Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by Judicial Watch reveal that an FBI official communicated with House Democrat staffers ahead of a congressional hearing with FBI whistleblowers. “These troubling records show how the FBI colluded with Democrats hostile to FBI whistleblowers who were set to testify to Congress,” Tom Fitton, President of Judicial Watch, said in a statement.
The legal watchdog group initially sued Joe Biden‘s Department of Justice (DOJ) when it failed to respond to the FOIA request. Their request sought “all records of communication between any official or employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and any member of the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, any staff member for the subcommittee, or any staff member for any subcommittee member between April 1, 2023, and the present.” Following the lawsuit, the Biden DOJ provided the requested documents.
These documents were released just as the House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government prepared for a significant hearing involving three FBI whistleblowers: Steve Friend, Garrett O’Boyle, and Marcus Allen. Prior to this hearing, the FBI had revoked the security clearances of the three agents. However, Marcus Allen’s clearance was eventually reinstated.
One of the released documents includes an email from Damon Marx, senior counsel in the office of Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), to an unidentified FBI Office of Congressional Affairs official. In the email, Marx references a previous conversation and thanks the official for providing documents that were reportedly beneficial to Rep. Goldman. “We would love to meet in person next time you have the chance. Please let us know when you’re available for coffee or just to swing by the office. And don’t hesitate to reach out on any other matters!” the email read.