No Dems invited to attend meeting on Russia docs
The White House announced top U.S. officials will brief lawmakers on Thursday about a confidential FBI source who has been a lightning rod for controversy in the Russia probe — but no Democrats are invited.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) will meet with FBI Director Christopher Wray, Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats and top Justice Department official Ed O’Callaghan, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters.
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White House chief of staff John Kelly helped broker the meeting but will not be there himself. No White House officials will be in attendance, according to Sanders.
In previous Justice Department briefings given to Nunes related to his requests for information on the Russia probe, the department has also given an identical but separate briefing to ranking member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).
The White House announced the meeting on Monday as part of an agreement between President Trump and senior Justice Department officials designed to head off a dispute surrounding the source.
The invite list, however, will almost certainly spark criticism of political bias from Democrats.
Sanders pushed back, saying Republicans are the ones who have asked for information on the source.
“To my knowledge, the Democrats have not requested that information so I would refer you back to them on why they would consider themselves randomly invited to see something they’ve never asked to,” she said.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has called for Democrats to be invited.
“The only thing more outrageous than this meeting occurring at all is the fact that it’s now partisan,” he said in a statement. “It is crystal clear that Chairman Nunes’ intent is to interfere with the investigation, and Speaker Ryan is allowing it to happen.”
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