House Republicans accuse Biden's FBI of retaliating against whistleblower who exposed misconduct
FIRST ON FOX: The Biden administration’s FBI used a security-clearance process to potentially retaliate against a whistleblower, and even tried to interrogate his wife while denying her repeated requests for...
By Fox News · Fox News
FIRST ON FOX: The Biden administration’s FBI used a security-clearance process to potentially retaliate against a whistleblower, and even tried to interrogate his wife while denying her repeated requests for an attorney, according to the House Judiciary Committee. In a letter signed by Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Jen Kiggans, R-Va., the committee on Monday informed FBI Director Kash Patel that the Biden administration used a security-clearance interview process to skirt whistleblower protections and investigate Special Agent Valentine Fertitta in 2024. 'MOST TRANSPARENT' FBI EVER: PATEL UPDATES SENATE ON KIRK ASSASSINATION PROBE Fertitta had blown the whistle on the FBI’s misuse of "law-enforcement authorities." After that, his security clearance evaluation process became unusually prolonged. During that time, the FBI made attempts to interrogate his wife, Emily Fertitta, and asked her to participate in a two-day interview. When Mrs. Fertitta pushed back and asked to have an attorney present, the Department of Justice effectively denied her request. "Documents available to the Committee show that SecD investigators denied Mrs. Fertitta the right to receive advice from an attorney during her interview and the opportunity to review FBI guidelines regarding the interview process beforehand," the letter states. HOUSE DEMOCRATS OPEN PROBE INTO FBI'S HANDLING OF EPSTEIN DOCUMENTS According to the committee, the FBI had told Mrs. Fertitta that "‘policy guides, manuals, and an agenda or outline concerning the interview will not be provided.’" "‘An attorney may not be able to give you advice during the interview, nor ask any questions or prevent you from answering your questions during the interview. Essentially, he/she will just sit there silently.’" The demand to interview Mrs. Fertitta goes against the standard process for security clearance evaluations. The agency’s SEAD 4 Guidelines, the procedures that govern the standards, do not allow the agency to deny spousal pr…