(PartiallyPolitics.com) – Following a Tuesday briefing top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee have said that the briefing on the classified material discovered in President Biden’s home and office and former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate “left much to be desired.”
The briefing included the Gang of Eight, Congress’ top four leaders, and the chairmen and vice chairmen of the Senate and House Intelligence committees. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) released a joint statement stating that while some information was provided during the meeting, there were a lot of things not covered. They added that they would continue to try and get information and answers as per their constitutional oversight obligations.
However, other than these brief comments lawmakers were relatively quiet after leaving the sensitive compartmented information facility at the Capitol’s visitor center.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who attended the briefing said prior to the session that they were focused on ensuring that the “intelligence stuff is protected as much as possible.”
The briefing came after months of Warner and Rubio trying to gain access to more information regarding the classified documents. However, administration officials have argued that providing them with access to large parts of the sensitive information could compromise the Department of Justice investigations.
Previously, Warner and Rubio had sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines requesting access to the classified documents retrieved. The lawmakers had claimed that without access they could not “effectively oversee the efforts of the Intelligence community to address risks to national security arising from the mishandling of classified information.”
Copyright 2023, PartiallyPolitics.com