In a recent development, the Chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, Republican James Comer from Kentucky, announced his deep concerns about the significant level of redaction, reportedly exceeding 50%, in a new document concerning allegations associated with President Joe Biden’s family business and possible illicit foreign payoffs.
The focal point of these allegations is the notorious FD-1023 form, a record-keeping document the FBI uses for documenting claims about potentially illegal activities from confidential human sources.
Unearthed information from an earlier FD-1023, submitted by a credible FBI source, suggests the President allegedly received a minimum of $5 million from a foreign national as a bribe. However, recent allegations suggest that the figure might be as high as $10 million, funneled partly via shadowy shell corporations.
These developments have prompted a surge of interest among Republicans. They are delving into the claims amid apprehensions that Biden may have leveraged his Vice Presidential authority to facilitate his family’s business pursuits, with particular attention on his son, Hunter Biden.
On June 20, Comer disclosed his intention to visit the House sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF)—a section of the House complex designated for protecting classified materials. He aimed to inspect another FD-1023 form connected to the allegations against the Biden family.
Comer’s experience within the SCIF left him disillusioned. He reported that the extent of redaction within the documents, including mentions of Hunter Biden and Burisma, and hints of a fraud investigation, left him with more questions than answers.
Republicans, led by Comer, have voiced their concerns about federal law enforcement’s possible withholding of information. Comer stressed the absence of documents from 2018 referenced in the previously viewed FD-1023 form. This discrepancy sparked concerns about concealed evidence about the allegations against Biden.
Following Comer’s inquiries, the FBI stated there were no forms from 2018 but pledged to investigate further.
The FD-1023 forms have catalyzed a contentious battle between Comer and FBI Director Christopher Wray. Initially, Wray refused to grant Congressional access to the document, which was brought to light by a whistleblower report submitted to Comer and Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa.
This non-cooperation led Comer to the brink of launching contempt of Congress proceedings against Wray. In response to this looming threat, Wray capitulated, allowing Comer and the Democratic ranking member of the panel, Jamie Raskin, to view the document within the SCIF. Subsequently, the entire Oversight panel was granted access.
Comer has not ruled out restarting contempt proceedings if the 2018 document is not produced. He expressed frustration with the lack of transparency and heavy redaction, stating, “They’re gonna have to do better than that.”
The Democratic representative, Raskin, claimed the document’s content was irrelevant and suggested political motives behind the investigation. He accused Republicans of utilizing these allegations to deflect attention from charges against former President Donald Trump.
However, Comer remains resolute in his pursuit, expressing his intent to expose any role Biden might have played in allegedly laundering millions of dollars from foreign nationals through shell companies into the Biden family’s accounts. He raised concerns about the potential compromise of the presidency due to these dealings.
While the actual content of the document remains undisclosed to the public, committee members, including Republicans Marjorie Taylor Greene and Andy Biggs, have shared some information through public reporting.