House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) threatened to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt unless the law enforcement chief agreed to work with Republicans investigating foreign business deals of the Biden family.
During an interview with Fox News this week, the California Republican discussed a deadline placed by House Republicans investigating alleged transactions between the Biden family and foreign entities.
The document in question has been at the center of efforts by the House Oversight Committee to track down payments that allegedly ran through multiple members of President Joe Biden’s family, including his son Hunter.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY) requested that the FBI turn over any documentation regarding a government form that allegedly discusses a $5 million bribery attempt allegedly tied to Biden while he was vice president.
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Today, the FBI informed @GOPoversight that it will not provide the unclassified documents subpoenaed by the Committee.
The Committee will now be taking steps to hold FBI Director Wray in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a lawful subpoena.
Statement.👇 pic.twitter.com/VY3WudlFkG
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) May 30, 2023
Comer wrote to Wray last week, stating that the “FBI’s refusal to produce this single document is obstructionist.”
The Kentucky Republican wrote that if the document was not handed to the Oversight Committee by May 30, it would “initiate contempt of Congress proceedings.”
McCarthy said that should Wray produce the document the committee could review it further. Should Wray not hand over the file in question McCarthy said that “we will move contempt charges against Christopher Wray and the FBI.”
“They are not above the law,” he added.
Comer is not the only member of Congress looking for the alleged document. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) also sent a letter to the FBI requesting that the document be handed over. Grassley learned of the reported document through the aid of a whistleblower.
The FBI said in a statement that it would not hand over the document due to the risk of compromising sensitive sources.
The law enforcement agency said that it would not take actions that could “potentially jeopardize investigations and put lives at risk.”
However, the agency also said that it was “committed” to working with Congress.
Should Wray not accede to the House Oversight Committee’s request, federal law allows for individuals in contempt of Congress to be fined up to $100,000 and face a prison sentence of up to a year.
