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WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-6) pressed Biden Administration National Security and Intelligence Officials on President Biden’s classified documents, the threat of al-Qaeda, our energy policy fueling Russia’s war chest, Hamas, and universities facilitating domestic terrorism during a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing.

Witnesses included Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Christopher Wray, Director of National Security Agency (NSA) Timothy Haugh, and Director of Defense Intelligence Agency Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse.

Watch the full exchange here.

“Special Counsel Hur is here on the Hill today,” said Waltz. “He has put into his report that President Biden has top-secret, compartmented documents knowingly in his basement. He knowingly provided those to his author. Have you seen those documents?”

“I have seen, I think, all of the documents that were part of the special counsel,” answered Avril Haines.

“There were several boxes worth, have you seen all of them, part of them?” asked Waltz.

“I have seen all of them, but I would not say I have read through all of them. They went through a classification review that we did within the intelligence community,” replied Haines.

Waltz then asked for that review to be given to the committee.

Switching to Afghanistan, Waltz went on to ask about the report from the United Nations. “Al-Qaeda has established eight new training camps in Afghanistan and lists the specific providences where al-Qaeda currently has training camps, including a new base to stockpile weaponry in the Panjshir. Yet, the threat assessment says al-Qaeda is basically not much of a threat. Do you disagree with the UN Security Council’s assessment?" asked Waltz.

“Can we approach this in closed session, please?” answered Haines.

 “I would look forward to that,” said Waltz. He went on to question, “Would you say that at this point, al-Qaeda is more or less of a threat than 2020? Does al-Qaeda still intend to attend the homeland and western interest if given the opportunity?”

“We think they continue to have the intent but no the capacity,” answered Haines.

“Will they grow that capacity if given the opportunity?” asked Waltz.

“Sure,” responded Haines.

“And the UN seems to think they are growing that capacity, so I will look forward to whether you agree or disagree with that assessment,” said Waltz.

Switching to Russia, Waltz said, “Russia is still selling an incredible amount of oil through India, through brokers in China. I think it is safe to say, Russia benefits when the price of oil is high. Does anyone disagree?

Silence from the witnesses.

Waltz continued, “This is primarily how Russia is fueling its war machine in Ukraine and ambitions elsewhere. Do we agree?”

“That is true,” said a witness.

“So, I think you would also agree less oil and gas on the international market drives the price high and therefore, both Putin and Tehran, for that matter, have their war coffers full. Does anyone disagree with that?” asked Waltz.

Silence from the witnesses.

“So, it is safe to say then that an LNG ban on exporting American… gas is indirectly fueling Putin’s war machine. Does anyone disagree with that?” asked Waltz.

Silence from the witnesses.

Waltz continued, “I will take that as a no.”

“Our domestic energy policy is creating dependencies and fueling Russia’s war machine and then we are being asked to spend against by continuing to support Ukraine,” said Waltz. “We should absolutely stop Putin, but we have to examine our own policies and what that is doing for both Tehran and for Moscow. Yet, in the assessment, there is nothing on energy policy.”

Waltz went on to ask if Hamas was an honest actor. Haines replied, “No.”

“We have a causality figure coming from the Hamas-run Health Ministry that is continually reported,” said Waltz. “I do not think if Putin was talking about a Russian-run Health Ministry and their causalities, we would take that at face value. Does the intelligence community take the 30,000 figure at face value or is there some independent verification there.”

“We do not take it on face value, but I would just indicate it is not that far off from what the IDF’s assessment is,” said Haines.

Waltz asked, “But it is not accurate on the face of it?”

“We just do not take it on face value,” replied Haines.

“Thank you and neither should the President in both the State of the Union and national television,” said Waltz.

Finally, Waltz asked Mr. Wray about domestic terrorism at our universities. “We have 16 universities teaching a book ‘How to Bomb Oil Pipelines’… I would consider that facilitating domestic terrorism, would you?” asked Waltz. “I think you would agree that is unacceptable and could be considered domestic terrorism.”

“Totally unacceptable,” responded Wray.

“Mr. Wray, can I just get your commitment to look into what I would call absolutely unacceptable Left wing domestic terrorism. Not only the activities, but also who is funding it,” said Waltz. Wray agreed.