Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said on Monday (June 12) that the Burisma executive who allegedly paid United States President Joe Biden and his son Hunter kept 17 audio recordings of his conversations with them as an insurance policy.

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said on Monday (June 12) that the Burisma executive who allegedly paid United States President Joe Biden and his son Hunter kept 17 audio recordings of his conversations with them as an insurance policy. According to a report by Fox News, Grassley revealed on the Senate floor what was said to be a redacted reference in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)-generated FD-1023 form alleging a criminal bribery scheme between the then-vice president Biden and a foreign national that involved influence over American policy decisions. Grassley said the form had a redacted reference that the Burisma executive possessed fifteen audio recordings of phone calls between himself and Hunter Biden. And as per the Republican Senator, the form also stated that the executive possessed two recordings between himself and Joe Biden. Grassley slams FBI, demands form to be made public Grassley criticised the FBI for not complying with the House Oversight Committee’s subpoena, saying Congress "still lacks a full and complete picture with respect to what that document really says". "That’s why it’s important that the document be made public without unnecessary redactions for the American people to see," he said, Fox News reported. The senator also pointed out that the recordings were allegedly kept as a sort of insurance policy for the foreign national in case he got into a tight spot. "1023 also indicates that then-Vice President Joe Biden may have been involved in Burisma employing Hunter Biden," Grassley added. The document was brought to Capitol Hill by the FBI last week after House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer subpoenaed it in May. The report said the FBI briefed Comer and Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin on the form but did not turn it over. Following this, the committee chairman threatened to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress. Later, the FBI brought the form to a secure setting on Capitol Hill for all members of the Oversight Committee to review. But the document is still not in the committee's possession. On Monday, a source told the network that the FBI did not redact the section of the form referencing the audio recordings when showing the document solely to Comer and Raskin but did so for the full committee briefing. The source also said that Comer and Grassley saw the form even before the FBI shared it with Congress. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US Senator says Burisma executive, who allegedly paid Biden, has audio recordings of prez, son Hunter

Beijing is insisting US tariffs must be rolled back as part of any phase one trade deal with Washington, China's Global Times newspaper said on Sunday citing unnamed sources, amid continued uncertainty on whether the two sides can strike a deal.

Beijing is insisting US tariffs must be rolled back as part of any phase one trade deal with Washington, China's Global Times newspaper said on Sunday citing unnamed sources, amid continued uncertainty on whether the two sides can strike a deal. "A US pledge to scrap tariffs scheduled for December 15 cannot replace the rollbacks of tariffs," the newspaper said in a tweet, referring to an additional round of tariffs on Chinese imports to be implemented in the absence of a trade deal. The Global Times is published by the People's Daily, the official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said Washington was in the "final throes" of a deal aimed at defusing a 16-month trade war with China, a few days after Chinese President Xi Jinping had expressed his desire for a trade agreement. Top trade negotiators for both countries also spoke again and agreed to continue working on the remaining issues. Trade experts and people close to the White House told Reuters last month, however, that signing of a phase one agreement may not take place until the new year as China pressed for more extensive rollbacks of tariffs. An agreement was initially expected to be completed by the end of November. US Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley told reporters on Tuesday that Beijing invited US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for in-person talks in Beijing. Grassley said Lighthizer and Mnuchin were willing to go if they saw "a real chance of getting a final agreement". A source familiar with the trade talks also told Reuters that U.S. officials could travel to China after Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday in the United States.

China wants US tariffs rolled back in phase one trade deal: Report

A new FBI investigation into Brett Kavanaugh found nothing to corroborate sexual assault allegations against US President Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, a top Republican senator said Thursday.

Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said it was now time for the full Senate to vote on Kavanaugh's lifetime appointment to the nation's highest court -- even as opposition leaders slammed the FBI probe as "incomplete."

"This investigation found no hint of misconduct," Grassley said in a statement. "There's nothing in it that we didn't already know."

The FBI, at the request of Democrats and a key Republican senator, Jeff Flake of Arizona, was given a week to look into allegations by a university professor, Christine Blasey Ford, that Kavanaugh attempted to rape her when they were teenagers decades ago.

"These uncorroborated accusations have been unequivocally and repeatedly rejected by Judge Kavanaugh, and neither the Judiciary Committee nor the FBI could locate any third parties who can attest to any of the allegations," Grassley said.

"It's time to vote," he said. "I'll be voting to confirm Judge Kavanaugh."

The Senate, where Republicans hold a slim 51-49 majority, could vote as early as Saturday and all eyes are on three key Republican senators who could make or break the nomination -- Flake, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

The White House received the results overnight of the latest FBI probe into the conservative 53-year-old judge and senators were reviewing it on Thursday.

Trump nominated Kavanaugh to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, who had been a swing vote on a panel now equally divided between four conservative and four liberal justices.

But his Senate confirmation process has been roiled by the allegations from Blasey Ford, who testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week.

'Incomplete'&nbsp;

Trump took to Twitter on Thursday morning to say the FBI report vindicated his nominee and expressed optimism about Republican chances in the November midterm elections, where control of the House of Representatives and Senate could be at stake.

"The harsh and unfair treatment of Judge Brett Kavanaugh is having an incredible upward impact on voters," Trump said. "The PEOPLE get it far better than the politicians.

"Most importantly, this great life cannot be ruined by mean &amp; despicable Democrats and totally uncorroborated allegations," Trump said.

Democrats, meanwhile, assailed the FBI investigation as being too limited in scope.

