Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) is seeking “clear assurance” that all of President-elect Donald Trump‘s Cabinet nominees will undergo FBI background checks.
Raskin made the requests on Friday in a letter sent to Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, the co-chairs of the Trump-Vance transition team. He pointed out that while the transition team has “reached an agreement with the Department of Justice that makes it possible for the FBI to conduct background checks, it remains unclear whether the transition will require nominees to submit to them.”
Earlier this month, the transition team signed an agreement with the DOJ that requires the team to “submit names for background checks and security clearances.” However, Raskin highlighted concerns that some nominees would wait to undergo background checks until there was a new FBI director or complete their background checks through the private sector instead.
The current director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, announced Wednesday that he would be resigning three years early, leaving a vacant job that Trump pick Kash Patel is eyeing.
The Trump transition team’s decision to forgo the background checks has caused serious pushback from Senate Republicans and Democrats.
“Given this muddled record, I urge you to clearly and unequivocally commit to requiring that all nominees undergo FBI background checks and submit to vetting before receiving access to classified information,” Raskin wrote.
Raskin is also asking the transition team to provide any and all contracts or agreements they have with private companies, so all transition officials planning to serve in the administration can be vetted no later than Dec. 20.
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Boris Epshteyn was also included in the letter, as Raskin wants the transition team to release any documents regarding Epshteyn “and, to the extent applicable, any other figures in the transition who have been investigated for any type of improper conduct.”
It’s not the first time information about Epshteyn has been requested. Senate Democrats have also asked for documents regarding allegations that Epshteyn allegedly attempted to profit off supporting various Trump administration nominees. Epshteyn has denied all allegations of conflicts of interest.
