Tipsheet

Acting DNI Grenell Holds Adam Schiff to His Own Standard: Release the Russia Transcripts

Katie Pavlich
Katie Pavlich  |  May 06, 2020 4:00 PM

Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell is holding House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff to his own standards and calling on the former impeachment manager to release dozens of Russia probe transcripts.

Byron York has the scoop:

A big development in the fight over 53 secret interviews the House Intelligence Committee conducted during its Trump-Russia investigation. Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell has sent a letter to chairman Adam Schiff notifying him that transcripts of all 53 interviews, over 6,000 pages in all, have been cleared for public release. "All of the transcripts, with our required redactions, can be released to the public without any concerns of disclosing classified material," Grenell wrote to Schiff in a letter dated May 4.

The Intel Committee did the first probe into Russia's 2016 campaign interference and allegations of Trump-Russia collusion. Even today, its findings make up most of what we know about the affair. As part of that investigation -- it was run by then-majority Republicans -- the committee interviewed some key witnesses in the Trump-Russia matter: Donald Trump Jr., Steve Bannon, Andrew McCabe, Sally Yates, Michael Cohen, Hope Hicks, and many more.

Two years ago Schiff's Committee voted to release the transcripts. Regardless, that hasn't happened and Schiff is blaming the Trump administration for the delay.

Meanwhile, Republicans on Capitol Hill have also been pressuring Schiff to live up to his word.