Hearing Wrap Up: Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

Washington, D.C. – Today, Director James Comey testified before the House Judiciary Committee at an oversight hearing on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Here are some key takeaways and videos from today’s oversight hearing. Takeaways:

• Director James Comey confirmed the investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server for official business. Two Inspectors General have already reported that classified information was contained within Secretary Clinton’s private email and have referred the matter to the Justice Department.  During Chairman Goodlatte’s questioning, Director Comey vowed that the investigation will be conducted “promptly, professionally, and independently.”
• Director Comey repeatedly stated that the U.S. government does not have the resources and dramatically lacks the necessary information to fully vet Syrian refugees. He also could not offer any assurances that there is no risk associated with admitting Syrian refugees to the United States.

  Key Videos:On FBI’s Clinton Investigation: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s (R-Va.) exchange with Director Comey on the FBI’s investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server for official business:  On Syrian Refugees:House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.): “Even with a decade’s worth of information on Iraqi refugees, didn’t we still encounter cases of domestic terrorism conducted by those admitted as refugees? With significantly less information on potential Syrian refugees, isn’t it true that you can’t ensure that the Iraqi experience is not going to be replayed?”   Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-Texas): “Without a good fingerprint database, without good identification, how can you be sure that anyone is who they say they are?”

Congressman Raul Labrador (R-Idaho): “How can I ensure my constituents that the people that may come to Idaho are safe, that they are not terrorists, that the people in my community are safe?”`