The House Oversight and Accountability Committee released its resolution Wednesday recommending that the House of Representatives find FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress over his refusal to comply with the Committee’s lawful subpoena. Oversight Republicans have been demanding custody of a document alleging a $5 million bribery scheme between Joe Biden and a foreign national while Biden was vice president. [Update: Wednesday evening, Wray relented to allow the full Committee to view the Biden bribery record. Details below.]
The resolution’s accompanying report states:
This document subpoena was capturing a document—a specific FD-1023 form—describing an alleged criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Biden and a foreign national relating to the exchange of money for certain actions. Director Wray and his staff have refused to produce any documents responsive to this subpoena to the Committee. Director Wray’s unwillingness to comply with the subpoena has interfered with the Committee’s investigation.
Having exhausted all available options for obtaining compliance, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability recommends that the House of Representatives find Director Wray in contempt for his failure to comply with the subpoena issued to him.
The resolution will be considered at a Full Committee business meeting on Thursday, June 8 at 9:00am ET.
Tuesday night, House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) revealed for the first time that the FBI has had the now infamous FD-1023 record in its possession since 2017, and the nation involved was Ukraine.
“Americans have lost trust in the FBI’s ability to enforce the law impartially and demand answers,” Comer said in a statement Wednesday.
We have been clear that the FBI must produce the unclassified FD-1023 record to the custody of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. To date, the FBI has refused to comply with our lawfully issued subpoena and even refused to admit the record’s existence up until a week ago.
Once Director Wray confirmed the record’s existence, the FBI started their coverup by leaking a false narrative to the media. The case is not closed as the White House, Democrats, and the FBI would have the American people believe.
The FBI created this record based on information from a credible informant who has worked with the FBI for over a decade and paid six figures. The informant had first-hand conversations with the foreign national who claimed to have bribed then-Vice President Biden. And now, Attorney General Barr has confirmed that the record was given to the U.S. Attorney in Delaware for the purpose of that investigation.
Americans have lost trust in the FBI’s ability to enforce the law impartially and demand answers, transparency, and accountability. The Oversight Committee must follow the facts for the American people and ensure the federal government is held accountable.
Comer confirmed to Just the News’ John Solomon Tuesday night that the alleged bribery scheme involved Ukraine.
“This form 1023 involves a business person from Ukraine, who allegedly sent a bribe, a substantial bribe to then-Vice President Joe Biden,” the Kentucky congressman said.
Solomon asked whether the allegation involved Burisma Holdings owner Mykola Zlochevsky, who was being investigated in 2012 over allegations of money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption. Two years later, the energy firm hired Hunter Biden into a lucrative board and consulting job.
“I probably better punt on that question. The name was redacted,” Comer answered.
Update:
Comer accused Oversight Democrats of “lying to the American people” after Committee Dems claimed in a tweet that the FD-1023 form “reiterated the same debunked Burisma conspiracy theories long peddled by Rudy Giuliani.”
“The FBI record was generated by a trusted confidential source who has worked with the FBI for 10+ years,” the chairman tweeted in response. “Former AG Barr confirms this wasn’t closed & the record was sent to the U.S. Attorney in Delaware for further investigation.”
Democrats are lying to the American people.
The FBI record was generated by a trusted confidential source who has worked with the FBI for 10+ years.
Former AG Barr confirms this wasn’t closed & the record was sent to the U.S. Attorney in Delaware for further investigation. https://t.co/59kMbd88IO
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) June 7, 2023
Earlier Wednesday, the Washington Post falsely reported that the FBI and Department of Justice under former Attorney General William Barr had investigated the allegations and determined they had no merit. Barr came forward to refute the Post’s story, saying: “It’s not true. It wasn’t closed down. It was sent to Delaware for further investigation.”
🤥🤥🤥🤥
Former Attorney General Barr: “It’s not true. It wasn’t closed down. It was sent to Delaware for further investigation.”
Will @washingtonpost correct its story? https://t.co/YK7T1rXE2O
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) June 7, 2023
Update:
House Oversight Committee Republicans announced Wednesday evening that Wray relented to avoid a Contempt vote. The FBI will now allow all members of the committee to review the bribery record.
“Rep. James Comer forces the FBI to cooperate!” GOP Oversight tweeted.
🚨BREAKING🚨
@RepJamesComer forces the FBI to cooperate!
The FBI will allow all members of our committee to review the Biden bribery record and receive a briefing.
We will continue to follow the facts and ensure accountability for the American people.— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) June 8, 2023
Wednesday night, Comer issued the following statement:
“After weeks of refusing to even admit the FD-1023 record exists, the FBI has caved and is now allowing all members of the Oversight and Accountability Committee to review this unclassified record that memorializes a confidential human source’s conversations with a foreign national who claimed to have bribed then-Vice President Joe Biden. Americans have lost trust in the FBI’s ability to enforce the law impartially and demand answers, transparency, and accountability. Allowing all Oversight Committee members to review this record is an important step toward conducting oversight of the FBI and holding it accountable to the American people.
“Let’s be clear: the allegations contained within this record are not closed as the White House and Democrats would have the American people believe. Former Attorney General Barr confirmed this information was sent to the U.S. Attorney in Delaware for further investigation and the FBI has confirmed it is being used in an ongoing investigation. We also know the confidential human source who provided this information is highly credible and trusted, has worked with the FBI for over a decade, and has been paid six figures.
“The allegations contained within this record track closely with the Oversight Committee’s investigation of the Biden family’s influence peddling schemes. The Oversight Committee will continue to follow the facts and ensure accountability for the American people.”