Rob Malley, the US special envoy on Iran, has been placed on leave without pay, which occurred after his security clearance was suspended earlier this year amid an investigation into his handling of classified material, multiple sources told CNN.

A US official said that Malley’s clearance was suspended amid a State Department diplomatic security investigation into the possible mishandling of classified information. Another source familiar with the matter said he was placed on unpaid leave on Thursday afternoon.

[Just yesterday he was still answering questions about a potential reinstatement of the JCPOA. This seems like a dramatic change in fortune for a man who already has some murky history. Malley had to exit the Obama 2008 campaign when his contacts with Hamas came to light, a point that didn’t prevent him from entering the Biden administration. If he “mishandled” classified material to the point where he’s been suspended without pay, this is worth watching. — Ed]