CIA steers clear of Senate Republican probe into Bidens
The spy agency's reluctance to engage with Sen. Ron Johnson's panel underscores the intelligence communitys doubts about the investigation.
By ANDREW DESIDERIO and NATASHA BERTRAND
08/05/2020 04:51 PM EDT
The Central Intelligence Agency has ignored requests to brief senators as part of a Republican-led investigation that targets presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his son Hunter, according to sources familiar with the matter and an email described to POLITICO.
The spy agencys resistance comes amid intelligence officials deep skepticism of the probe, which is being led by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and focuses on Hunter Bidens role on the board of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Democrats argue the investigation is based on Russian disinformation aimed at tipping the outcome of the election toward President Donald Trump a charge Johnson rejects.
Some intelligence officials similarly fear the Biden probe will only boost the Russian intervention. And while the motivations of the CIA are not certain, Johnson is considered toxic by some members of the intelligence community, according to people with direct knowledge of the dynamic.
The agency's reluctance to engage with the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which Johnson chairs, underscores the intelligence communitys doubts about the probe. And while it is unlikely to deter Johnson from moving forward, it could give Democrats more support as they seek to rebut Trump and GOP allegations that Biden is corrupt.
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https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/05/cia-biden-senate-probe-391479