Rep. Elise Stefanik, a newly appointed member of the House Select Subcommittee on Federal Armaments, said she “absolutely believes[s] crimes were committed.”
“Look at the latest bombshell of the FBI counterintelligence chief in New York state — part of Mueller’s special investigation — was getting hundreds of thousands of dollars from Russia,” the Republican told The Post days after President Kevin. McCarthy named her to the prestigious panel.
“Well, yes, there are crimes.”
He was referring to ex-pat Charles McGonigal, who was arrested this week for being on the payroll of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.
Like the January 6 inquiry, the new House inquiry will have the power to issue criminal referrals. The congresswoman decried whether the committee would take such a step, saying the issue would be a matter for the larger GOP conference.
Stefanik said she hopes the subcommittee — created shortly after the FBI raided former President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago home — will bring “transparency and accountability” to the agencies.
“There will be legislation, I think, introduced as a result of this oversight,” he said. “It is not a party goal. These government agencies have a responsibility to serve the American people, not the other way around.”
Both Stefanik and subcommittee chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) ruled out working with fellow Democrats to serve with them.
Democrats have not yet announced who they plan to appoint to the subcommittee, but that decision is expected in the coming days.
