Growing frustration is mounting on Capitol Hill as whistleblowers continue to release critical information at a faster pace than the administration that pledged transparency as a cornerstone promise, according to reports.
Major revelations concerning the Biden FBI’s Arctic Frost investigation, which later became special counsel Jack Smith’s 2020 election case against President Donald Trump, have emerged not through official federal law enforcement releases but through whistleblower disclosures to Congress.
Obstacles in obtaining documents from the DOJ and FBI create significant barriers for lawmakers pursuing what they characterize as a scandal “bigger than Watergate.”
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) told the Daily Caller that while many agents and prosecutors involved in Smith’s investigation have been terminated, he suspects problems remain within the agencies.
Johnson stated there are likely other individuals with partisan motivations embedded within the agencies who are either refusing to cooperate or actively working against transparency efforts.
In an interview with the Caller, Johnson outlined a dual challenge facing Congress in obtaining necessary documents. The first obstacle involves FBI documents requiring review by the Department of Justice before release.
Johnson believes the DOJ is struggling to staff adequate personnel for these reviews, partially due to what he describes as legal attacks against attorneys who represent Trump.
The second challenge concerns documents classified as grand jury material, which require the DOJ to petition courts for unsealing.
A DOJ spokesperson told the Caller that the department maintains its commitment to being the most transparent in history and is working to provide Congress with maximum information while protecting the integrity of ongoing and potential investigations.
The spokesperson noted that the recent government shutdown temporarily halted document production and other Congressional correspondence, but operations have resumed with a focus on transparency and accountability for the American people.
The Caller reported that Republican senators are seeking Watergate-style hearings on Arctic Frost, potentially including public testimony from Smith once all required records are obtained.
Grassley said on Newsmax on Nov. 4 that obtaining more documents from the Department of Justice remains essential, suggesting individuals within the department who resist information disclosure may have connections to liberal organizations.
Resist the Mainstream reported that in October, Grassley released 197 subpoenas issued by Smith’s team targeting more than 400 Republican entities and individuals, all obtained through whistleblowers.
Johnson stated during a press conference about the subpoenas that he does not believe FBI Director Kash Patel and Bondi have full control of their respective agencies.
Grassley and Johnson requested on Oct. 10 that the DOJ seek judicial authorization for records subject to federal grand jury secrecy requirements.
Several senators have subsequently asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to unseal Smith’s application for the nondisclosure order that prevented Republican lawmakers from learning their phone records had been subpoenaed.
Judge James Boasberg approved the nondisclosure order in 2023, a revelation that has sparked renewed impeachment efforts against him.
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