ODNI director tells Schiff to release Russia transcripts, hints that if Schiff doesn't ODNI might

In a newly released letter to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, acting Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Richard Grenell urges the California Democrat to release 53 transcripts of interviews that the committee conducted with witnesses during the Russia investigation. 

Grenell's encouragement to release the transcripts comes after reports that Rep. Schiff (D-Calif.) has been holding up the public release of the transcripts, despite a unanimous vote taken in September 2018 to do so. 

"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 to Schiff. 

Grenell stops short of announcing that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence will release the transcripts if Congress continues to stall on the action. But he alluded to that as a possibility for the future, should Schiff fail to comply.

"I am also willing to release the transcripts directly from the ODNI to ensure we comply with unanimous and bipartisan vote to release the transcripts," the acting director also said.

On Tuesday, House Republicans sent Schiff a similar letter demanding a prompt release of the transcripts that have been held up for nearly two years.