FBI criticizes GOP chairman for Christmas Eve document deadline
By Jeremy Herb, CNN
Updated 7:46 PM ET, Fri December 21, 2018
(CNN)The FBI is pushing back on outgoing House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte's demand that the bureau finish reviewing more than 3,000 pages of closed-door interview transcripts by Christmas Eve after the documents were provided to the FBI earlier this week.
In a blistering letter to Goodlatte, obtained by CNN, FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich warned that releasing transcripts without proper redactions "will result in the disclosure of law enforcement sensitive information" and suggested the documents might contain classified information.
"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.
Goodlatte and House Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy, who are both retiring Republicans, hope to release transcripts of the interviews they conducted over the past year for their joint probe into the FBI's handling of the investigations into Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and Russia.
Bowdich said the FBI was provided the documents for review on Wednesday and was given a deadline of Monday to provide suggested redactions or corrections — which he emphasized in italics was Christmas Eve.
"We respectfully request that the committees maintain the confidentiality of the un-redacted interview transcripts pending a complete review by the FBI, the (Justice) Department and the Special Counsel's Office, as appropriate," Bowdich wrote.
more:
http://www.cnn.com/2018/12/21/politics/fbi-bowdich-criticizes-goodlatte-deadline/index.html
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