The FBI has finally granted all US House of Representatives Oversight Committee members permission to access a subpoenaed document about an unverified tip about Hunter Biden.
The “tip” was received in 2020 and is in regard to alleged business dealings of President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, while the younger Biden worked on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, Burisma.
The tip alleges Biden’s involvement in a criminal bribery plot, according to a source familiar with the matter. Joe Biden denies the allegations and says the House Oversight Committee’s actions are politically motivated.
The document in question, an FBI-generated FD-1023 form, will be made available in a secure location.
Chairman James Comer of the House Oversight Committee, a Republican from Kentucky, accepted the FBI’s offer on Wednesday, June 7, and subsequently canceled the committee’s scheduled vote to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt. Comer will now allow all committee members to review the record and receive a briefing.
The FBI has also agreed to provide Comer and Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, with two additional documents referenced in the FD-1023.
Comer expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating it is a significant step toward holding the FBI accountable. He acknowledged that the allegations in the record are still under investigation and unverified and that the committee will continue to investigate and ensure transparency and accountability for the American people.
The FD-1023 form was brought to Capitol Hill by the FBI on Monday, June 5, for Comer and Raskin, which resulted in a dispute between committee Republicans and the Bureau over compliance with the subpoena.
Initially, the FBI offered Comer the opportunity to review the document at their headquarters, but due to Comer’s threat of contempt of Congress, the Bureau agreed to bring the physical document to Capitol Hill. However, Comer claimed that the FBI was still noncompliant with the subpoena.
FBI agents utilize the FD-1023 form to record unverified information obtained from confidential human sources. It documents the information provided but does not independently verify its accuracy.
FBI officials have warned that release of the document can endanger the safety of the person who received the unverified tip.