Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday he backs the decision to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt for not producing a subpoenaed document for everyone on the House Oversight Committee.
U.S. Rep. James Comer (R-KY), chairman of the Oversight Committee, said he would go forward with plans to hold contempt proceedings against Wray.
Wrap brought the requested document to Capitol Hill on Monday for Comer and U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) to view the form at a secure facility. But Wray did not give access to the entire committee.
The document allegedly shows a criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden and his family.
“Everybody on that committee has a responsibility of oversight,” McCarthy told the Washington Examiner. “He needs to supply it to everybody on the committee.”
The FBI and Democrats have pushed back against contempt proceedings.
“The FBI has continually demonstrated its commitment to accommodate the committee’s request, including by producing the document in a reading room at the U.S. Capitol. This commonsense safeguard is often employed in response to congressional requests and in court proceedings to protect important concerns, such as the physical safety of sources and the integrity of investigations,” the FBI said in a statement.
“The escalation to a contempt vote under these circumstances is unwarranted,” it added.
Raskin said it was an effort to discredit Wray and the FBI.
Comer said the contempt proceeding would be Thursday.
“FBI officials confirmed that the unclassified FBI-generated record has not been disproven and is currently being used in an ongoing investigation,” Comer said, according to NBC News.