Former FBI Director James Comey supported his successor on Wednesday for declining to hand over a document subpoenaed by a House committee.
Controversy Surrounding FBI Document Request by Comer and Grassley
During a Tuesday appearance on “Fox and Friends,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy proposed a possible contempt of Congress charge if FBI Director Christopher Wray declined to submit a subpoenaed document to the House Oversight Committee.
“Director Wray is a man of integrity. I’m certain he’s trying to determine the appropriate course of action in line with Justice Department policy and tradition,” Comey, who was dismissed by then-President Trump in 2021, said to CNN host Poppy Harlow.
“These are the kinds of disruptions that occasionally erupt in D.C. Currently, it’s embroiled the FBI. It’ll pass.”
James Comer of Kentucky, the Republican Representative and chairman of the House Oversight Committee, and Charles Grassley of Iowa, the Republican senator, wrote to the FBI on May 3.
They were pressing the agency to disclose a document outlining what a whistleblower asserted to be the specifics of an alleged illicit plan involving then-Vice President Biden and a foreign national.
🚨On my call with FBI Director Wray, the FBI finally confirmed the existence of the FD-1023 form alleging then-VP Joe Biden engaged in a criminal bribery scheme.
Anything short of producing these documents to @GOPoversight is not in compliance with my subpoena.
Statement👇 pic.twitter.com/doK7PNheZE
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) May 31, 2023
Comer Criticizes FBI for Political Bias in Biden Family Financial Investigation
In July 2022, Steve Bannon, a former advisor to Trump, was found guilty of contempt of Congress. He defied subpoenas from the committee established to investigate the Jan. 6 2021 riot at the Capitol building.
Comer also criticized the FBI for political bias in its approach to an investigation into the financial transactions of President Biden’s family.
🚨 I am drafting legislation to hold FBI Director Wray in contempt of Congress. @GOPoversight will vote on this next week if the FBI continues to defy my lawful subpoena.
The FBI is not above Congress. I will protect congressional oversight authorities. @SeanHannity @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/Q3rUJgDoRi
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) June 1, 2023
Rep. Comer, who is the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, along with Republican lawmaker Charles Grassley of Iowa, sent a letter to the FBI on Wednesday.
The House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena to FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday for FD-1023 forms that were generated in June 2020 and mention Biden.
