Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee defended former President Donald Trump while attacking the integrity of the Justice Department and the FBI during a news conference on Capitol Hill on Friday.
“President Donald Trump is Joe Biden’s most likely political opponent in 2024, and that’s less than 100 days away from the critical midterm elections,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, the No. 3 Republican in the House of Representatives. “The FBI’s action against President Trump is a complete abuse and overreach of his authority.
Former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York, a day after FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach home, August 9, 2022.
The ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, Michael Turner, R-Ohio, told reporters that Republicans on the committee were “pleased” that the Justice Department had begun the process of releasing “some” of the information about the attack to the public, but called for more . Turner said Republicans on the committee wanted access to the affidavit outlining the “imminent security threat” justifying the raid.
“Our demand remains that the FBI director and the attorney general disclose to this committee the immediate threat to national security upon which they based their decision to search the president’s home, reiterating that there are many other options available to them, Turner claimed. “We believe that after today’s publication, these questions will remain unanswered.”
“The real story will be with the release of the affidavit itself,” added Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa. “The bureau, the attorney general and the DOJ have clearly decided that this last resort is necessary. We will await their justification as to why this extreme measure was justified, rather than some less intrusive means.”
Turner did not call for public disclosure of the underlying affidavit, which is expected to remain sealed, but said members of the Intelligence Committee and other jurisdictional committees should have access. He urged Democrats on the committee to support a subpoena for that affidavit if there is noncompliance.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy dodged questions from ABC News about whether he supported issuing the order authorizing the action, instead saying he would like to see the subpoena against Trump.
The Justice Department’s motion to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to unseal the search warrant obtained by the FBI prior to a search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate is pictured, Aug. 11, 2022. Attorney General Merrick Garland quoted ” substantial public interest in this matter” when announcing the request.
Trump was subpoenaed in the spring for documents he failed to return to the National Archives, ABC News reported. It is unclear to what extent, if at all, he complied. The Department of Justice has not publicly confirmed the existence of a subpoena.
Stefanik promised a “thorough investigation” if Republicans take back the gavel in November.
“House Republicans are committed to immediate oversight, accountability and a full investigation to provide the transparency and answers the American people need,” Stefanik said.
The group also stressed that they are in “full support” of those who serve in the FBI and law enforcement agencies and condemned any violence against agents, while repeatedly questioning the trust in law enforcement.
– Ali Pecorin and Kathryn Faulders from ABC News
Add Comment