After a recent closed-door Senate Intelligence Committee briefing with National Intelligence Director Avril Haines, where the entire committee of U.S. Senators in attendance was denied access to the classified documents recently found at President Joe Biden’s Delaware home and his old Vice Presidential office building, and at former President Donald Trump’s home in Palm Beach, Florida, Senator Marco Rubio threw out a not-so-veiled threat at the Biden administration.
Sen. Rubio, who is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, recently stated that the refusal of the Biden administration to furnish the documents was “an unacceptable position.”
In a written response to The Floridian’s request for further comment on the briefing, Sen. Rubio stated that the administration put itself in an “untenable position” by refusing to share the documents “until the special counsels are finished.”
“It is an untenable position for the Biden Administration to say they will not share anything with us until the special counsels are finished. The information we’re asking for has no bearing whatsoever on any criminal investigation,” stated Sen. Rubio. “The Senate Intelligence Committee simply wants to know what information and materials were mishandled, what is being done to mitigate any potential risk.?
Sen. Rubio then went on to threaten the administration, reminding them that his committee authorized “how money is spent by the intelligence agencies.”
“I’m not in the business of threats right now, but I’m saying that every year this committee has to authorize how money is spent by the intelligence agencies,” added Rubio.
Rubio’s threat comes off the heels of Sen. Tom Cotton’s threat to withhold funding.
Shortly after the intelligence briefing concluded, Sen. Cotton threatened to block nominees or withhold the funding of the aforementioned intelligence agencies.
“Whether it’s blocking nominees or withholding budgetary funds, Congress will impose pain on the administration until they provide these documents. And that is coming from both parties,” said Senator Cotton to reporters after the closed-door Intelligence Committee meeting.
Senator Mark Warren (D-Va), who is also the Intelligence Committee chairman, also called the Biden administration’s position over releasing the classified documents untenable.
“What I think the director heard is she didn’t just hear it from Sen. Rubio and I. Literally every member of the committee, without exception, said this won’t stand,” said Sen. Warren.
