Vote to authorize chair ron johnson to issue subpoenas to approximately 40 individuals involved in the Russian Investigation for the ranking democrat senator gary peters, said the committee should be focused on the coronavirus pandemic, not partisan politics. Good morning. Pursuant to notice on september 9, 2020, the Committee Meets to consider a motion to authorize issue of certain subpoenas and note the presence of a quorum. We are here today for two reasons. First, to overcome a ridiculous assertion by the Ranking Member regarding subpoena rules and while were at it, but on subpoena authority for some and brzozowski Additional Information second void the nomination for the investment board. Regarding the Committee Subpoena rules, senator peters has raised procedural objection based on an absurd interpretation of Committee Rules pretty Cordis Center peters with the committee authorize depositions on june 4, that vote did not include the authority to actually schedule any depositions. So rather than raise this issue internally, which would have been the proper procedure, which the committee not any one members the arbiter of our rules, center peters and medially conveyed that objection to witness who then cited an excuse to ignore a subpoena. The witness senator pinot encouraged to ignore his former state Department Employee jonathan weiner. Mr. Weiner played a key role in disseminate distilled dossier which is then further route relate to the fbi. Was also one of only two witnesses he refused to cooperate with the department of justice with the Inspector Generals review. I decided to issue the subpoena because concerns about his voluntary cooperation committee. And contrary to the assertions of the Ranking Members, peters, those concerns turned out to be wellfounded. Senator Grassley Knight noted in our september 2019 letter, mr. Weiner uses personal email to conduct official government business. In addition, the day before senator peters encouraged him to ignore the subpoena, the Senate Select committee on intelligence revealed that mr. Weiner admitted to destroying not only all of his correspondence from christopher steele, but also quotes, essentially every email, unquote, from his tenure at the state department. This is the individual that senator peters apparently does not want our committee to interview. This comment this is by no means the only inappropriate meddling by the minority in our investigations. Most recent example is a letter classified addendum created by senior democrat leaders accusing senator grassley and me, of relying on foreign misinformation. This quote, intelligent products, unquote, which was full of false allegations was produced, classified, and then leaked to the press more than a week before senator grassley or i were given access to it. Many in the media, dutifully reported this hot tip. Democrats use these media reports to repeat, distort, and embellish the false charges. This coordinated smear, thats all you can refer to it as, a coordinated smear culminated in an august 7 opinion peace in the Washington Post submitted by senator Richard Blumenthal. John radcliffe, the director of National Intelligence, wrote quote, i can confirm that the i see did not create classified addendum to the 13 july letter. Nor do we authorize its creation. There were not consulted prior to his creation and release to the entire membership of the u. S. House speaker of representatives. And again referring to that classified addendum he said that by no means reflects the full and complete analysis of the is isc. With information or falsely accused of receiving utilizing reportedly comes from ukrainian name andriy dirk at. It was since been sanctioned by the Treasury Department. Although neither senator grassley nor i ever sought, received, or used any information from him, that media has continued to report otherwise four weeks despite our repeated and unequivocal denial denials. But it is true that a chart produced by him is now part of this invested gory record of this committee. Not because me or senator grassley entered it, because senator peters staff introduce it into the record. As was the case of 2016 election, the only foreign disinformation been used interfere in this investigation has been introduced by democrats, not republicans. Given all of the concern expressed by democrats concerned of a foreign disinformation, it is notable that would not heard the same concern over the disclosure of dossier contained russian disinformation. We are aware of this fact because my chief counsel uncovered it buried in for classified footnotes in the department of justice, Inspector General fisa report. We also the fbi was aware of this as early as august of 2016. Again, the fbi knew that russian disinformation is part of the steele dossier as early as august 2016 and yet they continued the investigation, and we end up with a special counsel. We also know that the steele dossier was bought and paid for by the dnc and the clinton campaign. So apparently, democrats are willing to look the other way when they pay for or use foreign disinformation against republicans. Senator Richard Blumenthal smear peace was headline quote, the threat u. S. Elections is real and frightening. The public has a right to know. I completely agree with the headline, but it utterly rejects senator blumenthals false allegations as i clarified in my august 10 open letter which i now ask consent to enter into the record. Hearing no objection, so ordered. I hope everyone listening will take the time to read this ten page letter that lays out the history, purpose and goals of our ongoing oversight. I can assure you that if you do, you will learn a lot. So here we are, forced to take a vote to delay the and the meddling of setter pedal jim peters and the unlawful subpoenas. And as ive stated