Tensions between two top congressional leaders and the Department of Justice appeared to cool after a roughly hourlong classified briefing in response to a subpoena for information regarding special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
“We had a productive discussion today with officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Department of Justice, and FBI in which we raised questions related to information requested from the Intelligence Community,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., and House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., said in a statement Thursday. “The officials committed to holding further discussions of these matters, and we look forward to continuing our dialogue next week to satisfy the Committee’s request.”
Tensions had escalated after the Justice Department — backed by the White House — told Nunes in a letter last week that turning over the requested information would be a risk to national security.
Nunes had subpoenaed the documents after the Justice Department did not respond to a classified letter he sent late last month with his request.
The subpoena reportedly demands “all documents referring or related to the individual referenced in Chairman Nunes’ April 24, 2018 classified letter to Attorney General [Jeff] Sessions.”
On Thursday, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., defended Nunes’ subpoena, calling the request “perfectly appropriate within the scope of the committee’s investigation.”
Ryan said he expected “that they will be complied with.”
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, was also at the Justice Department separately for the same classified briefing, but his spokesperson declined to comment further.
