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Probe of Missing Jan. 6 Secret Service Texts Widens

By    |   Friday, 07 April 2023 11:54 AM EDT

A probe into misconduct allegations by the chief watchdog for the Department of Homeland Security has expanded and is now looking into his role in missing Secret Service text messages from the day of the Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021, The Washington Post has reported.

Investigators are demanding records related to the deleted texts from the Office of Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, who was appointed by then-President Donald Trump.

It was Cuffari’s office that had shut down an inquiry into the Secret Service messages last year during the House’s probe of the Capitol attack, the Post noted.

The demand for the records was disclosed in a federal lawsuit this week filed by Cuffari and his staff against investigators from the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, who are carrying out the probe.

The suit claims the panel is exceeding its authority and accuses it of  â€śillegal interference” in the operations of one of the government’s largest oversight offices.

Cuffari has denied any improper conduct. He has said that his efforts to improve what he describes as a dysfunctional office he inherited have been met with resistance from employees, the newspaper said.

There have been calls for President Joe Biden to fire him. But Biden has indicated he will stay out of the process while investigators complete their work.

Susan Ruge-Hudson, special counselor to CIGIE, said the organization “is reviewing the complaint, and we look forward to working with the Department of Justice on this matter.” Cuffari declined to comment.

In August, Cuffari took issue with House committee leaders' criticism of how his office was handling the collection of Secret Service text messages relating to the House Jan. 6 select committee's investigation.

"Because of the U.S. attorney general guidelines and quality standards, we cannot always publicly respond to untruths and false information about our work," Cuffari said. "I am so proud of the resilience I have witnessed in the face of this onslaught of meritless criticism."

Jeffrey Rodack ✉

Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.

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A probe into misconduct allegations by the chief watchdog for the Department of Homeland Security has expanded and is now looking into his role in missing Secret Service text messages from the day of the Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021, The Washington Post
cuffari, secret service, texts
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2023-54-07
Friday, 07 April 2023 11:54 AM
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