House Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday thanked Justice Department officials for the classified session to discuss the Russia investigation, saying legislators "have insisted and will continue to insist on Congress' Constitutional right to information necessary for the conduct of oversight."
"I appreciate the department arranging [Thursday's] briefing," the Wisconsin Republican said in a statement. "As always, I cannot and will not comment on a classified session.
"I look forward to the prompt completion of the intelligence committee's oversight work in this area now that they are getting the cooperation necessary for them to complete their work while protecting sources and methods."
Ryan joined the Republican chairmen of two House committees, California Rep. Devin Nunes of Intelligence and South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy of Oversight, as well as White House chief of staff John Kelly in the classified meeting with Justice officials.
The other executive branch officials attending were Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Ed O'Callaghan.
Kelly brokered the meeting, amid complaints from President Donald Trump about possible abuses by Justice and the FBI during special counsel Robert Mueller's Moscow investigation.
A second meeting was held later Thursday that also included Democrats and other House and Senate leaders. Ryan did not attend the session.