‘Brazen’: Mayorkas And Wray Blasted For Refusing To Publicly Testify Before Senate

Republicans and Democrats blasted FBI Director Chris Wray and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Thursday after they refused to publicly testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee. 

The two Biden administration officials wanted to give lawmakers a closed-door briefing, saying they could not publicly testify. This request was slammed by lawmakers who said it would damage trust in the government and break precedent. 

Mayorkas was expected to be asked about FEMA’s guidance to skip homes showing support for Donald Trump during relief operations in Florida. Multiple Republicans, including Sens. Rand Paul (KY) and Katie Britt (AL), have already demanded answers from Mayorkas about the instructions, which led to at least 20 homes being skipped. 

Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), who chairs the committee, said the officials’ request for the briefing to be classified was “without merit” and the first time in 15 years that the head of the FBI and DHS have refused to testify publicly. 

“Americans deserve transparent, public answers about the threats we face. Secretary Mayorkas and Director Wray’s refusal to speak publicly about their department’s work will only increase the concerns that many Americans have about our nation’s security at a challenging time, flout the Committee’s efforts to conduct responsible oversight, and will deal a serious blow to trust in our government,” he said. 

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) called for Wray to resign and suggested that the Senate hold the two in contempt.

“Secretary Mayorkas and Director Wray’s refusal to testify publicly today in the Senate is an outrage — and a brazen attempt to avoid oversight for the political abuses at FEMA, the FBI and more. I look forward to Director Wray’s resignation,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said. 

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“This is Mayorkas & Wray giving the middle finger to the American people. They are REQUIRED BY LAW to testify. And now they’re saying it’s good enough to post something on a website? Both are unfit for office. The Senate should subpoena them immediately and hold them in contempt,” Hawley said in another post. 

The FBI and DHS released statements saying that the officials could only meet with lawmakers behind closed doors. 

“FBI leaders have testified extensively in public settings about the current threat environment and believe the Committee would benefit most from further substantive discussions and additional information that can only be provided in a classified setting,” the FBI said. 

In a statement, DHS said that Mayorkas had already “testified 30 times during his tenure” and that it “takes seriously its obligation to respond to Congressional requests for testimony.”