On Tuesday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy warned FBI Director Christopher Wray that he could face contempt of Congress charges if the FBI continues to refuse to comply with a subpoena related to a possible criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer had subpoenaed the FBI earlier this month for a document that allegedly described a criminal scheme involving Biden and a foreign national exchanging money for policy decisions. The FBI responded by saying it would not comply with the subpoena.
McCarthy made his comments during an interview on “FOX & Friends” with Brian Kilmeade.
“[Oversight Chairman] Comer subpoenaed the document he requested, we have jurisdiction over the FBI, which they seem to act like we do not. I personally called Director Wray and told him he needs to send the document, today is the deadline,” McCarthy said. “Let me not just tell you, let me tell [FBI] Director Christopher Wray, right here right now, if he misses the deadline today, I am prepared to move contempt [of Congress] charges against him. We have jurisdiction over this. He can send us this document, we have a right to look at that, Republicans and Democrats alike on that committee. And if he does not follow through with the law, we will move contempt charges against Christopher Wray, they are not above the law.”
“What does he say when you told him to do this, he said ‘if reports are correct, well, this is a speculative document, unverified, so I’m not comfortable handing it over.’ What do you say when he says that?” Kilmeade asked.
“We had a conversation, I’m part of the gang of eight, I see sensitive documents all the time,” McCarthy responded. “ I told him he could redact names and others and we wouldn’t know methods, but we have a right to see it, he does not have a right to choose what he can and can not show us. We oversee the FBI, and if he thinks differently, there will be a contempt charge in Congress against the director. There are enough problems in the FBI and I will not sit back and allow him to ignore this.”
“We will get this document, he has not denied that the document is not there. He knows there is a document and we have a responsibility to see it,” he added.
