Milwaukee City Wire

On Tuesday, U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) have called for public accountability from top officials at the Justice Department and FBI concerning the handling of a long-term FBI Confidential Human Source (CHS) who was recently indicted for providing false information.

In a letter addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Special Counsel David Weiss, the senators demanded transparency regarding the vetting process of the CHS. They specifically requested transcribed interviews with the handling agent and supervisors responsible for overseeing the CHS. The senators expressed their concerns, stating, "The federal indictment of [Confidential Human Source] Smirnov leaves many questions unanswered, including how the Justice Department and FBI could use this Confidential Human Source for approximately 14 years, pay him hundreds of thousands of dollars, use his information in investigations and prosecutions, and then ultimately determine he’s a liar."

Furthermore, Sens. Johnson and Grassley emphasized the need for thorough investigations into the matter. They urged for accountability by setting a deadline for the interviews, stating, “we request that you make the [Confidential Human Source’s] handling agent and his superiors available for a full-day transcribed interview no later than May 7, 2024.”

The concerns raised by the senators stem from the FBI's handling of information provided by the CHS in an FBI FD-1023 document alleging a potential criminal bribery scheme involving the Biden family. Grassley's insistence on following proper investigative procedures led to the discovery of credibility issues with the CHS.

In addition to demanding interviews with the responsible parties, Sens. Johnson and Grassley are seeking clarity on the actions taken by the DOJ and FBI regarding the investigation of the FD-1023. They questioned whether all named parties in the document were interviewed and if efforts were made to confirm the existence of audio tapes, bank records, and text messages related to the alleged bribery scheme.

The senators also raised concerns about the overall vetting process of Confidential Human Sources within the FBI, highlighting the need for reforms in light of the agency's failure to adequately vet the recently indicted CHS over a 14-year period.

For more details on the senators' letter, the full text can be accessed on Fox News.