FBI director, Homeland Security secretary refuse to publicly testify, Senate chairman says

Top members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee rebuked DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray for skipping an end-of-year nationalist proceeding connected Thursday.

Committee Chairman Gary Peters said Mayorkas and Wray's refusal to look is simply a "shocking departure" from the 15-year contented of holding the yearly proceeding connected worldwide threats. In a connection to Fox News Digital, the FBI argued that Wray and different officials person already "testified extensively" successful nationalist astir threats facing the U.S.

"FBI leaders…believe the Committee would payment most from further substantive discussions and further accusation that can only be provided successful a classified setting," the FBI said successful a statement.

Peters rejected that mentation successful a nationalist statement, however, arguing that the deficiency of a nationalist proceeding "robs the American radical of captious information."

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Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray declined to attest publically earlier the Senate Homeland Secuirty Committee. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

"Americans merit transparent, nationalist answers astir the threats we face. Secretary Mayorkas and Director Wray’s refusal to talk publically astir their department’s enactment volition lone summation the concerns that galore Americans person astir our nation’s information astatine a challenging time, flout the Committee’s efforts to behaviour liable oversight, and volition woody a superior stroke to spot successful our government. Their claims that they tin lone relay specified accusation and respond to questions successful a classified mounting are wholly without merit," Peters wrote.

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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., the ranking subordinate of the committee, besides bashed the officials, saying their refusal to attest publically was "unacceptable."

Sen. Rand Paul blasted Mayorkas and Wray for refusing to attest publically astatine Thursday's nationalist information hearing. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The postponed Senate proceeding came conscionable 1 time aft a akin proceeding earlier the House Homeland Security Committee was pushed backmost connected Wednesday. Mayorkas and Wray were some scheduled to attest successful that proceeding arsenic well.

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Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., who chairs the House committee, did not instantly respond to a petition for remark Thursday morning.

The House and Senate hearings would person been the archetypal clip Mayorkas and Wray attest earlier lawmakers since Trump won re-election this month. (Allison Robbert-Pool/Getty Images)

The brace of hearings would person been the archetypal clip Mayorkas and Wray person appeared earlier the House and Senate since President-elect Trump won re-election earlier this month.

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Trump has vowed to propulsion extended changes astatine some the DHS and the FBI.