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Top members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Thursday reprimanded DHS Secretary Alejandro Meyerkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray for skipping public hearings scheduled for later in the year.
Committee Chairman Gary Peters said Meyerkas and Ray’s refusal to appear was a “shocking departure” from a 15-year tradition of holding annual hearings on threats around the world. In a statement to Fox News Digital, the FBI argued that Wray and other officials had already “extensively testified” to the public about threats to the United States, and that the bureau had “restricted congressional oversight.” Our commitment to being responsive and transparent has been demonstrated time and time again by the American people.”
“FBI leaders believe that the committee would benefit from more substantive discussions and additional information than can be provided in a single declassification,” the FBI said in a statement. said in a statement.
A DHS spokesperson offered a similar explanation when contacted by Fox Digital, noting that DHS would prefer a classified briefing, saying that Meyerkas “has testified 30 times during his tenure. “
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Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Meyerkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray declined to testify publicly before the Senate Homeland Security Committee. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Peters rejected that explanation in a public statement, however, arguing that the lack of a public hearing “deprives the American people of important information.”
“Americans deserve transparent, public answers about the threats we face. Secretary Meyerkas and Director Ray’s refusal to speak publicly about their department’s work will only add to the concerns that many Americans have about a difficult time.” are about our nation’s security at the time, would undermine the committee’s efforts at responsible oversight, and would seriously undermine the credibility of their claims that they can only provide such information and answer questions. are complete in a hierarchical order are without merit,” Peters wrote.
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The committee’s ranking member, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., also criticized the officials, saying their refusal to testify publicly was “unacceptable.”
Sen. Rand Paul criticized Meyerkas and Ray for refusing to testify publicly at Thursday’s national security hearing. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The adjourned Senate hearing came just one day after a similar hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday. Both Meyerkas and Ray were scheduled to testify at that hearing as well.
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Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., who chairs the House committee, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday morning.
A House Homeland Security Committee source told Fox Digital that the committee had been planning a secret hearing “since early last week.” However, those plans fell through, and Wednesday’s public hearing was tentatively scheduled instead.
“A few days ago, after further negotiations, we reached an agreement to adjourn until December and hold the hearing in a classified setting thereafter,” the source said.
The House and Senate hearings will be the first time Meyerkas and Ray testify before lawmakers since Trump won re-election this month. (Alison Robert Poole/Getty Images)
The hearings will mark the first time the pair have appeared before the House and Senate since President-elect Trump won re-election earlier this month.
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Trump has vowed to make sweeping changes to both the DHS and the FBI.
