Chuck Grassley: “I rise today to continue my observations about major problems in the FBI's crime lab, and about the Bureau's failed…”

“I rise today to continue my observations about major problems in the FBI's crime lab, and about the Bureau's failed leadership. This is my fourth such statement. My colleagues are no doubt curious about the harshness of my criticisms of the Bureau's leadership. But my critique directly matches the level of the Bureau's misleading of the public. I have not been unfair or unmeasured in my comments. I dare say, I have been softer on the FBI than others in Congress. Yet the ranks of those of us who are perturbed are growing swiftly. I have raised these issues for two reasons: First, to use the Justice Department's and FBI's own documents to show where the Bureau is misleading the public; and second, to contribute an understanding of why it is happening. I will briefly remind my colleagues of what I already revealed before this body. Many of the allegations of the lab's whistleblower--Dr. Frederic Whitehurst--are being substantiated. FBI documents are showing that. In previous statements, I have referenced three problem cases, examined by the Justice Department's Inspector General, that were uncovered by the press. The three cases are those of Alcee L. Hastings, George Trepal, and Walter Leroy Moody. The conduct of specific FBI agents in each of these cases is in question. Second, the FBI tried to explain Dr. Whitehurst away by questioning his credibility, and saying no one else backs up his allegations. But now we know that is false.”