Chairman Thompson Statement on FBI & DHS Refusal to Testify
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after the heads of the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and National Counterterrorism Center all refused to appear before the Committee to submit testimony and answer questions for a hearing today on terrorism and threats to the homeland.
“When the country is facing repeated domestic terrorism attacks, the American people have a right to hear what their government is doing to stop this very real and persistent threat. It is unacceptable that the Acting Homeland Security Secretary, FBI Director, and Acting Director of the National Counterterrorism Center all refused a bipartisan invitation to attend today’s hearing on terrorism and threats to the homeland.”
“The Committee gave the Administration officials two months’ notice to appear before the Committee for our annual threats hearing. Despite this generous time frame, these officials refuse to appear on any date before October 30. This simply does not allow us in Congress to adequately perform our necessary and vigorous oversight duties. While it is clear this Administration thinks very little of Congress, we understand our constitutional duties and will work to ensure they are carried out.”
At today’s terrorism and worldwide threats hearing, the leaders of DHS, FBI, and NCTC received bipartisan admonishment for not attending the hearing.
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