White House fumes over Comer's threat to hold FBI director in contempt

"If the FBI fails to hand over the FD-1023 form as required by the subpoena, the House Oversight Committee will begin contempt of Congress proceedings," Comer said.

By Ben Whedon

Published: May 31, 2023 8:00pm

As House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer moves forward with an effort to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress, the White House is lashing out against the Republican for pursuing what it deems a "political stunt."

Comer has issued a subpoena for a form FD-1023 that allegedly details a bribery scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden and a foreign national. The Kentucky lawmaker learned of the document from whistleblowers but has indicated that Wray confirmed its existence in a Wednesday meeting during which Wray again refused to produce the document to Congress.

He and Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, who also participated in the phone call, have since warned that Wray will face consequences for his refusal to cooperate, drawing ire from the White House.

"This silly charade by Chairman Comer is yet another reminder that his so-called ‘investigations’ are political stunts not meant to get information but to spread thin innuendo and falsehoods to attack the President," said White House spokesman Ian Sams, according to The Hill.

The FBI formally refused to produce the document on Tuesday, after which Comer to begin proceedings to hold Wray in contempt. At the time, he noted that he still planned to meet with Wray on Wednesday. That meeting did not bear any fruit.

"Director Wray did not commit to producing the documents subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee," Comer said of his discussion with the director. "While Director Wray – after a month of refusing to even acknowledge that the form existed – has offered to allow us to see the documents in person at FBI headquarters, we have been clear that anything short of producing these documents to the House Oversight Committee is not in compliance with the subpoena."

"If the FBI fails to hand over the FD-1023 form as required by the subpoena, the House Oversight Committee will begin contempt of Congress proceedings," he concluded.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.