FBI hits GOP chairman over push to clear sensitive transcripts by Christmas Eve

The deputy FBI director indicated Friday to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) that he’d made an unrealistic request in asking the bureau to review and redact sensitive information from more than 3,400 pages of transcripts by Christmas Eve.

The Washington Post reported that Deputy Director David Bowdich cautioned Goodlatte against releasing the transcripts before the FBI could thoroughly review them. The documents are part of an investigation launched by committee Republicans into alleged misconduct by members of the Department of Justice.

“Your committee has not afforded the FBI the time necessary to undertake a thorough review of this large volume of documents for classified, sensitive, and personally identifiable information,” Bowdich wrote in his letter to Goodlatte, according to the Post.{mosads}

Goodlatte turned over the letters this week at the conclusion of the committee’s final interview with former Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

The FBI warned Goodlatte that releasing the trove of documents before the bureau could review them properly could result in the disclosure of classified information, personally identifiable information or information relevant to law enforcement investigations.

Goodlatte’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Republicans have pursued allegations that officials in the FBI and Department of Justice acted improperly or were biased during the 2016 election.

Democrats have said they intend to close down the investigation upon taking back the majority in the House next month.