and those who consider him indispensable for the party's national security agenda. From his office, Crenshaw responded with a defiant tone. For now, the legislator maintains influence, party backing, and a key role in the national security agenda, but his position within Washington's political-strategic apparatus has, at least for the moment, become fragile. The legislator also resigned as chairman of the cartel working group. Crawford pressured to go further and remove Crenshaw from the Intelligence Committee, as well as strip him of the chairmanship of the subcommittee responsible for overseeing defense intelligence. Days after the incident, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, along with Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford, imposed a sanction on Crenshaw: a 90-day ban on traveling with delegations funded with public money. In a statement released to the media, his spokesperson justified the episode, calling it a “pathetic political attack” and downplaying the seriousness of the legislator's behavior: “Anyone who is scandalized by uniformed men making a crude joke while toasting has never spent more than five minutes with military men,” he stated. Mike Johnson himself, despite having pushed for the initial sanction, later came to the defense of the congressman, emphasizing his strategic value within Congress. Johnson blocked both initiatives, which allowed the Texas congressman to retain those positions of power. During that visit, according to sources consulted, the legislator would have engaged in behaviors considered “unprofessional” in the presence of Mexican officials, including excessive alcohol consumption and a toast with crude language that made several women present uncomfortable.
