Congress of the United States
Washington, BE 20515
February 12, 2020
‘The Honorable Adam B. Schiff, Chairman
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
HYVC-304, Capitol Visitor Center
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman,
Under your chairmanship, the House Intelligence Committee has strayed far from its
mandate of overseeing the Intelligence Community. In fact, we have gone months at a time in
which we've hardly held any oversight-related briefings or hearings at all.
During this period of inadequate oversight, numerous critical issues pertinent to this
Committee's jurisdiction were ignored. Most notably, on December 9, 2019, the Department of
Justice Inspector General issued a report detailing significant abuses of the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act by Intelligence Community officials related to the Carter Page FISA applications.
‘The IG also identified seventeen serious shortcomings related to the conduct of the investigation,
which raise serious legal and policy questions that this Committee is uniquely postured to consider.
‘The IG Report was followed by the release of a declassified assessment by the Department of
Justice acknowledging that at least two of the four FISA applications lacked probable cause.
Despite the seriousness of these issues and our clear jurisdiction, you have failed to hold a single
briefing or hearing on this matter.
Until the Committee prioritizes oversight activities related to urgent and critical concerns,
Republican Members cannot support distractions from our core responsibilities. Given this
Committee's access to highly sensitive information, it is conceming that you prioritize publicity
events rather than the more productive work that occurs in the Committee's classified spaces. There
are numerous Committees in the House of Representatives that may conduct public hearings on
emerging science and technology matters; the House Intelligence Committee should focus on
critical issues we are uniquely postured to address.
Republican Members of the Committee will continue to work to carry out the vital work we
do for the American people and will participate in Committee functions that are productive and
carried out in the appropriate setting. However, Republicans will not be participating in today's
scheduled open hearing for the reasons outlined above. We hope this Committee can move past
political investigations and publicity stunts and get back to the important work we have traditionally
undertaken on a bipartisan basis.
Sincerely,
On SS
Chris Stewart
Ranking Member Ranking Member
Strategic Technologies &
Advanced Research Subcom:K: Muthet ll fogs
Michael Cofaway Michael R. Turner
Member of Congress Member of Congress
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Brad Wenstrup Ridk Crawfor
Member of Congress ‘Member of Congress
Eli ss ; ‘Will Hurd
Member of Congress Member of Congress
John Rateliffe
lember of Congress