First Chamber Speaker Johnson Johnson said statements were “forthcoming” in his panel’s inquiry into the origins of the Russian probe – specifically regarding what he called “corruption” in the presidency. transition period – despite prior pushback from colleagues.
In a telephone interview with Fox News Thursday, Johnson, R-Wis., Said the commission is “absolutely” considering postponing sentiments to top Obama officials, such as former FBI Director James Comey and former National Intelligence Director James Clapper, but that the commission is engaged in a “conceivable process.”
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“We try to gather as many resources and as much knowledge about this as possible, because the timing is short. We want underlying documents before testimony, “Johnson told Fox News, saying that questioning will be” more effective “if they get underlying documents before interviews.
“We have a comprehensive list. Comey is on that list and Clapper, ”Johnson explained.
“The clock is ticking, I understand that people on our side are seeing what Democrats have done, but I am not a Democrat. I do not read, I do not make false information, I do not make false stories, “Johnson said.” We are dealing with facts and truth. And I hope our base does not want us to do exactly the same thing – if you look at what Democrats have done, with special counsel Robert Mueller and the impeachment. “
But Johnson also sought to clarify reports that he claimed Republicans were blocking journalists from publishing.
Johnson referred, in an interview with Hugh Hewitt this week, to some initial hesitation on the part of Republican commissioners earlier this summer, before giving him the power to issue state points. During the interview, Johnson acknowledged that some Republicans were “very concerned” about what the research and issuance of statements would look like “politics.”
Johnson, however, told Fox News on Thursday that Republicans “do not block keywords.”
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“It simply came to our notice then. “Members of my committee had legitimate concerns, and I’m not critical of them,” Johnson said. “We have addressed the concerns, we reject the motion requests, and I agree to do as much as possible to obtain testimony on a voluntary basis.”
In June, the commission voted to authorize votes by the FBI and other agencies for records and testimonies of Obama-era officials related to the bureau’s original investigation and the Justice Department’s Inspector General’s review of that probe. .
Johnson has the ability to issue state-of-the-art statements to a number of officials, including former FBI attorney James Baker, former CIA director John Brennan, Comey, Clapper, former Obama chief of staff Denis McDonough, former FBI attorney Lisa Page, former FBI agent agent Peter Strzok and a number of other Obama-era officials.
Johnson said he respected ‘the views’ of his committee members and that he considered their concerns ‘legitimate’.
“I have behaved like my committee members, which we would appreciate if you would try to obtain testimonials and documents on a voluntary basis,” Johnson explained. ‘And that is not an unreasonable request. I would much rather do things on a voluntary basis. Subpoenas are a pain. ”
He added: “I am not currently receiving any pushback when issuing keywords. And I heard nothing in violation of issuing the statement to the FBI, and I do not expect any further pushback on other searches.”
“We’re trying to go through a thought process here,” Johnson said.
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Johnson, earlier this week, slammed the FBI and Director Christopher Wray as part of the broader review of the origins of the Russia investigation. The ruling requires the agency to “produce all records related to the Crossfire Hurricane investigation” and “all records related to applications” to the Administration of General Services or the Office of the Inspector General of the GSA for “presidential transition records of November 2016 to December 2017. ”
The FBI must deliver these documents to the commission by Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. ET, according to the statement.
“The FBI has already produced documents and information to the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which will respond immediately to this statement,” the FBI said in a statement to Fox News on Monday. “As always, the FBI will continue to work on the commission’s requests, in compliance with our law enforcement and national security obligations.”
The statement is addressed to the “Federal Bureau of Investigation c / o (care of) Christopher Wray.”
An FBI official told Fox News on Monday that the agency had already “produced documents to the commission on a rolling basis and provided resources to do so.”
Meanwhile, Johnson said it was important to get documents for testimony, saying “you want to build a case before you go to the people at the top.”
“It’s how you do each research,” Johnson explained. “I realize it’s a waste of time and I realize we’re on time, but we have interviews scheduled. And once we get documents from the FBI, that will help direct how we explain all this in terms of interviews. “
“I’m considering calling all those people,” he said, referring to the list of Obama officials. “At this point, we consider presenting each and everything on that list.”
He added: “I have tried the voluntary route, and now I am ready for the mandatory process.”
“Subpoenas will arrive,” he told Fox News. “That I can guarantee you.”
Such statements would cover records made available to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz for his review of the Russian probe and alleged abuse of the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)) guarantees for approval by members of the and the Trump campaign.
The commission has also authorized state elections to the State Department for the production of records related to meetings or communications between State Department officials or former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, who led the unverified anti-Trump file compiled that served as much of the basis for FISA warning applications to investigate former Trump campaign aide Carter Page.
The commission has also given permission to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to produce all records related to the process of ‘unmasking’ U.S. individuals or entities “formally or informally” associated with the Trump campaign, it said. Trump transition team or the Trump administration from June 2015 to January 2017.
