On Wednesday (May 31), the White House attacked House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) over his warning he’ll hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena.
Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House, released a statement describing Comer’s efforts as a “silly charade,” saying that the House Oversight Chairman’s threat to hold Wray in contempt “is yet another reminder that his so-called ‘investigations’ are political stunts.”
Sams claimed the investigation wasn’t an effort to get information but rather an attempt to “spread thin innuendo and falsehoods to attack the President.”
On Wednesday, Comer warned that the oversight committee would begin contempt proceedings against Wray if the FBI does not turn over the requested FD-1023 forms, which the bureau uses to record communications with confidential sources.
The committee subpoenaed Wray earlier this month over all forms since June 2020 that contained the word “Biden.”
Wray reportedly offered to allow the House Oversight Committee to review the documents in person at FBI headquarters during a call with Comer on Wednesday. However, the congressman rejected the proposal.
Instead, Comer claimed Wray’s suggestion wasn’t in compliance with the subpoena.
The White House responded to Comer’s threat to hold Wray in contempt by saying the Oversight chairman was simply trying to “hurt” Biden’s “poll numbers.”
Sam also queried how long Comber would “waste time… and taxpayer dollars” supporting a factless politically motivated chase to “get media attention,” specifically questioning the attention from Fox News.
The subpoena was issued in early May seeking a specific form, FD-1023, which Comer claims contains allegations that “then-Vice PresidentBiden engaged in a criminal bribery scheme with a foreign national.”
According to the Comer, Wray confirmed the existence of the document in a speech on Wednesday. However, the FBI previously warned that the form was only used to gather an unconfirmed tip.
