The Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Paul Abbate, came under heavy criticism from Sen. Ted Cruze (R-TX) over the FBI’s conduct in President Joe Biden’s Bribery investigation.
Ted Cruz accuses FBI deputy director of 'covering up' details of alleged of $5M Biden bribery scheme https://t.co/VV58Izy56y
— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) June 13, 2023
Cruz confronted Abbate during Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary hearing about the politicization and weaponization of the FBI. During the hearing, Cruz asked Abate if Sen. Grassley’s (R-IW) report of 17 voice recordings of Ukrainian oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky speaking to Biden and Hunter was accurate. However, Abbate refused to answer the question.
“I’m just not gonna comment on information we’ve received from investigations,” Abbate responded when Cruz asked for comment on the FBI’s file on Biden’s bribery investigation.
Heated Exchange During Judiciary Committee Hearing Between Senator Ted Cruz And FBI Deputy Director Abbate Over The Biden 1023
Senator @tedcruz: “Last month, a whistleblower brought to light the existence in the FBI of a report, an FD-1023 in which the informant alleges that… pic.twitter.com/rVubCEtQuk
— The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) June 13, 2023
Cruz blasted the FBI official over his refusal to comment on the issue, saying that he owed an obligation to the American people to be candid about the investigation.
“See, that’s the problem,” Cruz said. “The FBI, and I’ve had this conversation with [FBI Director] Chris Wray too, this is why you are damaging the institution. The American people have a right to know whether there is serious, credible evidence that the President of the United States took a $5 million bribe.”
Cruz accused the FBI of stonewalling and “covering up” the allegations against President Biden and his family.
“You’re sitting there happily, erecting a wall to protect Joe Biden,” Cruz added.
The Texas senator told Abatte that his constituents are considering abolishing the FBI for the damage it is doing.
“You’re refusing to answer the question,” Cruz told Abbate. “It’s disgraceful. It’s disgraceful, Director Abbate, disgraceful.”
Cruz also had strong words for the Chair of the Sen. Judiciary Committee (D-IL) after the Illinois lawmaker rolled his eyes while he was speaking on the bribery allegation.
“Chairman Durbin just rolled his eyes,” Cruz said. “If Chairman Durbin were interested in the rule of law, we would have a hearing on these allegations, but of course, the Democrats don’t want a hearing on these allegations, and to be clear, if the allegations are false, you know who can disprove them? Joe Biden. He could call for this to be released publicly, but the FBI is stonewalling.”
