"We have serious concerns about the potential inadequate protection of classified information here," Rep. Jason Chaffetz said. | Getty Chaffetz asks Justice IG to investigate leaks about Flynn

House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz requested Wednesday that the Department of Justice launch an investigation into the leaks surrounding the ouster of Michael Flynn.

In a letter addressed to inspector general Michael Horowitz released Wednesday, Chaffetz expressed concern over "potentially classified national security information" circulated in recent news reports leading up to the resignation of the former national security adviser.


"We have serious concerns about the potential inadequate protection of classified information here," he said. "In light of this, we request that your office begin an immediate investigation into whether classified information was mishandled here."

Chaffetz told reporters on Tuesday, following Flynn's resignation, that he had no plans to have the Oversight Committee investigate Flynn's communications with Russian officials, saying that the situation was "working itself out."

President Donald Trump on Wednesday similarly criticized the information leaks, blasting the media for reporting on Flynn "very unfairly."

And just hours before his ouster Flynn himself also denounced the leaks as "criminal" in an interview with the Daily Caller.

“You call them leaks. It’s a criminal act. This is a crime. It’s not just a wink and a nod,” Flynn told the outlet from his White House office Monday. “In some of these cases, you’re talking about stuff that’s taken off of a classified system and given to a reporter. That’s a crime."

Flynn went on to speculate on the origin of the leaks. “One has to wonder, ‘Are they coming out of people in the National Security Council? Are they coming out of people in the intel community? Or State? Or Defense?'” he asked.

The letter was co-signed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte.