House Republicans open probe into ex-FBI official McGonigal's arrest, ties to Russian oligarch

The GOP-led House Judiciary Committee is opening an investigation into ex-FBI official Charles McGonigal, who was indicted in January for alleged ties to a Russian billionaire.

McGonigal, who was in charge of counterintelligence in the FBI’s New York Field Office, was indicted on charges of money laundering, violating U.S. sanctions and other counts related to his connection to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

In a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan and committee member Rep. Matt Gaetz ask the agency to turn over McGonigal-related documents and communications within two weeks, according to the Washington Times.

The 54-year-old McGonigal is accused of taking secret payments from Deripaska in exchange for investigating a rival oligarch, court documents state.

“This misconduct further erodes public confidence in the FBI’s conduct and law-enforcement actions,” reads the letter from the Ohio and Florida GOP congressmen, respectively. 

“McGonigal’s indictment also raises new questions about the FBI’s counterintelligence efforts during his employment with the FBI. According to reports, McGonigal previously played an instrumental role ‘in the decision to launch the Crossfire Hurricane investigation’ against then-candidate Donald Trump.”

Jordan and Gaetz also want Wray to brief lawmakers on his agency’s investigation of McGonigal, the Washington Times also reports.