Wray Caves After GOP Ultimatum
The FBI has finally yielded to the request of the House Oversight Committee, agreeing to provide documents that suggest former Vice President Joe Biden was involved in a $5 million bribery scheme.
The bombshell revelation comes after weeks of request and pressure for the FBI to turn over an unclassified version of the document which details a 2020 conversation with an anonymous foreign national claiming to have bribed Biden. The dispute first started May 3rd, when Oversight Committee Chair James Comer and Ranking Member Jamie Raskin were issued with a subpoena for FBI Director Christopher Wray to hand over the document.
However, Wray refused to share the unverified document with anyone, only allowing Comer and Raskin access to the material. Venturing out from a private viewing of the document, Rep. Comer described the material as “troubling.” Raskin on the other hand said it painted Biden in a “nothing” light.
Regardless, Comer wanted all members of the committee to be able to see the document, unredacted, after which Comer threatened to hold the Director in contempt of Congress. In a sudden change of events, however, Comer called off the vote on Wednesday after Wray agreed to allow the full committee to access a redacted file. Comer applauded the decision, adding that the FBI Director had “caved” to his request.
A spokesman for the Committee believes that members can now review the classified report under lock and key inside a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) facility. The Biden document that sparked the dispute was written by a long-time FBI source, the credibility of which is confirmed by both Democrats and Republicans. The source combines an unverified tip received in 2020 about Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden’s, business dealings in Ukraine. Hunter Biden previously served as a Member on the Board of Burisma, a Ukrainian natural gas company.
Chairman Comer was pleased with the FBI’s collaboration, emphasizing the importance of trust between the American people and Law Enforcement, and the requirement for transparency and accountability. Congressman Raskin shared his own contentment with the providing of the document but warned the action should not be ‘weaponized’ to hit out at the FBI. The current agreement comes after the FBI expressed their own content, calling the contempt vote unnecessary, having already provided the necessary information.
It follows a long line of similar votes for former President Donald Trump’s allies, including the late Steve Bannon who was convicted by a jury on a contempt charge last year, and former official Peter Navarro awaiting trial on a contempt charge. The House has a tendency of taking months to battle over an ‘accommodation’ to comply with a subpoena. Therefore, it was relatively rapid for Republicans to have arrived at contempt within a month of their request.
It looks like the FBI has finally found a peaceful solution to the chaotic affair, and all is now set for the members of the House Oversight Committee to review the redacted version of the confidential document.