Senate Republicans are sounding the alarm this week over explosive revelations that the Justice Department oversaw congressional staff investigating the FBI’s investigation into Trump and Russia in 2017.
Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) expressed their “deep concern” in a Wednesday letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland about the “Department of Justice covert surveillance.” of the personal communications of lawyers who advise congressional oversight committees.”
“The decision by unelected government bureaucrats to investigate elected congressional representatives and the congressional staff who attempt to hold them accountable is a true attack on our democracy,” the Republican senators wrote.
Empower Oversight revealed on October 24 that a federal judge in DC had approved a Google subpoena on September 12, 2017 for the private cell phone and email communications of Empower founder Jason Foster, then Grassley’s senior research advisor. .
Senate Republicans are sounding the alarm over explosive revelations revealed as part of a FOIA last month that congressional staff monitored by the Justice Department investigating Russiagate. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Chuck Grassley (R-Utah)-Iowa) in a letter Wednesday expressed “deep concern” to Attorney General Merrick about the Justice Department’s actions. REUTERS
The subpoena came while Foster was helping Grassley, then chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, oversee Crossfire Hurricane, the FBI investigation into alleged ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russian officials.
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz later produced a report documenting several abuses committed by FBI agents in the process of obtaining warrants to surveil Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, as well as in the use of the now infamous Steele dossier.
In a request sent to the Justice Department under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Foster charged that the subpoena also sought records from House and Senate staff of both parties who were involved in oversight of the Justice Department.
The subpoena came while the staffer was helping Grassley, the committee’s then-chairman, oversee the FBI’s investigation into ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia.REUTERS
“While FOIA requests serve as a valuable tool for transparency, it is clear that in matters of such magnitude as the one at hand, additional steps must be taken to ensure openness and accountability,” said Cruz, Lee and Grassley to Garland.
“Despite the investigation by the Department’s Inspector General, Congress has the right to conduct its own parallel review of this important matter.”
Republican senators asked the attorney general to submit by Nov. 22 the names of other members and staff whose communications were requested or obtained, as well as the Justice Department officials who approved the subpoenas.
Inspector General Michael Horowitz later produced a report documenting several abuses committed by FBI agents in obtaining FISA warrants to surveil the presidential campaign. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
They have also asked for “the specific basis, criteria or evidence that justified the Department’s request for grand jury subpoenas,” whether there was a legal basis and whether then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was informed or participated in the efforts.
In June 2018, Fox News reported that Rosenstein had threatened to subpoena the personnel records of the entire House intelligence committee staff during a January standoff over the Justice Department’s failure to comply with the congressional investigation.
Other requests from Cruz, Grassley and Lee include details about which companies were subpoenaed to obtain the data, including Google, Apple, Verizon and AT&T.
Republican senators asked that Attorney General Merrick Garland submit by Nov. 22 the names of other members and staff whose communications were requested or obtained.
“This extensive and far-reaching effort to use grand jury subpoenas and perhaps other means to collect the personal communications records of Congressional staff and their families with little or no legitimate basis is absolutely unacceptable,” the senators said.
“The overreach of executive power and the gross violation of the separation of powers evident in this case undoubtedly shock the conscience and shake public confidence in our justice system to its core. “The public deserves answers.”
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