repeatedly in center blumenthals headline declares, the public has a right to know. Our investigation is focused on uncovering and revealing the truth. The democrats seem at every turn to frustrate it interfere with our oversight efforts. By the way, our investigation relies on u. S. Documents, from u. S. Agencies and u. S. Persons. There is no russian disinformation in our record of that was entered by senator peters staff. So based on their obstructive behavior, one has to wonder, why are democrats celebrated the truth . Senator peters. Thank you, mr. Chairman. This is our third business meeting on a very partisan investigation. Yet we continue to face an unprecedented Public Health and economic emergency. Almost 200,000 americans have died during this pandemic. Nearly 4,040,000,000 americans have lost their jobs. I am disappointed that our committee is once again meeting to discuss the authorization of subpoenas and stead, i say again, instead of the serious challenges facing americans and our committee has a responsibility to address with powerful focus and resources. Today we are voting on an unprecedented 40 subpoenas to further the chairmans investigations into crossfire hurricane and the unmasking of lieutenant journal flynns name. These investigations are substantially identical to multiple previous investigations. Including those by other committees of congress with direct jurisdiction. The extensive work of the Justice DepartmentInspector General, and the durham investigation. Your own public comments, mr. Chairman, state that your desire to reinvestigate these matters demonstrates the alarming partisan nature of this investigation. That is designed to influence the president ial election which is now only 48 days away. As i said in june, issuing subpoenas should be a last resort. Particularly when individuals on this list are either already cooperating or have not been given the opportunity for voluntary compliance. In june, this committee authorize subpoenas for 33 people. In the last three months, none of these people have been interviewed on the subject matter of those subpoenas. Yet, you now seek authority to depose seven individuals on the same matters. This is a partisan fishing expedition. At our organizing business mena, mr. Chairman, you made a commitment to maintain the longstanding tradition of this committee in its pursuit of conducting serious oversight in a nonpartisan way. Now, at a moment of national emergency, its most important that we speak with one voice. Mr. Chairman, im asking to stop the inappropriate use of our Committee Resources and recommit to our primary focus which is safeguarding homeland security. Thank you, senator peters but i think we have, Committee Members here i like to bond the nomination both sprayed although we notice the nomination john gibbs for the personal management, we are going to hold over him the nomination because some of our members would like to quest Additional Information from the nominee. So that the committee will proceed with the nominations, does any member wish to discuss the nominations before he vote . If not, the questions are favorable reporting mr. John berger, two member of the retirement thrift investment board. I believe this is a required or requested roll call vote to the clerk called the rule. [roll call] [roll call] [roll call] mr. Chairman, mr. Chairman. Two saturday peters braced. s come to my attention that senator sinema we would be recorded as a yes. Seatac okay. Mr. Chairman on the vote of those presents eight to three on the vote by proxy and vote is one and two, and emotion reports the nominee has agreed to. Smacks of the nomination is reported favorably. If there is no objection the committee will vote on the to read meaning nomination for the retirement board, the question is on favorably report the nominations, Christopher Burnham and Frank Dunlevy put all those in favor, although supposed, the chair of the denominations are reported favorably. The committee will now proceed to the motion to authorize a chairmans issued notices of taking subpoenas for records and subpoena for testimony described in items one, two and three of schedule a. Is any member wish to debate the motion . Mr. Chairman. The act mr. Peters . I like to move to postpone the member of this as members of the Committee Received the underlying foreign intelligence document related to the unmasking of the general michael flynn. And debriefing of the unmasking process and the National Security agency. Mr. Chairman, you already asked the acting director of National Intelligence or quote, all information come, related to the unmasking of general flynn paid the acting director did not however, giving the foreign Intelligence Reports that lead to requests to unmask a person who turned out to be Lieutenant General flynn. Nor did he give you any finished intelligence projects , products that use these reports. These documents will likely show that the request to unmask were not politically motivated, but were rather driven by intelligence needs. This is true we can avoid hauling more people and for depositions in this highly partisan investigation. Second, this committee should receive a briefing from nsa so we can understand how the unmasking process works. Including who has the authority to request unmasking. What scrutiny is involved in what is involved in unmasking a name in his Intelligence Report . And who has the authority to view these unmask names. Under saying the process will provide context of how and why unmasking is an important part of intelligence and investigations. We should start with the basics before moving directly to subpoenas. Thank you, senator peters but i think if you are well aware, one of our first people scheduled for interviews, Patrick Conlin who is part of the Treasury Department and the whole