Rep. Jordan warns FBI Chief of contempt for Hunter Biden laptop
Rep. Jim Jordan (Reuters)
The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee is not holding back in his pursuit of answers from FBI director Christopher Wray. Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) is threatening to hold Wray in contempt of Congress for withholding crucial information about the bureau’s interactions with social media companies regarding Hunter Biden.
Jordan has been relentless in his efforts to uncover the identities of FBI officials who engaged in over 30 meetings with Twitter and Facebook prior to the 2020 election. He claims that these officials warned social media executives about potential derogatory information on the Biden family that Russia might release before the election. According to Jordan, these warnings led the companies to mistakenly suppress a true story from the New York Post in October 2020, which detailed Biden’s laptop and its revelations about his foreign business dealings.
Jordan asserts that the FBI made a deliberate decision to avoid answering direct questions from the companies about the authenticity of the Biden laptop after the Post story broke. This decision was made despite the FBI’s knowledge in November 2019 that the laptop was indeed legitimate.
In a letter addressed to Wray on Monday, Jordan set a deadline of March 25 for the FBI chief to provide the requested information or face contempt proceedings.
This letter marks an escalation in the ongoing clash between congressional Republicans and the Biden administration over how federal agencies handle matters involving Hunter Biden. Jordan and his fellow Republicans have accused Attorney General Merrick Garland of being lenient in the federal investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax issues and foreign business dealings. The Justice Department, which initiated the investigation in 2018, was on the verge of closing it without charges until two IRS whistleblowers exposed evidence of Biden’s felony tax evasion.
Jordan has also been pressing the CIA for answers regarding its involvement in a letter signed by more than 50 former intelligence officials, falsely claiming that the release of Biden’s laptop was part of a Russian disinformation campaign. Former CIA deputy director Michael Morell has testified that he orchestrated the letter after discussions with the Biden campaign and with approval from the CIA.
In his letter to Wray, Jordan accuses the FBI of repeatedly refusing to provide documents related to the meetings with social media companies and other internal communications. He highlights how FBI lawyers obstructed Laura Dehmlow, the section chief for the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force, from answering questions about the social media meetings during a congressional interview last year.
How do Rep. Jim Jordan’s allegations of FBI interference in the election by suppressing potentially damaging information about Joe Biden raise concerns about transparency and democracy?
Potential scandalous contents.
In a letter to Director Wray, Jordan accuses the FBI of interfering in the election by suppressing information that could have been damaging to then-candidate Joe Biden. Jordan asserts that the FBI’s actions violate the principles of transparency and democracy, and he demands that Wray release all documents and communications related to the bureau’s interactions with social media companies.
The controversy surrounding Hunter Biden’s laptop has been a contentious issue for months. The laptop was reportedly left at a repair shop in Delaware, and its contents allegedly included incriminating evidence of Hunter Biden’s business dealings overseas. The story, initially published by the New York Post, was met with widespread censorship and suppression by social media platforms. Twitter even went so far as to lock the New York Post‘s account for several weeks.
While the authenticity of the laptop’s contents remains contested, the actions of the FBI and social media companies have raised serious concerns about the influence of big tech in shaping public discourse and manipulating the electoral process. Many conservatives argue that the suppression of the New York Post story represents a clear example of bias and censorship by social media giants, while critics argue that the story lacked credibility and was potentially part of a disinformation campaign.
Regardless of the validity of the laptop’s contents, the allegations made by Rep. Jim Jordan warrant a thorough investigation into the FBI’s conduct. The American people deserve transparency and accountability from their government institutions, especially when it comes to potential interference in the democratic process. If Jordan’s claims are substantiated, it would raise serious questions about the integrity and impartiality of the FBI.
Director Wray must respond to Jordan’s demands and provide the requested documents and communications. Congress has a constitutional duty to oversee the executive branch and ensure its adherence to the principles of democracy. Withholding information from Congress is a serious offense that should not be taken lightly.
The outcome of this investigation could have far-reaching implications for the future of social media regulation and the role of big tech in elections. The power and influence of these companies have grown exponentially in recent years, raising concerns about their ability to sway public opinion and suppress certain narratives.
Rep. Jim Jordan’s threats of contempt against FBI Director Christopher Wray should not be ignored. The American people deserve to know the truth about the FBI’s interactions with social media companies and whether there was any undue influence in the 2020 election. Transparency and accountability are essential for maintaining trust in our democratic institutions.
