House Republicans are investigating intelligence agencies for allegedly using ‘disinformation’ to hinder the Biden investigation.

Jim Jordan (R., Ohio), the chairman of the House Weaponization Select Subcommittee, initiated an oversight inquiry into U.S. intelligence agencies for reportedly impeding a 2020 Senate investigation related to the Biden family.
Jordan penned a letter to National Intelligence Director Avril Haines on Wednesday, indicating that the House Judiciary Committee and its subcommittee are looking into claims that the U.S. Intelligence Community impeded a congressional investigation in 2020 by inaccurately suggesting that the efforts of two U.S. Senators were promoting Russian ‘disinformation.'””

Three years ago, Senators Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) and Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) launched a congressional inquiry into allegations of influence peddling related to President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. Two FBI officials provided a briefing to Republican lawmakers on August 6, 2020, as part of their investigation, labeling the claims as misinformation from Russia.
Grassley and Johnson were close to finishing their September 2020 report on the alleged influence-peddling activities of Hunter Biden in China and Ukraine, as reported by National Review.
Jordan has asked Haines to provide all drafts of the script used to brief the two senators, seeking information about the so-called ‘defensive’ briefing.

Jordan stated that the Senators’ inquiry into Hunter Biden’s financial ties to foreign governments and individuals was obstructed by a leaked briefing.

The Russian disinformation briefing that the two FBI officials received contained mostly information that the Senators were already aware of and details unrelated to their Biden investigation. This was outlined in a letter Grassley and Johnson sent to Nikki Floris, the then-Deputy Assistant Director for Counterintelligence, and Bradley Benavides, the then-Section Chief of the Foreign Influence Task Force.

In August 2022, GOP senators stated that the FBI briefing was unnecessary and allowed Democrats and liberal media to spread a false narrative about their work promoting Russian disinformation. Despite your assertion that the FBI did not mean to “interfere” with our investigation, the practical consequences of an unnecessary briefing and the resulting leaks hindered and impeded congressional oversight efforts.

Fifty-one former intelligence officials signed an open letter following the New York Post’s publication of evidence regarding the Biden family’s influence peddling on Hunter’s abandoned laptop, labeling the device as Russian disinformation.

During a discussion with then-President Donald Trump, Biden mentioned the letter to challenge Trump’s claims that he personally gained from his vice presidential role.
Haines must ensure the briefing script and all other materials listed in Jordan’s letter are delivered by November 15, along with the requested documents and communications.
Earlier this week, Jordan shared that the House Judiciary Committee is investigating reports of surveillance on members of Congress and their staff by the Justice Department.

“They have been caught spying on congressional staffers,” Jordan revealed during an interview on Fox Business’s “The Evening Edit” with Elizabeth MacDonald. We’re curious about the extent of its reach. Were they observing members? Do you think they were monitoring other employees? Remember this, Liz: It is evident that they monitored President Trump’s campaign. We are familiar with all of that information from the FISA Court and their actions involving Carter Page and Papadopoulos—nothing more. Now it has been discovered that they monitored one of Sen. Grassley’s staff members, Jason Foster.

“We’re curious, does it extend beyond that?” he emphasized. “We have reached out to the Department of Justice and all the carriers involved in obtaining phone and email records from congressional staffers like Mr. Foster.” How extensive is the coverage? Were they observing members and other staff?
Jordan reached out to Alphabet, Apple, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon’s CEOs, along with Attorney General Merrick Garland, to inquire about the DOJ’s reported efforts to access the private communications of members of Congress and their staff for the investigation.

“The Justice Department’s attempts to access the private communications of congressional staff members, particularly those overseeing the Department, are completely unacceptable and violate essential separation of powers principles and Congress’s constitutional right to oversee the Department,” the message to Apple CEO Tim Cook stated.

The letter further explains the assertion that the DOJ issued subpoenas to congressional staffers investigating the DOJ’s Crossfire Hurricane operation on behalf of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence to acquire emails and records.
“These findings indicate that the Justice Department misused its law-enforcement power to monitor the organizations attempting to ensure its transparency,” the letter mentioned.