With House intel committee poised to release 53 Russia probe transcripts, a look at the inside baseball of why it's taken more than two years to release them.
With Republicans in charge, the committee voted in Sept. 2018 (6 months after concluding their investigation) to send the transcripts to the ODNI to redact any classified info. Nunes sent them over in Nov. 2018. All 53 were to be released in one bloc after vetting.
In March 2019, DNI informed the (now-Democrat-led) committee that it wanted to share the transcripts with the WH before returning them. Schiff said no and ODNI agreed not to share.
In June 2019, ODNI proposed redactions for 43 of the transcripts but said WH needed to see others.
In June 2019, ODNI proposed redactions for 43 of the transcripts but said WH needed to see others.
In Sept. 2019, the committee took a unanimous vote to authorize Schiff release of the 43 vetted transcripts (and 2 unclassified transcripts the WH had been blocking).
Nunes blamed the delay on foot-dragging by the ODNI.
docs.house.gov/meetings/IG/IG…
Nunes blamed the delay on foot-dragging by the ODNI.
docs.house.gov/meetings/IG/IG…
Schiff accused the WH of "hijacking" the declassification process. He asked Nunes for help getting WH to back off. He indicated he'd release the vetted/unclassified transcripts quickly, but didn't. Impeachment hearings on Ukraine started days later.
politico.com/story/2019/09/…
politico.com/story/2019/09/…
Matter fell off the radar for months as impeachment furor raged. Remained off-radar for most until WSJ editorial last month hit Schiff on the issue. wsj.com/articles/schif…
Soon others in Trump orbit began calling for release of transcripts.
Soon others in Trump orbit began calling for release of transcripts.
Suddenly, ODNI indicated the WH hold on the remaining transcripts has been lifted. washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/byron-…
JUST IN: House Intel spokesman confirms receipt of Grenell letter, says Russia transcripts will be released expeditiously:
"After more than a year of unnecessary delay, the ODNI has finally concluded its protracted classification review of the Committee’s transcripts."
"After more than a year of unnecessary delay, the ODNI has finally concluded its protracted classification review of the Committee’s transcripts."
NEW: A year-long standoff between the House intel committee and the DNI is over. Dozens of House Russia probe transcripts could be released any day.
politico.com/news/2020/05/0…
politico.com/news/2020/05/0…