purpose of this is due for him to describe the process of unmasking. I personally do not feel another briefing is required at all. Said motion is in order to postpone and is not debatable. So clerk called the role. [roll call] [roll call] [roll call] [roll call] mr. Chairman of the vote of those present it is 38, the vote by proxy and the motion is not agreed to. So theres no further debate. Mr. Chairman of lemoore. Smacks senator peters. For each of your investigations, i move that the committee publicly release Interview Transcripts in full at the same time as you release your reports. With all appropriate reductions to protect our National Security interests. I certainly believe, and i believe you said earlier that the American People deserve to see the complete record and reach their owns conclusions. So i would like to make that motion. So back at us we discussed that is my full intention. So are in classified sections are potentially objections from attorneys which we agreed to as well, we intend to do that. So we have a voice vote . We need a voice vote on it . Yes. Right so the motion has been raised, is there a second . Is roll call vote required . If not all those in favor say yeas those opposed say nays. It is no further debate, questions on the motion to authorize a chairmans issued the notices and subpoenas as described in item one, two, three of schedule a, the clerk called the rule. [roll call] [roll call] [roll call] [roll call] [roll call] mr. Chairman on the vote of those present tran 9r eights, nays r3. On the vote by proxy me the yeas is zero and the nays is three, this vote is agreed to. They could for attendances business meeting is adjourned. Seatac mr. Chairman. Senator rosen. If you want to have the meeting close two. Mr. Chairman, Ranking Members peters, today i oppose the burgers nomination to be part of the board played the American People deserve transparency about the operational changes to the Postal Service effective under mr. Bergers leadership. Mr. Barker currently served on the Postal Service board of governors and played a key role in the decision to appoint lewis dejoy as postmaster general. To assume his role of Postal Service in midjune. Shortly thereafter, americans began reporting nationwide delays and mail delivery due to significant operational changes at the usps. Last month, postmaster general louis dejoy testified before this committee about the mail slowdowns in his recent changes caused. I asked mr. Dejoy to provide the committee of any transcript or minutes of all close, non public board of governors meetings from this year so that the American People could better understand the rationale behind policy decisions that have adversely impacted hurting her seniors, hurting our veterans, hurting our Rural Communities and numerous others. The postmaster general has yet to respond Ranking Members peters at his nomination eating i asked him from the closer nonpublic board of governor meetings this year . Mr. Barker said he would raise the issue with the board that he asked to comply with my request which again i followed up with in writing. Mr. Bergers written response site the need to protect predecisional and deliberative information. Whether member of the Postal Service board of governors or the matter of the federal retirement thrift investment board, i do expect transparency. And so did the American People. Due to the lack of compliance with better understand the dimmest process of the Postal Service that has adversely impacted their lives in the lives that so many americans, mr. Chairman i cannot support this nominee. [inaudible] they had a political exercise and im fearful that comments make under made in the media had only come from that perspective, obviously the province of campaigns and political parties, opposition research, the media to carry out political endeavors to learn about or dustup ones opponent but not the legitimate role of government for congress or for taxpayer expense to be used in an effort to damage political opponents. Therefore, i am pleased our votes today do not include additional authorizations relating to the biden bereavement investigation. Which regards to the crossfire hurricane investigation, i think its also important that this has such obvious political implications that the committees investigation focus on the specific wrongdoing alleged by the Inspector General report and my bow is a reaffirmation of the subpoena authorization that was approved by this committee with my support on june 4 and i will continue that support as long as it does not fall in the realm of rank of political taking, i do believe is very important about the committees of congress and ours and in particular not fall into an increasing pattern that we are seeing which is using taxpayer dollars and the power of congress to do political work. That is the role of the campaign. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Senator romney, senator sco scott. Mr. Chairman i want to thank you for your efforts, every time about a conversation your focus is to get the truth out, whatever the truth is make sure the American Public knows it so i want to thank you for your efforts. Any other discussion. The business meeting is adjourned. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] book tv on cspan2 has top nonfiction books and authors every weekend, saturday at 7 30 p. M. Eastern, John Hopkins University history professor martha jones explores the efforts by black women to win the right to vote in her book vanguard. And at 930 and her book no rules rules netflix in the culture reinvention, netflix founder and Ceo Reed Hastings and aaron meyer talk about the unorthodox Workplace Culture behind the Largest Tech Companies in the world. And on sunday at 9 9 00 p. M. 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