House Republicans hit the ground running, and now the Judiciary Committee has launched an investigation into former FBI official Charles McGonigal.
Once in charge of counterintelligence for the FBIâs New York Field Office, McGonigal was arrested last month and charged with money laundering, violating U.S. sanctions, and other counts. These accusations stem from his alleged relationship with Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska.
Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray requesting materials and communications related to McGonigal.
They asked that the evidence be turned over within two weeks.
McGonigal, 54, is accused of receiving money from Deripaska as payment for his investigation into a rival oligarch. The former FBI official is also alleged to have attempted to remove the billionaire from the U.S. sanctions list back in 2019.
BURIED LEDE: Former FBI Official Charles McGonigal was colluding while active to set up a post-career influence-peddling operation đ
"The @JudiciaryGOP has to review this immediately. This is more important than whatever is in Joe Biden's glove compartment of his convertible." pic.twitter.com/wBY7F6KwT4
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) January 25, 2023
The letter to the FBI began by noting the âseemingly pervasive problemsâ within the agency. It reiterated that the committee is currently probing âallegations of politicization and biasâ within the FBI.
Jordan specifically requested all personnel records concerning McGonigalâs work history and materials about probes into his actions. He further asked for documents and communications related to agency actions to counteract the ânational security risksâ the case posed.
The letter also referenced McGonigalâs key role in the launching of the âCrossfire Hurricaneâ investigation into then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.
This ill-fated probe attempted to find links between the Republicanâs presidential campaign and Russian influence operations. Obviously, none were found.
Doubtlessly committee Republicans are eager to determine links between the former official and the collusion hoax that plagued the former president during his time in office. Democrats and the leftist mainstream media repeatedly pummeled Trump over the falsehoods.
The committee also wants to know how the bureau is investigating the process through which Russia and its oligarchs âturn senior FBI officials.â The letter ended with Jordan and Gaetz asking for Wray to sit with lawmakers and review the FBIâs investigation of McGonigal.
Last month he became one of the highest-ranking FBI officials ever charged with misconduct. In doing so, McGonigal gave the once-proud bureau another black eye and exposed the level of corruption that apparently has run rampant throughout the agency.
