Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today followed up with the FBI on her concerns following the briefing she received regarding the FBI’s internal review of the 2018 Schoharie limo crash that she secured and called for full transparency for the families still grieving.
“I am continuing my push for answers into the FBI’s involvement in the deadly 2018 Schoharie limo crash that never should have happened,” Stefanik said. “Now that the briefing I secured presented serious concerns with the FBI’s confidential human source program’s standard operating procedures in this case, I will bring these concerns to the highest levels until grieving families receive the answers they deserve. As I reminded FBI Director Wray publicly, it is the House Intelligence Committee that I serve on, not the FBI, that determines full compliance as I use my full Congressionally-directed oversight authority to ensure full transparency for these families and the public.”
In the letter, Stefanik wrote, “Despite the March 29 briefing, additional work is needed for full transparency regarding the FBI’s apparent lack of adherence to their confidential human source program’s standard operating procedures. Most importantly, the grieving families impacted by this tragic event deserve to be briefed by the FBI, so they can have full and much-needed closure."
Stefanik received this briefing in a sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) due to its confidential nature, which is why the Congresswoman transmitted additional questions to the FBI confidentially and is pushing for a public, transparent briefing and a release of the review to the families first and then the public.
She concluded the letter by writing, “I again remind you that it is Congress, not the FBI, that determines what constitutes full transparency and the fulfillment of Congressionally-mandated oversight role on this matter. I appreciate your full compliance and look forward to receiving the requested information and documentation promptly.”
Read the full letter here.
In March 2022, Stefanik publicly questioned Director Wray on the FBI’s involvement in the crash at the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence’s hearing. She followed up with a letter demanding answers regarding the FBI’s involvement with 2018 Schoharie limousine crash. Following this advocacy, Stefanik announced in April 2022 the FBI opened an internal investigation of the limo crash. In June, Stefanik continued her oversight and requested a timeline for the FBI’s review, a copy of the completed review, and any findings and recommendations.
During her public questioning of Wray in March 2023, Stefanik announced that the FBI will present the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence its report from the investigation into the FBI’s involvement in the Schoharie limo crash. She got Wray to commit to full transparency with this briefing.
In March 2023, Stefanik received the first of multiple briefings that she secured on the FBI’s internal review in a confidential SCIF. She expressed concern with the FBI’s confidential human source program’s standard operating procedures and pushed for grieving families to be updated by the FBI.
