The FBI director has agreed to show all members of the House Oversight Committee a redacted version of the document alleging that Joe Biden was bribed — prompting the committee chairman to crow that Christopher Wray had “given in” to his to demand.
The deal appears to end a standoff that began on May 3, when Wray was served a subpoena to hand over the document.
Wray had refused to share the unverified document with anyone except the committee’s chairman, James Comer, and leading Democrat, Jamie Raskin.
Comer came out after looking at the document and said it was disturbing: Raskin said it was nothing.
Comer wanted all members of the committee to see the document, unredacted: Wray refused. Comer threatened to treat him contemptuously.
On Wednesday, Comer called a contempt vote after Wray agreed to allow the full committee access to a redacted file.
FBI Director Christopher Wray had until May 30 to present the document to congressional Republicans: he refused, and James Comer threatened to contempt it in front of Congress. On Wednesday, Wray agreed to allow access to the document
James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said Wednesday that Wray had “given” his threat to contempt him before Congress.
Comer praised the agreement, crowing that Wray had “gived” his demands to view the FD-1023 plate.
The Biden document at the center of the new dispute was written by a longtime FBI source that both Republicans and Democrats have described as credible.
In it, the source describes an unverified tip he received in 2020 about the business dealings of Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, in Ukraine.
Hunter Biden served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company.
After weeks of refusing to even admit that the FD-1023 file exists, the FBI has relented and is now allowing all members of the Oversight and Accountability Committee to view this unclassified file that contains the conversations of a confidential human source memorializes with a foreigner who claimed he bribed then-Vice President Joe Biden.
Americans have lost faith in the FBI’s ability to impartially enforce the law and demand answers, transparency and accountability.
“Allowing all members of the oversight committee to review this file is an important step toward oversight of the FBI and accountability to the American people,” he added.
All committee members can now view a redacted version of a confidential document.
It alleges a $5 million bribery scheme involving then Vice President Joe Biden and a foreigner.
Raskin said he was pleased Wray and Comer reached a deal on the document, which Raskin said was prepared in “good faith.”
Wray “collapsed” under pressure, Comer said Wednesday, and agreed to allow access to the document. But the document will be redacted
But he said he was concerned about the events leading up to Wednesday’s deal.
“Despising someone before Congress is one of the most serious actions our committee can take, and it should not be used as a weapon to undermine the FBI,” Raskin said.
The FBI called the vote of contempt baseless, as the agency had “consistently demonstrated its commitment to acceding to the committee’s request” while protecting the safety of sources and the integrity of ongoing investigations.
But Comer had consistently said over the past month that the only way for the FBI to comply with the subpoena is to provide an unredacted copy of the document.
It is unclear what caused him to change course at the last minute.
FBI officials already showed Comer and Raskin a redacted, multi-page version of the form during a 90-minute briefing Monday.
The agency described that briefing as an “extraordinary accommodation” where both men could make notes on the document and ask questions.
The whole contempt fight over the document moved unusually quickly for the House.
Committees often battle with an agency or a witness for months before resorting to contempt proceedings, often negotiating an “accommodation” that is considered compliance with a subpoena.
Republicans moved much faster and came to contempt just over a month after issuing the subpoena to Wray on May 3.
It would have been the first time Republicans had used the power of contempt against a federal official since taking control of the House in January, but it would be far from rare in the House.
Democrats memorably exercised the power of contempt during the last Congress as part of the committee investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.
Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, was convicted of contempt by a jury last year following a referral from the House’s Jan. 6 committee.
Another former Trump official, Peter Navarro, is also awaiting trial for contempt. He has pleaded not guilty.