The classified documents were shared last week with the “Gang of Eight,” a bipartisan group of congressional leaders who typically receive briefings on classified intelligence. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman and Vice Chairman Sen. Mark R. The documents were shared after months of pressure on the Biden administration from Senators Warner (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
Punchbowl News First reported Development Tuesday morning.
The FBI seized more than 100 classified documents during an August raid at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Secret documents were also found at Biden’s home in Delaware over several months over the winter. In January, the FBI recovered classified documents from Pence’s home.
Jack Smith, a special counsel to investigate Trump’s handling of classified material, and another special counsel, Robert K., to review Biden’s case. Hoor was also appointed by the Department of Justice. Federal investigators have gathered new evidence of possible obstruction by Trump in the Mar-a-Lago case.
In December, Warner told Punchbowl News Special counsel Smith expressed “some concern” about sharing classified documents with Congress, but Warner pointed out that the Justice Department had been willing to brief lawmakers in previous months. Warner and Rubio have argued for months that the Justice Department’s refusal to share classified documents with them was obstruction of Congress. Responsible for monitoring the intelligence community.
In January, the two senators made a rare joint appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation” to voice their frustration.
“The Justice Department has had the Trump documents, the Biden documents for about three months. “It is not our job to find out whether somebody has done wrong, but our job is to ensure that intelligence is not compromised,” Warner said. He said then. “Now you’ve got special counsel, we’re going to be in a mess, we can’t do our job — it can’t stand.”
Rubio said the documents could be accessible to congressional leaders.
“I’m not sure that congressional oversight of the documents … is impeding the investigation in any way,” he said.
In February, Warner and Rubio met with Director of National Intelligence Avril Haynes to discuss the documents.
“Today’s meeting helped shed some light on these issues, which is desirable, and we will continue to press for full answers to our questions in accordance with our constitutional oversight obligations,” the senators said in a statement. Joint Statement In February.
The eight-member panel includes House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.), Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (DNY.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Rep. Michael R. Turner (R-Ohio), Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), Warner and Rubio. Turner and Himes are the chairman and ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.
