Republicans demand FBI hearing on Iran theft of Trump documents

House Republican leaders sent a letter to the FBI on Friday, requesting a hearing about the alleged theft of documents from the campaign of former President Donald Trump by hackers connected to the government of Iran. 

Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) asked FBI Director Christopher Wray for an unclassified briefing on the incident — which the FBI said occurred in late June and early July. 

Jordan sent 15 questions demanding more information about what was stolen from Trump’s campaign and, more crucially, when it was sent to news outlets as well as representatives of President Joe Biden’s former campaign. 

The FBI said earlier this week that Iranian malicious cyber actors “sent unsolicited emails to individuals then associated with President Biden’s campaign that contained an excerpt taken from stolen, non-public material from former President Trump’s campaign as text in the emails.” 

There was “no information indicating those recipients replied,” the bureau said, adding that the Iranian group has been trying since June “to send stolen, non-public material associated with former President Trump’s campaign” to U.S. news outlets.

Republicans have seized on the statement, with some demanding more answers about whether Biden campaign officials told the FBI about the emails as soon as they were sent. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) ) raised similar questions after the FBI statement was released. 

Several of Jordan’s questions in Friday's letter on focused on whom within the Biden campaign received the emails, what actions were taken and whether the FBI has investigated it. 

Jordan also wants more information about the hack of Trump’s campaign and why it took so long for law enforcement to notify campaign staffers of the incident. 

The Washington Post previously reported that the Trump campaign discovered the hack earlier this summer but did not report it to law enforcement or the public until alleged Iranian actors began approaching news outlets with what was stolen.

The stolen documents reportedly concern opposition research done by a law firm on vice presidential candidate JD Vance and others who were under consideration for the role. None of the news outlets that received emails about the stolen information have published stories on the content of the leaks. 

Some reporters came forward on Friday to say the hackers offered other documents related to Trump’s legal team. 

The FBI said it is in contact with the victims and is continuing to investigate the attack in an effort to “pursue and disrupt the threat actors responsible.” Biden has since abandoned his campaign and Vice President Kamala Harris is running as Democratic candidate for president.

Jordan asked that the briefing occur as soon as possible but no later than September 26. 

Since the hack of the Trump campaign was announced, several government agencies and tech giants have released reports outlining attempts by actors based in Russia, China and Iran to spread disinformation, steal campaign documents and sway public opinion artificially. 

On Tuesday, Microsoft revealed that several fake videos about Harris that garnered millions of views were created and spread by Russian groups over the last month as Moscow has shifted its disinformation focus onto her. 

Microsoft president Brad Smith told Congress on Wednesday it appears Iran is intent on attacking Trump and Russia is focused on targeting Harris through disinformation campaigns and more.