DOJ delivers Russia probe documents to Congress

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has given additional classified documents related to the Russia investigation to House Republicans, some of whom said the materials are insufficient. 

A spokeswoman for Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) told The Associated Press that officials provided more than 1,000 documents related to the origin of the FBI’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. 

AshLee Strong told the news service that the DOJ will receive additional time to provide other outstanding documents requested by House Republicans.

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Additionally, the DOJ wrote to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) on Friday notifying him that it had sent a classified letter to his committee about whether the FBI used “confidential human sources” before formally starting the Russia investigation, according to the AP.

The letter relates to President Trump’s claims that the FBI embedded an informant in his campaign in 2016. He has dubbed the unfounded claim “spygate,” despite multiple Republicans saying they found no indication of wrongdoing by the FBI.

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) indicated on Saturday that the additional documents did little to diffuse tensions between lawmakers and DOJ officials.

“New reports of DOJ/FBI compliance with document requests are NOT accurate. While they have turned over additional documents, the new documents represent a small percentage of what they owe,” Meadows, who leads the conservative House Freedom Caucus, tweeted.

“The notion that DOJ/FBI have been forthcoming with Congress is false,” he added.

New reports of DOJ/FBI compliance with document requests are NOT accurate. While they have turned over additional documents, the new documents represent a small percentage of what they owe.

The notion that DOJ/FBI have been forthcoming with Congress is false.

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) June 23, 2018

Nunes, Meadows and other conservative lawmakers have been harshly critical in recent months of the Justice Department and its handling of the Russia probe. He and other conservatives have eagerly pursued access to DOJ documents.

While the conservative lawmakers have received thousands of documents from the agency, they say they have not been able to review key documents nor have they received as many documents as they’ve requested, leading to rising tensions between Republicans and federal officials.

Some have also threatened to impeach Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, which Rosenstein has brushed aside.