Rep. James Comer to start contempt proceedings against FBI Director Wray on Thursday

James Comer of the House Oversight Committee, R-Ky. announced on Monday that his committee will begin proceedings to hold FBI director Christopher Wray in contempt before Congress. The agency called this move “unwarranted.”

The FBI briefed Comer and Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, D.Md., for more than one hour on Capitol Hill Monday and offered them a chance to review an alleged document which purportedly described an allegation Joe Biden had accepted a bribe while vice president.

Comer told reporters that the FBI “again refused to give the unclassified records to the custody” committee. “And we’ll now begin contempt of Congress proceedings this Thursday.”

He said that “FBI officials have confirmed that the FBI’s unclassified record generated by them has not been disproven, and it is being used as part of an ongoing investigation.”

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Raskin said that he was not aware of any ongoing investigations, but also claimed to be “unaware” of some information available to Comer. He confirmed that he was aware of reports published about an investigation by the U.S. Attorney in Delaware involving the president’s child Hunter Biden.

In a press release, the FBI stated that it had complied with Comer’s requests.

The FBI has consistently demonstrated its commitment to accommodating the committee’s requests, including by presenting the document in the reading room of the U.S. Capitol. This safeguard is used in response to congressional request and in court proceedings in order to protect important concerns such as the safety of sources or the integrity of investigations.

It added that “the escalation of a contempt motion under these circumstances was unwarranted.”

The White House has criticised the investigations. They claim that the investigations are political and intended to harm Biden’s chances of reelection.

In a Monday statement, Ian Sams said that Chairman Comer’s decision was “another stunt without facts, staged not to perform legitimate oversight but to spread thin hints to try and damage the President and get him media attention.”

Comer, along with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), subpoenaed FBI documents last month in order to obtain a document called an FD-1023. The document, according to Comer, describes an alleged criminal conspiracy involving Biden while he was Vice President, “relating to an exchange of money for a decision.” Comer claims the scheme involved a payment of $5 million from a foreigner for a specific policy outcome.

Raskin stated Monday that the FBI provided context for the document. He said former Attorney General William Barr had named Scott Brady as the U.S. Attorney for Western Pennsylvania to investigate allegations made by Trump ally Rudy Giuliani. Raskin stated that the investigation is over.

Raskin explained that “if there is a complaint,” it should be directed to Attorney General William Barr, Trump Justice Department, and the team the Trump administration has appointed to investigate the matter.

A senior law enforcement official revealed Friday that the FBI and Brady had reviewed the allegation in 2020 as well as information regarding Hunter Biden’s activities in Ukraine. Officials said that the bribery allegations were not substantiated.

Comer threatened to hold Wray for contempt after the FBI refused to provide the document. In a letter sent to Comer last month, an FBI official informed him that Justice Department policies “strictly limit when and how confidential information about human sources can be shared outside the FBI.”

Raskin stated in a statement made Monday night that “Comer’s actions proved that his interest was never to seek the truth but always weaponizing the power of this Committee.”