Page's attorney, Amy Jeffress, claimed that "Lisa and I went to the FBI today to review the materials that were previously produced to Congress related to her propsed interview, but after waiting for more than three hours, we were not provided with any documents."
JUST IN: Lisa Page will not appear for Congressional interview tomorrow. @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/saDS5MFmt6
— Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCBS) July 11, 2018
"The Committees have not honored this request," Jeffress said. "As a result, Lisa is not going to appear for an interview at this time."
On Wednesday morning, however, Freedom Caucus chairman Mark Meadows tweeeted that Page and her attorneys did review the requested documents at the FBI on Tuesday, and that "Her failure to appear before Congress this morning had little to do with 'preparation'--and everything to do with avoiding accountability."
Contrary to what her attorneys are telling the media, we just learned Lisa Page actually DID review documents at the FBI yesterday. Her failure to appear before Congress this morning had little to do with 'preparation'--and everything to do with avoiding accountability.
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) July 11, 2018
In response to Page ignoring the subpoena, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte issued a statement Tuesday night suggesting that "Page has something to hide," before pledging to use all available resources to obtain her testimony.
“It appears that Lisa Page has something to hide. She plans to blatantly defy a congressional subpoena by refusing to appear for her deposition. She has known for months that the House Judiciary Committee has sought her testimony as part of our joint investigation with the Oversight Committee into decisions made by the Justice Department in 2016, and she has no excuse for her failure to appear. Lisa Page is a key witness, and it is critical that she come before our committees to answer questions as part of our investigation.
“We will use all tools at our disposal to obtain her testimony. Americans across the country are alarmed at the bias exhibited by top officials at the Justice Department and FBI, and it is imperative Congress conduct vigorous oversight to ensure that never happens again.” Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
Other GOP members on the Judiciary Committee issued harsh rebukes to page over Twitter, with Jim Jordan of Ohio writing "One set of rules for regular Americans, a different set for the Swamp!" and Ron DeSantis off Florida calling her "Pathetic."
Lisa Page ignores congressional subpoena, once again showing the double standard. One set of rules for regular Americans, a different set for the Swamp!
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) July 11, 2018
Anti-Trump FBI lawyer Lisa Page is defying a congressional subpoena because she doesn’t want to answer questions or be held accountable. Pathetic.
— Ron DeSantis (@RepDeSantis) July 11, 2018
Oversight committee member Mark Meadows (R-NC) said that the statement from Page's attorney could have better been summed up as "We're choosing to ignore a Congressional subpoena."
This statement from Lisa Page's attorneys could've been better summed up in one short sentence: "We're choosing to ignore a Congressional subpoena"
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) July 11, 2018
Indefensible https://t.co/Ku6vkIK21G
Jeffress hit back - claiming that the committee's "Bullying tactics" are unnecessary, adding that "through her actions and words, Lisa has made it abundantly clear that she will cooperate with this investigation."
Then again perhaps Page's refusal to testify is more about not giving Congress ammunition for her former "lovebird" Peter Strzok's scheduled testimony on Thursday.
As Politico noted on Tuesday, By obtaining Page's testimony in a closed-door deposition on Wednesday, committee Republicans would be armed with material to grill Strzok the next day.
On Tuesday morning, President Trump suggested over Twitter that Page and Strzok were "getting cold feet on testifying about the Rigged Witch Hunt headed by 13 Angry Democrats," in reference to the 13 Democrats on the Special Counsel.
I am on Air Force One flying to NATO and hear reports that the FBI lovers, Peter Strzok and Lisa Page are getting cold feet on testifying about the Rigged Witch Hunt headed by 13 Angry Democrats and people that worked for Obama for 8 years. Total disgrace!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 10, 2018
Meanwhile, Jeffress said she received a message from the Department of Justice on Tuesday night around 11 p.m. granting Page's request to review documents related to her testimony.
Read more at Zero Hedge.
If you intend on telling the truth, no preparation should be required.
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