Republicans set their sights on FBI chief when Russian probe investigation went up

Two high-ranking Republican chairmen of the House of Representatives are hailing FBI Director Christopher Wray as they raise their concerns following the investigation into Russian election interference and the Trump campaign.

First Chamber Speaker of the First Chamber Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamHillicon Valley: Facebook Deletes More Than 22 Million Hate Speech Messages In Second Quarter | Republicans Introduce Bill to Defend Universities Against Hackers Targeting COVID-19 Research | Facebook’s Sandberg supports Harris as VP-pick Republicans view FBI chief as Russian probe investigates up The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Speculation over announcement of Biden’s running mate MORE (RS.C.) and Chairman of the Commission on Homeland Security and Government Affairs Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonHillicon Valley: Facebook Deletes More Than 22 Million Hate Speech Messages In Second Quarter | Republicans Introduce Bill to Defend Universities Against Hackers Targeting COVID-19 Research | Facebook’s Sandberg supports Harris as VP-pick Republicans watch FBI chief overthrow Russian probe into Davis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators keeping quiet about Donald Trump MORE (R-Wis.) Appeared Tuesday Wray, who has increasingly been a target for GOP lawmakers.

Graham sent a letter to Wray this week about a 2018 briefing in which a controversial 2016 research dossier was compiled on then-candidate Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocrat calls on White House to take back ambassador to Belarus nominated TikTok to collect data from mobile devices to track Android users: Peterson report wins Minnesota House primarily in crucial swing district MORE that the FBI provided to the Senate Intelligence Committee, of which Graham is not a member.

Over the weekend, Graham released a document that has been declassified by Attorney General William BarrBill BarrKamala Harris: The Right Choice at the Right Time Hillicon Valley: Facebook Deletes More Than 22 Million Hate Speech Messages in Second Quarter | Republicans Introduce Bill to Defend Universities Against Hackers Targeting COVID-19 Research | Facebook’s Sandberg supports Harris as VP pick Three pros and three cons to Biden pick Harris MORE who noted that the 2018 briefing took place as part of an agreement between Wray, then chairman of the Intelligence Committee Richard BurrRichard Mauze BurrHillicon Valley: Facebook Deletes More Than 22 Million Hate Speech Messages In Second Quarter | Republicans Introduce Bill to Defend Universities Against Hackers Targeting COVID-19 Research | Facebook’s Sandberg supports Harris as VP-pick Republicans watch FBI chief overthrow Russian probe investigators Davis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators keeping quiet about Donald Trump MORE (RN.C.) and vice president Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerHillicon Valley: Facebook Deletes More Than 22 Million Hate Speech Messages In Second Quarter | Republicans Introduce Bill to Defend Universities Against Hackers Targeting COVID-19 Research | Facebook’s Sandberg supports Harris as Republican VPs view FBI chief as Russia’s probe investigates The Hill’s Campaign Report up: US officials say Russia, China seek discord in election to MEE (D-Va.).

“What is particularly troubling about this briefing is that the schedule of the briefing indicates that at least three material misrepresentations regarding the primary sub-source and what he told the FBI about the Steele case in 2017 were made to the commission,” he said. wrote Graham in his letter to Wray.

Graham alleges that the FBI misled the House Intelligence Committee about the sub-resources used to compile the investigation.

The FBI confirmed that it had received Graham’s letter, adding that it “will continue to work in coordination with the Department of Justice to address the commission’s requests.”

But sources told The Washington Post on Monday that the commission does not believe it was lied to, although its next fifth installment of its investigation into Russia’s election interference is expected to criticize the so-called Steele dossier.

As part of his letter, which was sent out on Monday but released on Tuesday, Graham asked Wray to provide the names of officials who drafted the context of the Intelligence Committee and to translate documents used to prepare it. schedule.

Graham also wants to know who attended the information committee and received a copy of all documents used to brief any congressional committees or legislators on the dossier, the surveillance security applications tied to former Trump campaign aide Carter Page of Crossfire Hurricane, the name of the FBI investigation into Russia’s election campaign and the Trump campaign.

Wray was confirmed by the Senate to lead the FBI in a 92-5 vote in August 2017. That was roughly a year after the FBI began its counterintelligence investigation and months after special advice Robert MuellerToobin by Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN warns McCabe is in ‘dangerous condition’ with embedded Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone calling Clinton-Lynch asphalt meeting The Hill’s 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE was appointed to continue the probe after Trump fired the then-FBI director James ComeyJames Brien ComeyRepublicans face FBI chief as Russia investigates The Hill’s 12:30 Report goes up – Speculation over Biden Trump’s announcement of running mate urges former intelligence officials to ‘declare unwillingness’ MORE.

Graham’s letter comes as Johnson submitted documents to the FBI for parts of his separate investigation.

Johnson said he issued the statement – after receiving authorization at a committee meeting in June – because he “finally ran out of patience.”

“This is ridiculous,” Johnson said in an interview with Fox News. “I’m done nagging.”

An FBI spokesman told The Hill on Monday that the agency had provided documents to the commission on a “rolling basis” and had increased resources to do so.

Johnson’s statement is the first he has released from his investigation into the FBI’s Russia probe, which is also expected to touch on the investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and leaks from the early days of the Trump administration.

Johnson was asked Tuesday about the FBI’s briefing to the intelligence commission, of which he is also not a member, and indicated that he thought Wray should answer questions about it.

“It was on his watch. He let this happen. He will have some explanation to do,” Johnson said during the interview with Fox News.