"Hevcowoy oun cteuns ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS Suge cians mao Congress of the United States House of Representatives (COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM. 2187 Rayaunn House Orrice Bua Wastincron, DC 20515-6143 August 20, 2018 General John F. Kelly Chief of Statf The White House 1650 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W, Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear General Kelly: We are writing regarding recent reports that National Seeurity Advisor John Bolton, in his former capacity as a top official with the National Rifle Association (NRA), worked directly with a Russian citizen who has now been charged by federal prosecutors with infiltrating that organization and spying against the United States for years Given the alarming and unprecedented nature of these revelations—and the high-level position of trust Mr. Bolton now holds—we request that you produce documents relating to whether Mr, Bolton reported his previous work with this alleged Russian spy on his security clearance forms or other White House vetting materials prior to President Trump appointing him to his current position. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has previously investigated ‘widespread failures by the Trump White House to adequately vet top national security officials for their Russian contacts, including Mr. Bolton’s predecessor, former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn! ‘As you know, President Trump failed to suspend General Flynn’s security clearance for several weeks after the Department of Justice informed the White House that General Flynn was under criminal investigation for lying about his secret communications with the Russian Ambassador. General Flynn ultimately pleaded guilty to making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about his secret communications. » See, e.g, Letter from Chairman Jason Chaffetz and Ranking Member Elijah E, Cummings, House ‘Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, to Reince Priebus, White House Chief of Staff (Mar. 22, 2017) (online at https:/idemocrats- ‘oversight house. gov/sites/democrats.oversight house gov/files/documents/Chaffetz%420Cummings*420t0%20Priebus '%2003-22-17%20re%420Flynn%20Does_0.pdn.General John F. Kelly, White House Chief of Staff Page 2 Mr. Bolton’s Work with Russian Citizen Now Exposed as a Spy On July 16, 2018, Maria Butina was arrested for acting as a Russian agent inside the United States. According to the Department of Justice, Ms. Butina worked to “arrange introductions to U.S. persons having influence in American politics, including an organization promoting gun rights, for the purpose of advancing the agenda of the Russian Federation.”? Ms. Butina reportedly acted as an agent of Alexander Torshin, a “lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the deputy governor of the Bank of Russia.”® According to an affidavit by an FBI agent, Ms. Butina and Mr. Torshin “planned to advance Moscow’s long-term strategic objectives in the United States, in part, by establishing relationships with American political organizations, including the GUN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION [the NRA}. In 2013, Mr. Bolton agreed to participate by video at a roundtable forum on gun rights “organized by Ms. Butina.”* This roundtable reportedly was sponsored by a Russian organization known as Right to Bear Arms, and Mr. Bolton reportedly participated at the request of then-NRA President David Keene.® Mr. Keene had appointed Mr. Bolton to lead the NRA’s Subcommittee on International Affairs in 2011.7 Inhis video, Mr. Bolton expressed support for amending the Russian constitution to inelude broader gun rights and offered the Russian people “encouragement as you consider embracing that freedom.” He continued: Were the Russian government to grant a broader right to bear arms to its people, it would be creating a partnership with its citizens that would better allow for the protection of Affidavit in Support of an Application for a Criminal Complaint, United States v. Butina (July 14,2018) (online at www justice gov/opa/press-release/fle/1080766/download). > Bolton Aided an FBL-Investigated Moscow Banker and NRA to Plug Russian Gun Rights, Huffington Post (Mar. 22, 2018) (online at www-huffingonpost.conventry/john-bolton-russian-gun-rights- video us Sab4S0S3edb0S4d! 18015380) + Affidavit in Support of an Application for a Criminal Complaint, United Sates v. Butina (uly 14, 2018) (online at wiv justice gov/opalpress-release/file/1080766/download) 5 Marla Butina Loved Gans, Trump and Russia. 