Topic: Exculpatory Evidence

Representative Clay Higgins accused Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of suppressing exculpatory evidence related to Border Patrol agents. During the hearing, Mayorkas denied knowledge of the specific incidents and rejected rumors that he intended to resign before January 3. Higgins suggested that the culture within DHS has led to the intimidation of frontline law enforcement agents who disagree with administration policies.

Representative Tom McClintock accused the Special Counsel's office of editing a transcript of a voicemail from John Dowd to Michael Flynn's lawyer to remove exculpatory context. The edited version in the Mueller report allegedly made it appear that Dowd was improperly seeking confidential information, while the full transcript released by a judge showed he explicitly asked for information "without giving up any confidential information." Mueller disputed the characterization that his team intentionally hid evidence.

Trey Gowdy and John Ratcliffe have highlighted the existence of transcripts that may contain exculpatory evidence for George Papadopoulos. The discussion focuses on the government's obligation to provide the FISA court with information that might prove a target's innocence.