The Republican-led House Oversight Committee is moving ahead with a subpoena against the U.S. Commerce Department after months of requests for records regarding the department’s decision to halt new firearms export licenses.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) notified Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo of the new subpoena in a Wednesday letter. Mr. Comer’s congressional probe began after the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced on Oct. 27 that, “effective immediately,” it would block the issuance of new export licenses for firearms, ammunition, and firearm components for approximately 90 days. As part of the Oct. 27 announcement, the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) would not accept new requests for export assistance for firearm-related exports.
