Show-Me State Times

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley has issued a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray, urging them to stop the destruction of records by their respective agencies. The letter, dated December 3, 2024, criticizes reports of document destruction and pledges to investigate what Hawley describes as misconduct within the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Senator Hawley expressed concern over "last-ditch efforts to stonewall the incoming administration" but asserted that such attempts would not succeed. He wrote, "With sunlight now on the horizon, I’m not surprised by last-ditch efforts to stonewall the incoming administration. But those efforts will fail."

Hawley further emphasized his commitment to examining these issues as he assumes a chairmanship position in a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee. He stated, "As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who will hold the chairmanship of a Subcommittee in the forthcoming Congress, I intend to investigate your respective agencies’ illicit actions over the past several years."

In his letter addressed directly to Garland and Wray, Senator Hawley alleged that DOJ and FBI personnel were destroying documents "to conceal widespread misconduct" under President Biden's administration. He called for an immediate halt to this practice and urged both leaders to preserve all relevant documents.

Hawley's accusations include claims of "unprecedented abuses of the justice system," citing cases against President-elect Trump and pro-life activists, as well as allegations involving Catholic parishes.

The letter concludes with a demand for transparency and accountability: "You must immediately take all necessary steps to preserve all documents, records, and other materials generated by your agencies during your respective tenures in office. You must cease any bad-faith document destruction. And you should prepare for the real justice to come."