1t Was a Cover, Prosecutors Say., New York Times (July 17, 2018) (online at www.nytimes.com’ 2018/07/17/us/mari-butina-ussian-agent-charges.himl). See also Speech by Ambassador Jobn Bolton on the Day of the Celebration ofthe Day ofthe Russian Constitution, Right to Bear ‘Arms (Dee, 10,2013) (online a httpsi/youtu.belaPM-FXH)SBA). * John Bolton's Curious Appearance in a Russian Gun Rights Video, NPR (Mar. 22, 2018) (online at ‘wwnw.npr-org/201 8/03/22/5958974 12/john-boltons-curious-appearance-in-a-russian-gun-rights-video). > The World in Its Sights: The NRA's Messianic Quest to Make the Second Amendment Global, Foreign Policy (July 23, 2012) (anline at https:/foreignpolicy.com/2012/07/23/the-world-in-its-sights/),General John F. Kelly, White House Chief of Staff Page 3 mothers, children, and families, without in any way compromising the integrity of the Russian state. That is my wish, and my advice to your great people.* According to an affidavit by an FBI agent, Ms, Butina “took steps to develop relationships with American politicians in order to establish private, or as she called them, ‘back channel” lines of communication.” According to the affidavit, “These lines could be used by the Russian Federation to penetrate the U.S. decision-making apparatus to advance the agenda of the Russian Federation.” In her capacity as a covert agent, Ms, Butina is believed to have maintained close ties to Russian intelligence services, including through in-person meetings and electronic communications; maintained close ties to wealthy businessmen in the Russian oligarchy; “cohabited” with Republican operative Paul Erickson to gain access to “an extensive network of USS. persons in positions to influence political activities in the United States”; and offered “sex in exchange for a position within a special interest organization.” In addition, Ms. Butina’s romantic partner, Mr. Erickson, reportedly engaged in “lobbying to get K.T. McFarland named as an adviser to Michael Flynn.”""! Ms, McFarland wrote to the transition team on December 29, 2016, that the sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its interference in the 2016 election made it harder for the incoming Trump Administration to ease tensions with Russia, “which has just thrown the U.S.A. election to him.””” In February, Ms. McFarland withdrew as the President's nominee to become Ambassador to Singapore after claiming falsely to the Senate that she was “not aware of any of, ‘the issues or events” relating to General Flynn's interactions with the Russian Ambassador. '? Request for Information In order to obtain access to classified information, government employees must submit Standard Form 86 (SF-86), Questionnaire for National Security Positions. The SF-86 explains: * Speech by Ambassador John Bolton on the Day of the Celebration of the Day of the Russian Constitution, Right to Bear Arms (Dec. 10, 2013) (online at htips/iyoutu.be/aPM-FXHi5eA). * Affidavit in Support of an Application for a Criminal Complaint, United States v. Butina July 14, 2018) (online at www justice gov/opa/press-releaseile/1080766/download). "© Government's Memorandum in Support of Pretrial Detention, United States v. Butina (D-D.C. July 18, 2018) (online at worw documenteloud,orgidocuments/4609972-Government-s-Memorandum-in-Support-of- Pretrial.html). 4 She Was Like a Novelly": How Alleged Russian Agent Maria Butina Gained Access to Bite Conservative Circles, Washington Post (July 17, 2018) (online st wi. washingtonpost com/politics/he-was-like-- novelty-how-alleged-ussian-agent-maria-butina-gained-access-elte-conservative-cirels/2018/07/17/1bb62bbe- 8942-1 Le 8-0345-a1bF 78470375. story htm), ® Emails Dispute White House Claims that Flynn Acted Independently on Russia, New York Times (Dec. 2, 2017) (online at www.nytimes.com/2017/12/02/us/russia-mefarland-flynn-trump-emails htm). " KT. MoFarland Withdraws Her Nomination to Be Ambassador to Singapore, New York Times (Feb. 2, 2018) (online at wrw.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/us/polities/kt-mefarland-nomination-ambassador. html).