I don’t think the FIBs ever explained how Epps went from #2 on the Most Wanted list to free as a bird without a care in the world. The FIBs have successfully avoided ANY oversight from Congress.
:: oversight from Congress ::
Congress has NO oversight authority regarding the FBI.
They have 2 ways of holding them accountable.
1. They can eliminate the pay for all the agents in the next budget.
2. Discipline them through the DoJ.
The FBI was NEVER legislatively approved as an “agency” or “bureau”; they have no Constitutional mandate to exist.
The FBI (originally “Investigative Bureau”) was created by the AG in 1908 (??) by simply hiring policemen and others to work for the DoJ. Apparently, they some extra money laying around so he put them on the payroll.
Subsequently, when the DoJ budget is approved, the agents stay around.
Their ability to investigate, arrest and charge has NEVER been Congressionally approved.
To put it in the current style, Congress has no standing to investigate the FBI.
They can exercise oversight of the DoJ but can only recommend that the POTUS do something within his purview as “head” of his Cabinet.
Exactly