House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said Republicans are “boycotting” panel briefings.
The California Democrat made the claim Monday during an interview with MSNBC when he spoke about a briefing planned by the Trump administration for Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday about alleged Russian rewards to Taliban militants for killing US and coalition forces in Afghanistan after the White House briefed eight senior Republicans on intelligence on Monday.
While emphasizing that it is important that such briefings be conducted in a “bipartisan” manner to ensure that neither side receives a different opinion from US officials, Schiff noted, “Right now, Republicans are boycotting briefings. what are we doing.”
Presenter Chris Hayes, who seemed completely baffled by the statement, asked Schiff to confirm what he said was not a mistake.
“They have been, yes, and we’re not quite sure why. They don’t have much of an explanation for it,” Schiff said, adding that these are “important” briefings on national security issues, including one looming. week.
In Hayes’ repeated efforts to get him to explain how a boycott can occur when the Republican Party has not made demands, Schiff repeated that the Republicans have given no reason. But he also admitted: “Now, I saw one of the members try to explain that they don’t think it’s safe enough, but these reports are unclassified material. In fact, some of these reports are open hearings, and are still not in attendance or even to open public hearings. So I’m not sure how to explain it. I think it’s very childish. “
It is no secret that a gap has formed between the parties on the panel since President Trump took office, and to this day Republicans say Democrats are mismanaging the committee.
“Republicans believe that a committee handling our nation’s most confidential secrets should not conduct its business in open hearings organized insecurely on the Internet,” said Jack Langer, communications director for senior member Devin Nunes. Washington Examiner in response to Schiff’s comments on Monday.
The Republican boycott dates back to its refusal to attend a subcommittee hearing in February to protest the Democratic-led panel’s refusal to schedule a hearing or briefing on issues they deemed “critical.” They expressed concern that there is “inadequate oversight” of the US intelligence community.
“Until the Committee prioritizes oversight activities related to urgent and critical concerns, Republican members cannot support distractions from our primary responsibilities,” said a letter that members of the Republican panel sent to Schiff at the time.
With Democrats focusing their investigative efforts on Ukraine, which led to an impeachment investigation and later to Trump’s acquittal in the Senate, and later to the coronavirus pandemic, Republicans on the Intelligence Committee of the House have prioritized scrutiny of the Russian investigation. Nunes, a California Republican, told Fox Business last week that Republicans have sent “about 14 criminal references” to the Justice Department as part of their investigation.
