Trump: DOJ is ‘slow walking’ lawmakers’ request for documents connected to Clinton probe

 

President Donald Trump accused the Justice Department on Saturday of “slow walking” its handling of Republican lawmakers’ demands for documents related to the FBI’s investigation of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election, among other probes.

“Lawmakers of the House Judiciary Committee are angrily accusing the Department of Justice of missing the Thursday Deadline for turning over UNREDACTED Documents relating to FISA abuse, FBI, Comey, Lynch, McCabe, Clinton Emails and much more,” the president wrote on Twitter.

“Slow walking – what is going on? BAD!” he added.

The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed late last month for records connected to the Justice Department watchdog’s review of the FBI’s handling of the investigation of Clinton’s private email server. Republican lawmakers have fumed for months and complained that the department is far too slow in responding to their requests.

“What does the Department of Justice and FBI have to hide?” Trump added in a tweet minutes later. “Why aren’t they giving the strongly requested documents (unredacted) to the HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE? Stalling, but for what reason? Not looking good!”

FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement March 27 that the bureau is doubling the amount of staffers who are reviewing records that may fulfill House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s request.

Goodlatte (R-Va.) wants the bureau to hand over any documents dealing with DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz’s probe into the FBI’s conduct during the Clinton probe. The Horowitz report, which has yet to be made public, has been touted by GOP lawmakers as evidence that the FBI had ulterior motives when it decided to close the Clinton investigation without pressing criminal charges.

The House Judiciary Committee also subpoenaed the internal report that led to the firing of FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe.

McCabe was ousted just days before he was set to retire. Justice Department officials have said McCabe was fired due “to lack of candor” under oath.

On Friday, the Justice Department declined a separate request from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) for an unredacted copy of the surveillance application used to spy on Trump campaign officials. The application, called a FISA request, is at the center of Nunes’ and House Republicans’ claims that the FBI used information from a disputed dossier indirectly funded by Clinton’s campaign to bolster their chances of getting the request granted. Instead of releasing such a copy, a DOJ official said all members of the House and Senate Intelligence panels could privately review the information, which remains classified.

“The Department considers this an extraordinary accommodation based on unique facts and circumstances,” Assistant Attorney General Stephen E. Boyd wrote in a letter to Nunes.

Source:politico.com