Sen. Ron Wyden
Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenHillicon Valley: Simulated Cyberattack Success | New Security Security Financing Bill | Amazon could be liable for defective products Markets stand if economy struggles; ‘It Makes No Meaning’ Proponents of Election Security See Strong Alliance in Harris MORE .
Wyden sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray on Monday, saying he was “deeply concerned” that the bureau was separating its own policies and “underwent political pressure from Republicans to harm the Democratic presidential candidate,” former vice president Joe Biden
Joe BidenBiden’s leadership over Trump merges in new national interview Biden fights obstacles in bid to remove ties with US allies Trump ‘failure’ on COVID-19 will be central message of Biden convention MORE.
Wyden pointed to a letter Aug. 7 sent by the FBI to the Senate Finances and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs panels, which provided an “update” on his compliance with the GOP investigations. The letter, according to Wyden, provided detailed documents to the commissions and the ability to verify other information.
“Based on this letter, it is evident that not only was most of the requested information about Crossfire Hurricane provided to the commissions not provided to the rankings and their staff, but Democrats were not informed about it. exist, “Wyden wrote in the letter, which was received by The Hill.
The FBI spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wyden’s letter. An FBI spokesman told The Hill last week that the agency had provided documents to the commission on a “rolling basis” and had increased resources to do so.
In his letter, Wyden pointed to several copies, ranging from late June to late July, in which the FBI provided documents to Republican commission related to their investigation or gave GOP senators and staff the opportunity to review documents, but without informing Democrats of the documents as giving the same opportunity to check the information.
“Providing documents to commission majorities without disclosure to the minority is unacceptable. Giving access to documents for review by Republican staff without notice or, or including, Democratic personnel is also unacceptable,” Wyden wrote.
He indicated in his letter that he had talked to the FBI about how to tackle the issue going forward, but wanted to know why Democrats had been excluded in recent weeks.
He also asks Wray to indicate if he or anyone on his staff made the decision to expel Democrats, if the FBI provided more documents to GOP senators and if Democrats were expelled from it, and how the FBI did so. would ensure that both Republicans and Democrats in the committee had access to documents that come to the fore.
Asked if the majority in the committee is required by House Rules to warn Democrats on the panel if they receive documents or have the opportunity to review them so they would have the same access, a spokesman for’s Speaker e First Chamber Finance Chuck Grassley
Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyGOP Senator draws fire from all sides on Biden, Obama era tries First Chamber leaves until September without coronavirus relief fax COVID-19 relief stories see death until September MAY (R-Iowa) claimed that this was a decision for the FBI.
“In this case, it was the FBI that provided an in-camera review of his documents. The FBI would determine who would grant access in camera reviews,” the spokesman added.
Wyden’s letter is the latest example of tensions surrounding Republican probes, which Democrats fear will accidentally spread Russian misinformation.
Grassley and Sen. Ron Johnson
Ronald (Ron) Harold JohnsonSchumer: McConnell must return to House early as House passes Post Service bill Bill Sunday shows foresight: Mail-in vote, USPS funding dominates political discussion before conventions GOP senator draws fire from all sides Biden, Obama era probes MORE (R-Wis.), Who chairs the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has been in two extensive investigations for months.
One covers the Obama-era State Department, Ukraine’s policies during the Obama-era, including work done by Biden, Biden’s son Hunter Biden and any contact between the Obama administration and its staff or Burisma Holdings, where ‘ t Hunter Biden was on the board.
The second is broad and deals extensively with the transition process between the Obama and Trump administrations, but deepens everything from the FBI investigation into the Trump campaign and Russian election campaign and its offshoots to leaks from the early days of Trump’s presidency.
Johnson submitted documents to the FBI last week as part of the second investigation, marking the first time he has used the broad-handed authority given to him by Republicans at the panel in June.
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 with the nagging.”
—Updated at 12:58 p.m.
.
