Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said his staff is preparing subpoenas for two FBI officials whom he wants to answer questions about the firing of former FBI Director James Comey.
The Justice Department has thus far prevented the two officials, Carl Ghattas and James Rybicki, from appearing before the committee despite Grassley and ranking member Sen. Diane Feinstein’s (D-CA) requests, CNN reported.
Grassley told CNN Wednesday: “We’ve got subpoenas at the Senate counsel office.”
“When we get done there, I’m gonna have to consult with Sen. Feinstein,” he added.
Taylor Foy, press secretary for the committee, told TPM in an email Thursday that “the subpoenas have not yet been sent and the Committee is continuing to work with the Justice Department to obtain voluntary cooperation.”
The Judiciary Committee in July reportedly subpoenaed the co-founder of the firm behind the still-largely-unsubstantiated dossier that detailed potential Russian leverage on Donald Trump, Fusion GPS. That subpoena was eventually withdrawn, and Simpson later testified privately before the committee.
Grassley has also floated the possibility of subpoenaing former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort, whose lawyers Grassley says have been unresponsive to the committee’s requests. On Wednesday, though, Grassley mused that he didn’t “know whether it’s worth issuing subpoenas when somebody’s been indicted.”
The chairman was likely referring to reports that members of special counsel Robert Mueller’s team warned Manafort that he would be indicted on possible tax and financial crimes following a pre-dawn raid on his Alexandria, Virginia home in July.
This post has been updated.
Go for it, Chuckie.
It’s not always wise to poke a hornet’s nest.
“Grassley mused that he didn’t “know whether it’s worth issuing subpoenas when somebody’s been indicted.””
As a practical matter, no, it’s very likely not worth it. However, as an entertainment matter, I’d pay good money to watch Paul Manafort spend several hours claiming the 5th in front of Congress.
OK Chuck…then toddle off down the hall to vote on a bill that will strip millions of healthcare…profiles in courage there Grassley.
Keep in mind, this is the cornpone genius who said yesterday that he could give 10 reasons that the G-C bill shouldn’t be passed, but that it was a great piece of legislation that the GOP should vote for anyway, regardless of the consequences. Seems to me this obstreperous, octogenarian, bucolic bozo has been hitting the corn alcohol on an all too frequent basis.
You might just as well ask for coherence from a pithed frog.
Gee, I wonder if veteran officials who have spent careers acquainting themselves with the legal process will be able to outsmart a feckless, doddering nonentity who most Iowans are likely aware isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer?
The Senate, America’s Grandstand.