Sen. Ron Johnson
Ronald (Ron) Harold JohnsonBlumenthal calls for declassification of materials detailing Russian threat to US elections Democrats try to force Trump to increase production of medical supplies GOP presidents retaliate over accusation of spreading disinformation with Biden probe MORE (R-Wis.), The chairman of the Commission on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC), informs the FBI as part of its probe into Russia’s investigation.
Johnson, in a motion addressed to FBI Director Christopher Wray, wants records related to Crossfire Hurricane, the name of the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s 2016 election interference in Russia and the Trump campaign.
That includes, it says, all the records previously given to Inspector General Michael Horowitz of Justice Department as part of his review of the four Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants against former Trump campaign aide Carter Page. While Horowitz found that the FBI’s decision to open an investigation was not motivated by political bias, he also found a combined 17 major errors and omissions in the four warrant applications.
The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but said in a statement to The Associated Press that it had produced documents and information to the commission.
Johnson, as chairman of HSGAC, was previously given authority to sign the FBI, as well as more than 30 individuals, as part of a June party vote for the party.
“Two months later, after patiently trying to work on a voluntary basis with these agencies and individuals, I decided to issue issues in the first place because of my strong belief that transparency in government is essential and that the American people long awaited the truth, “Johnson wrote in a letter released Monday, explaining the summons and defending his investigation.
The statement marks the first Johnson has issued as part of a wide-ranging investigation that includes the FBI probe’s evaluation, as well as the investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and leaks arising from the early days of the administration of President Trump.
Johnson also announced Monday that he is ready to fire Jonathan Winer, a former State Department employee.
Winer confirmed in a 2018 Washington Post-ed that former British spy Christopher Steele and allies of Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillary Clinton labels Trump coronavirus executive actions a ‘stunt’ What Trump got wrong by coal to Trump Trump fights the bad war MAY gave him intelligence reports claiming Trump was compromised by the Russians. He distilled the file into a two-page summary he shared with former Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, who introduced the then Secretary of State John Kerry
John Forbes KerryThe Memo: Biden faces balancing act Budowsky: Trump surprise in October could destroy GOP Hillicon Valley: Democrats ask for briefing | New pressure for election funding | Republicans demand revenge against Chinese hackers MORE.
In the new letter, Johnson also defends his separate investigation, targeting the Obama-era State Department and Hunter Biden, the son of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, and claiming that Democrats are conducting a ‘disinformation campaign’ against the investigation.
“We did not direct Joe and Hunter Biden for investigation; their previous actions had put them in the middle,” Johnson wrote.
Democrats have increasingly focused Johnson’s investigation, believing it is aimed at mediating in the 2020 presidential election and could spread Russian disinformation.
Johnson also specifically rebelled against a Washington Post accusation of sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Who advised to describe intelligence on Russia’s efforts to influence the 2020 elections to classify and make available to the public.
“By keeping the facts secret, the Trump administration and its Republican allies on Capitol Hill are inviting disinformation and misleading the U.S. electorate. .
Johnson reiterated in his letter that his commission had not taken any information from Andriy Derkach, a Ukrainian official whose father worked for Russian intelligence, who had earlier said he had provided information to the Senate panel.
“Let me be clear: My committee’s investigation into allegations of conflicts of interest within the Obama administration related to Ukraine’s policies and allegations of corruption within the Obama administration affecting the 2016 election is “We have not taken the documents from the Ukrainians, nor have we, and Democrats have always insisted,” he said.
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