Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik today released the following statement after the FBI refused to provide information regarding Stefanik’s request for an anticipated timeline of the FBI’s internal investigation into the Bureau’s actions surrounding the 2018 Schoharie limousine crash.
“The FBI is completely failing their responsibility to inform Congress, and they can no longer brush off my requests on behalf of New York families,” Stefanik said. “These families and the entire Schoharie community were devastated by the deadly limo tragedy that could have been avoided if not for FBI negligence. Make no mistake, House Republicans will have control of the gavels next Congress, and the FBI can expect rigorous oversight next year for their involvement in the most deadly transportation disaster in decades to get answers for these families. The subpoenas are coming.”
In the FBI’s response to her June letter, the FBI brushed off Stefanik’s initial request by failing to provide the information she requested, instead writing that they provided a briefing to House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Staff on May 18, but refusing to provide any more details regarding the review’s timeline or commit to transmitting any of the Bureau’s findings to the Intelligence Committee.
Stefanik replied in a letter to the FBI by writing, “On three separate occasions, during a public Congressional hearing and through two official letters, I have sought answers from you regarding the FBI’s relationship with the informant in question, the FBI’s knowledge surrounding the 2018 crash, and the FBI’s internal review of the matter. At each turn, you have consistently delayed and obfuscated in responding to these inquiries.
“Your conduct related to this matter represents a complete and willful failure of your responsibility to inform Congress, which is constitutionally entitled to information regarding the FBI’s conduct, to include internal reviews conducted by the Bureau. As Republicans prepare to assume the majority in the House of Representatives in the 118th Congress, the FBI can expect rigorous oversight of the Bureau, to include any involvement related to the 2018 Schoharie limousine crash or action taken thereafter,” Stefanik continued.
In the letter, Stefanik requested that the FBI retain all documentation related to the Schoharie limo crash and promised to utilize all oversight authorities afforded by the Constitution.
In March, 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 the FBI opened an internal investigation 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.
Read the full letter here.
