Courtney Defends FBI in Two Statements

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Rep Joe Courtney has issued two scathing statements in two days about dealings in Washington with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On Friday, it was about the release of the so-called “Nunes Memo," a disputed GOP intelligence memo that alleges FBI abuses of its surveillance authority.

Courtney said:

“There is no other way to explain President Trump’s action today other than as an attack on the Special Counsel, the FBI, Deputy AG Rosenstein, and ultimately, the rule of law,” said Courtney. “Whatever partisan innuendo the “memo” cherry-picked to attack the warrant application, at the end of the day an Article III Federal judge approved it based on facts presented by the FBI, not a political agenda. It’s no wonder that professional intelligence advisors and Republican leaders in the Senate unanimously criticized the release of this shoddy haphazard document that tarnishes the credibility of the House Intelligence Committee.”

On Thursday, Courtney defended the FBI:

“The unfounded attacks being leveled against the dedicated law enforcement professionals of the FBI are reprehensible and dangerous,” Courtney said. “I know firsthand that the men and women of the FBI are honorable public servants who have taken an oath to uphold the law and the Constitution of the United States. I am proud to say that my parents, Bob and Dorothy Courtney met each other while they were both employees at the bureau. My father served as an FBI field agent and my mother was support staff based in the Manhattan district office. My parents loved their country and did their duty, just like the agents and lawyers currently serving in the ranks of the FBI and DOJ.

“The attacks against the FBI are being made for purely political reasons and to distract from the ongoing Russia investigation. The fact the House Republicans and White House are preparing to release a purposefully misleading document based on classified information – despite the protests of Trump’s own handpicked Deputy Attorney General and FBI Director who have said they have “grave concerns” about compromising sources – is the height of irresponsibility.”

Photo courtesy of Joe Courtney