Mayorkas and Wray Skip Public Senate Hearing

Senator Josh Hawley has accused Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray of deliberately skipping a public Senate hearing to avoid scrutiny over the verdict in Laken Riley's murder case. The pair requested that the hearing be postponed and conducted in a classified setting, which marks a significant departure from over 15 years of public testimonies at such hearings. Hawley is calling for subpoenas to compel their public testimony, emphasizing Mayorkas's alleged misstatements regarding the immigration status of Riley's murderer. Both the DHS and FBI have defended their decision, asserting they have already provided extensive testimony and believe further discussions are better suited for a classified environment. Critics argue that this lack of public accountability undermines transparency regarding national security efforts. The situation is complicated by impending leadership changes, with President-elect Trump expected to take office soon.