Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell has told House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in a letter that transcripts from the committee’s Russia investigation can be released to the public—coming a day after House Republicans demanded access.
The transcripts of all 53 interviews related to an investigation into whether foreign interference tipped the 2016 election should be released, he said.
“In the interests of transparency and accountability, I urge you to honor your previous public statements, and your Committee’s unanimous vote on this matter, to release all 53 cleared transcripts to all Members of Congress and the American public as soon as possible,” Grenell wrote, adding that he’s willing to release the transcripts directly from his office “to ensure we comply with the unanimous and bipartisan vote to release the transcripts.”
Schiff was one of the top Democrats who alleged that Trump’s campaign conspired with the Kremlin during the 2016 election.
But late last year, the Justice Department’s inspector general, Michael Horowitz, released a report that the FBI made 17 “significant errors and omissions” related to the surveillance of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page. Before that, former Special Counsel Robert Mueller said he found no evidence Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia.
Schiff’s office has not responded to a request for comment, although a House Intelligence Committee spokesman told Fox News on Wednesday that the committee received Grenell’s letter.
“After more than a year of unnecessary delay, the ODNI has finally concluded its protracted classification review of the Committee’s transcripts, and it also appears the White House has now abandoned its improper insistence on reviewing key transcripts, which the Committee appropriately rejected,” the Intelligence Committee spokesman said.
The spokesperson further said that Grenell is acting in an “overtly political” manner by requesting the release of the transcripts this week. But, the committee is looking forward to “releasing these transcripts,” the official said.
A day before, House Republicans, led by House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), called for access to the transcripts.
While alleging that Schiff is “blocking” the release of the documents, the Republicans asserted that claims of collusion during the 2016 election “have been disproven by several investigations.”
Initially, it was Schiff who had called on Republicans to release the interview transcripts.