Senators Also Announce March 2nd Oversight Hearing With FBI Director
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), incoming Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), incoming Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) requesting additional information regarding the security posture and planning provided in advance of and during the January 6, 2021, Joint Session of Congress. In a letter to Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson and FBI Director Christopher Wray, Durbin and Grassley note that emerging reports have raised serious concerns about the adequacy of preparations by DOJ and FBI, and requested answers to a series of questions about the security failures that spanned multiple agencies.
“We are writing to gather additional information regarding the security posture and planning provided in advance of and during the January 6, 2021, Joint Session of Congress (‘Joint Session’). The security failures that enabled the January 6 attack span multiple agencies, and emerging reports raise serious concerns about the adequacy of preparations by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),” wrote Durbin and Grassley. “It is essential that we obtain a complete accounting of your preparation for and response to the events of January 6.”
Separately, Durbin and Grassley announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee would conduct an oversight hearing with Director Wray on March 2nd. This will be Wray’s first Congressional appearance since the January 6th attack on the Capitol and his first appearance before the Judiciary Committee since 2019.
Full text of the today’s letter is available here and below:
February 2, 2021
Dear Acting Attorney General Wilkinson and Director Wray:
We are writing to gather additional information regarding the security posture and planning provided in advance of and during the January 6, 2021, Joint Session of Congress (“Joint Session”). The security failures that enabled the January 6 attack span multiple agencies, and emerging reports raise serious concerns about the adequacy of preparations by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
It is essential that we obtain a complete accounting of your preparation for and response to the events of January 6. To that end, we request responses to the following questions:
Please provide responses to these questions as soon as possible, and no later than February 16, 2021. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
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