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Quigley Statement on the Review & Release of Russia Investigation Transcripts

September 28, 2018

Quigley: When I Asked Chairman Nunes If the Timing Was Directed by the White House, He Refused to Answer

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), released the following statement after the Committee voted to release fifty-three transcripts to the Director of National Intelligence for classification review and eventual release:

"As Republicans in the Senate regrettably move to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee are seizing the opportunity to finally release the transcripts of our Committee's interviews pertaining to the Russia investigation. These are the same transcripts that Democrats have been pushing for the release of for the last six months; but today, on the last day of session when all eyes are glued to the Supreme Court confirmation, HPSCI Republicans have had a sudden and suspect change of heart.

"When I directly asked Chairman Nunes whether the timing of this decision was directed by the White House or the President's legal team, he refused to answer. Just as he refused to answer my questioning about the Trump Administration's involvement in the compilation of the Majority memo earlier this year.

"Transparency cannot be executed in part. To be achieved, it must be all encompassing. Again, Republicans are showing their inability to adhere to this simple principle by choosing to release only a select set of transcripts. By noticeably failing to include the testimonies of key agency heads and their own colleague, Rep. Rohrabacher, they are continuing to cherry-pick the truth for their own political protection and partisan gain.

"As the House prepares to adjourn until the November election, I encourage all Americans to ask themselves this: Do you want your Representatives in Congress to protect you, your family, your democracy, and your security – or the president?"

Background:

During the business meeting, HPSCI Minority Members made four motions after supporting the initial motions to send fifty-three transcripts to the Director of National Intelligence for classification review and eventual release. Each of these motions were blocked by the Majority on party-line votes:

  • That the Committee authorize the immediate provision to Special Counsel Mueller's office of all Executive Session transcripts – both classified and unclassified interviews, in complete and unredacted form – produced during the course of the Committee's Russia investigation;
  • That the Committee, following past practice, authorize the release all unclassified transcripts following a review by the Committee Security Director and bipartisan staff for personally identifiable information (PII) and other sensitive information within 10 days;
  • That the Committee authorize the additional six transcripts of interviews and hearings not included in the Majority's original list – interviews of Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Dana Rohrabacher; hearings with Director Comey, Admiral Rogers and Director Comey, and Director Brennan – as well as the transcript of the business meeting in which the Majority blocked the release of transcripts in March 2018; and
  • That the Committee issue a number of subpoenas, which the Minority previously has requested but the Majority has rejected or ignored, including: Deutsche Bank records and testimony related to potential Russian money laundering; Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr.'s phone records related to the June 9, 2016 Trump Tower meeting; certain Twitter Direct Messages between individuals affiliated with the campaign and Wikileaks, Julian Assange, and Guccifer 2.0; Trump Organization documents regarding any business transactions with Russia; and any tapes, memoranda or other documentation created based on President Trump's personal conversations with Director Comey.
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