The Senate Judicial Committee's top Democrat Dianne Feinstein said she not yet had access to the entire report -- but that from what she had seen it appeared insufficient to lay to rest concerns about Kavanaugh.&nbsp;

"It looks to be a product of an incomplete investigation that was limited perhaps by the White House, I don't know," she told reporters on Capitol Hill.

"We had many fears that this was a very limited process," added Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer. "Those fears have been realized."

Kavanaugh's nomination, which comes amid an atmosphere of bitter political partisanship in Washington, could tilt the court to the right for decades to come.

Even before senators saw the new FBI material, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell moved to end debate on Kavanaugh's nomination, setting up a Friday procedural vote and a final vote as early as the following day.

Blasey Ford testified last week that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a house party in the early 1980s while they were in high school.

Kavanaugh vehemently denied the allegation and further sexual misconduct claims against him from two other women.

'Just plain wrong'&nbsp;

In the new background probe, the FBI contacted 10 people and interviewed nine, The New York Times reported. It was not clear why the 10th was not interviewed.

They include three people who Ford says were in the house at the time of the party. One is Mark Judge, who the professor says was in the room when Kavanaugh lay on top of her, ground his genitals against her and covered her mouth to keep her from screaming.

On Wednesday, the three Republican senators key to Kavanaugh's approval blasted Trump for mocking Ford's memory lapses at a political rally.

Still undecided on backing the conservative judge, Senator Collins denounced the president's comments ridiculing Ford as "just plain wrong."

Senator Murkowski called Trump's speech "wholly inappropriate" and "unacceptable."

Senator Flake, the third Republican swing vote, said there was "no time and no place for remarks like that."

"It's kind of appalling," he added.

A new FBI investigation into Brett Kavanaugh found nothing to corroborate sexual assault allegations against US President Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, a top Republican senator said Thursday.

A new FBI investigation into Brett Kavanaugh found nothing to corroborate sexual assault allegations against US President Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, a top Republican senator said Thursday. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said it was now time for the full Senate to vote on Kavanaugh's lifetime appointment to the nation's highest court -- even as opposition leaders slammed the FBI probe as "incomplete." "This investigation found no hint of misconduct," Grassley said in a statement. "There's nothing in it that we didn't already know." The FBI, at the request of Democrats and a key Republican senator, Jeff Flake of Arizona, was given a week to look into allegations by a university professor, Christine Blasey Ford, that Kavanaugh attempted to rape her when they were teenagers decades ago. "These uncorroborated accusations have been unequivocally and repeatedly rejected by Judge Kavanaugh, and neither the Judiciary Committee nor the FBI could locate any third parties who can attest to any of the allegations," Grassley said. "It's time to vote," he said. "I'll be voting to confirm Judge Kavanaugh." The Senate, where Republicans hold a slim 51-49 majority, could vote as early as Saturday and all eyes are on three key Republican senators who could make or break the nomination -- Flake, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. The White House received the results overnight of the latest FBI probe into the conservative 53-year-old judge and senators were reviewing it on Thursday. Trump nominated Kavanaugh to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, who had been a swing vote on a panel now equally divided between four conservative and four liberal justices. But his Senate confirmation process has been roiled by the allegations from Blasey Ford, who testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. 'Incomplete' Trump took to Twitter on Thursday morning to say the FBI report vindicated his nominee and expressed optimism about Republican chances in the November midterm elections, where control of the House of Representatives and Senate could be at stake. "The harsh and unfair treatment of Judge Brett Kavanaugh is having an incredible upward impact on voters," Trump said. "The PEOPLE get it far better than the politicians. "Most importantly, this great life cannot be ruined by mean & despicable Democrats and totally uncorroborated allegations," Trump said. Democrats, meanwhile, assailed the FBI investigation as being too limited in scope. The Senate Judicial Committee's top Democrat Dianne Feinstein said she not yet had access to the entire report -- but that from what she had seen it appeared insufficient to lay to rest concerns about Kavanaugh. "It looks to be a product of an incomplete investigation that was limited perhaps by the White House, I don't know," she told reporters on Capitol Hill. "We had many fears that this was a very limited process," added Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer. "Those fears have been realized." Kavanaugh's nomination, which comes amid an atmosphere of bitter political partisanship in Washington, could tilt the court to the right for decades to come. Even before senators saw the new FBI material, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell moved to end debate on Kavanaugh's nomination, setting up a Friday procedural vote and a final vote as early as the following day. Blasey Ford testified last week that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a house party in the early 1980s while they were in high school. Kavanaugh vehemently denied the allegation and further sexual misconduct claims against him from two other women. 'Just plain wrong' In the new background probe, the FBI contacted 10 people and interviewed nine, The New York Times reported. It was not clear why the 10th was not interviewed. They include three people who Ford says were in the house at the time of the party. One is Mark Judge, who the professor says was in the room when Kavanaugh lay on top of her, ground his genitals against her and covered her mouth to keep her from screaming. On Wednesday, the three Republican senators key to Kavanaugh's approval blasted Trump for mocking Ford's memory lapses at a political rally. Still undecided on backing the conservative judge, Senator Collins denounced the president's comments ridiculing Ford as "just plain wrong." Senator Murkowski called Trump's speech "wholly inappropriate" and "unacceptable." Senator Flake, the third Republican swing vote, said there was "no time and no place for remarks like that." "It's kind of appalling," he added.

FBI probe does not support Kavanaugh assault claims: Republican senator Grassley

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US Senator says Burisma executive, who allegedly paid Biden, has audio recordings of prez, son Hunter

China wants US tariffs rolled back in phase one trade deal: Report

FBI probe does not support Kavanaugh assault claims: Republican senator Grassley