Trump's Russia adviser was escorted from the White House after 2 months on the job, as part of a mysterious security probe

CNN

• The National Security Council's senior director for European and Russian affairs has been placed on administrative leave, and escorted out of the White House, the Associated Press and Axios reported.

• Andrew Peek was put on leave pending the result of an as-yet unknown security-related investigation, the reports say.

• Peek was appointed to the role in November. The National Security Council is the main foreign-policy unit at the White House.

• His predecessors, Fiona Hill and Tim Morrison, testified to the House last year as part of President Donald Trump's impeachment probe.

• Before his White House appointment, Peek worked for the State Department, and focused on Iran and Iraq.

• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Officials escorted from the White House one of President Donald Trump's top advisers on Russia and Europe, amid a probe into a security-related issue, the Associated Press (AP) and Axios reported Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Andrew Peek, a senior director for European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council (NSC), has been placed on administrative leave pending the result of the as-yet unknown investigation, the outlets reported.

He had been in the role since November, having previously worked for the State Department.

The NSC, which is the White House's main foreign policy unit, told the two outlets that "we do not discuss personnel matters." Business Insider has been unable to reach Peek for comment.

Jacquelyn Martin, File/AP Photo

Peek's predecessor, Tim Morrison, testified last November as part of the House's investigation into President Donald Trump's impeachment, which stemmed from a July 2019 phone call between him and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump was impeached by the House on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress last December. The case moved to the Senate last week, and the chamber will now decide whether to remove the president from office.

Morrison's predecessor in the role, Fiona Hill, also testified in Trump's impeachment probe, where she warned of the ongoing threat to US democracy posed by Russia.

Erin Scott/Reuters

Before being placed on leave, Peek had been expected to attend the upcoming Davos summit in Switzerland, where Trump and other political and business leaders will gather for the World Economic Forum.

While at the State Department, Peek served as a deputy assistant secretary focusing on Iran and Iraq.

Prior to this, he was a US Army intelligence adviser to now-retired Marine Gen. John Allen, who commanded the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan at the time.

• Read more:

• Trump surrounded himself with yes-men who treated him like a cult leader. As his impeachment trial looms, that could prove a disaster.

• All the casualties of the Trump administration so far

• The White House called the Democrats' impeachment case against Trump a 'dangerous attack' in its first formal response

• The public servants Trump smeared as 'traitors' and 'human scum' are Time magazine's 2019 'Guardians of the Year'

Read the original article on Business Insider