A top Republican who claims to have read through a document alleging a bribery scheme related to President Joe Biden skirted questions about its accuracy.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) argued it’s not his job to make a judgment on the accuracy of an FD-1023 form Republicans on the House Oversight Committee have sought. The document is believed to allege then-Vice President Joe Biden engaged in a “criminal bribery scheme” with a foreign national. Specifics of the scheme are unclear.
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“I read it. Let’s put it this way: There’s accusations in it. But it’s not for me to make a judgment about whether these accusations are accurate or not. It’s my job to make sure the FBI is doing their job. And that’s what this is all about,” Grassley told Fox News about the document.
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) issued a subpoena demanding the document be turned over to the panel last month. FBI Director Christopher Wray held a call Wednesday with Comer and Grassley to discuss the matter and confirmed the document’s existence.
“It’s not good enough for me. We asked for the document a month ago. It’s been subpoenaed, and he ought to respond to [the] subpoena. We’re doing the constitutional job of oversight,” Grassley added.
Republicans claimed they were tipped off to the document’s existence by a whistleblower who alleged an informant flagged those concerns. Notably, Comer has publicly admitted, “We can’t track down the informant.”
The bureau said in a statement that “releasing confidential source information could potentially jeopardize investigations and put lives at risk.” Furthermore, a spokesperson for the bureau stressed the file likely contained “unverified reporting by a confidential human source.”
“If he would read it, he would know that all the excuses that he’s giving us that he wants to protect sources —and that’s important to protect sources — but that’s not an issue with this document, the way I read it, and he ought to come forth,” Grassley added. “There’s no reason for a nonclassified document to be held in secret.”
Comer demanded the FBI furnish the document to the panel by Tuesday or face contempt of Congress proceedings. Thus far, the FBI has declined to do so, and Comer has publicly indicated that the phone call Wednesday hasn’t swayed him away from that.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has buttressed the contempt threat.
In addition to demanding the FBI comply with the subpoena, Comer and Grassley are also keen on learning what the bureau did to investigate the allegations in the document.
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Congressional Republicans have accused the FBI of targeting conservatives unfairly and dragging their feet on investigations about the Biden’s.
Comer is investigating Hunter Biden’s overseas business activities. Last month, he unveiled a report outlining allegations the Biden family members accrued money from foreign countries such as China and Romania. Critics, such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), have countered that Comer’s report lacked direct proof of the president engaging in illegal activity.
