On Monday, FBI Director Christopher Wray attempted to have it both ways when it came to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer’s (R-TX) subpoena by letting the committee see a document alleging then Vice President Biden was involved in a bribery scheme, while at the same time not handing it over. That didn’t fly with Comer who announced Monday that he will still seek to hold Wray in contempt of Congress. None of this news made it onto the three evening news broadcasts.
Instead, the three evening newscasts ABC’s World News Tonight, CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News decided to report on their preferred political scandal involving former President Trump’s lawyers meeting with special counsel Jack Smith.
In contrast, Fox News Channel’s Special Report managed to cover both scandals, with correspondent David Spunt revealing that “the FBI 1023 document that reportedly alleges then-Vice President Joe Biden accepted a bribe, was handed over to Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss in 2020.”
The reason Comer wanted the document in the committee’s possession was because there was a game of telephone going on regarding what the document actually said. Evidence of this was the conflicting statements between Comer and ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD).
Spunt reported that “Jamie Raskin, who was in the very same meeting, says he did not hear the document was part of an ongoing investigation. Raskin also said the investigation into the document was closed with the William Barr Department of Justice.”
However, Spunt added that “a source familiar tells Fox News that's not accurate. Multiple sources tell Fox News the person who made the allegation about then V.P. Biden is a trusted FBI source.”
He added that “despite the FBI holding a briefing on Capitol Hill and bringing the document, Chairman Comer is moving forward with holding FBI Director Christopher Wray accountable, arguing he didn't physically turn over the document as requested.”
This bias by omission from the three networks was made possible by Ensure on ABC, Prevagen on CBS, and Progressive on NBC. Their information is linked.
The transcript is below. Click “expand” to read:
FNC’s Special Report
6/5/2023
6:03:19 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: Today, top lawmakers from the House Oversight Committee received access to an FBI document that reportedly contains a bribery allegation against President Biden. This is the document, the form we’ve been talking about. It's been the source of a tug-of-war between House Republicans and bureau chief Christopher Wray. Tonight, we get reaction from Capitol Hill. Correspondent David Spunt is there tonight.
REP. JAMES COMER (R-KY): The investigation is not dead. This is only the beginning. It appears this investigation is part of an ongoing investigation.
DAVID SPUNT: A source tells Fox News the FBI 1023 document that reportedly alleges then-Vice President Joe Biden accepted a bribe, was handed over to Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss in 2020. Fox News cannot confirm what if anything Weiss did with the document. However, ranking member Jamie Raskin, who was in the very same meeting, says he did not hear the document was part of an ongoing investigation. Raskin also said the investigation into the document was closed with the William Barr Department of Justice. A source familiar tells Fox News that's not accurate. Multiple sources tell Fox News the person who made the allegation about then V.P. Biden is a trusted FBI source.
COMER: Highly credible informant who has been used by the FBI for over 10 years and has been paid over six figures.
SPUNT: But Raskin says he was told the source information was not firsthand.
REP. JAMIE RASKIN (D-MD): Remember, what we’re talking about here is a confidential human source reporting a conversation with someone else. So we’re talking about is second hand hearsay.
SPUNT: Despite the FBI holding a briefing on Capitol Hill and bringing the document, Chairman Comer is moving forward with holding FBI Director Christopher Wray accountable, arguing he didn't physically turn over the document as requested.
COMER: We will now initiate contempt of Congress hearings this Thursday.
SPUNT: Late this afternoon, a White House spokesman called what Chairman Comer is doing a fact-free stunt. The FBI tells Fox News that escalating a contempt vote for Director Wray is, quote: unwarranted. A full vote in the House could come a few days after the vote is out of committee on Thursday. Bret?
