
The Department of Justice has started giving access to some of the classified documents recovered from the homes of President Biden and former President Trump to some lawmakers after many senators threatened to withhold funding if more information regarding the classified documents was not provided.
The documents were given to the Gang of Eight, which includes the top four leaders in Congress, as well as the head Republican and Democrat from the Senate and House Intelligence committees. As part of the documents provided the lawmakers were also given access to some of the classified documents found in Vice President Mike Pence’s home.
For months lawmakers in both chambers have complained about the Department of Justice’s lack of transparency and unwillingness to provide more information to them about the classified documents retrieved from the three homes. Currently, two special counsels are reviewing the case.
In recent weeks Senators have also been expressing that they will block funding to the Justice Department in order to address the department’s attempts to limit their oversight.
Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), the top Republican on the committee, claimed that the Department of Justice was “ruining their relationship with a committee” that had previously acted as a “good working partner with them.” He added that there would be consequences because of it, especially as the committee needed to protect its oversight.
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), a member of the Intelligence Committee, also claimed that the panel had been searching for ways to reach the Justice Department’s executive office.