Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, has raised concerns regarding Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray's absence from a public Senate hearing on Thursday. Hawley alleges that the officials skipped the hearing to avoid facing criticism over the verdict in the case of Laken Riley's murder.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee had scheduled Mayorkas and Wray to testify on Thursday, but the hearing was postponed at their request to be classified and not open to the public. Hawley has called on Committee Chairman Gary Peters, a Democrat from Michigan, to subpoena the officials for public testimony.
Hawley criticized Mayorkas for allegedly providing false information about how Riley's murderer, Jose Ibarra, entered the country. Ibarra was recently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This incident marks the second time in as many days that Mayorkas and Wray have delayed their testimony by insisting on a classified setting.
The House Homeland Security Committee also postponed its hearing, originally set for Wednesday, to December, with plans for a classified session. While the FBI and DHS believe that Mayorkas and Wray have already given extensive testimony, Hawley is pushing for public accountability.
Peters' office has not yet responded to inquiries about potential subpoenas. However, the senator criticized Mayorkas and Wray for denying the public critical information by refusing to testify openly. Hawley further called for Wray's resignation, citing concerns about his stance on illegal immigration and alleged bias against Catholic Americans.
Hawley suggested that if Wray does not step down voluntarily, President-elect Donald Trump should dismiss him from his position as FBI Director.
