President-elect Trump’s transition staff introduced Tuesday it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Justice Division, which is able to enable the FBI to conduct background checks for sure people chosen for the incoming administration.
The transition mentioned the settlement with the DOJ permits Trump’s staff to “submit names for background checks and security clearances.” The transition had beforehand resisted utilizing the FBI to conduct background checks and as a substitute indicated it could use a unique vetting course of, underscoring Trump’s mistrust of the bureau.
However the authorities background checks and safety clearances are obligatory for officers who’re a part of the transition’s touchdown groups at numerous companies to realize entry to sure info as they put together to take workplace in January.
“This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day,” Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming chief of employees, mentioned in an announcement.
The Justice Division didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Trump’s staff final week introduced it had signed an MOU with the Biden White Home, permitting for officers to satisfy with counterparts at departments and companies forward of the January transition of energy.
The transition’s signing of the memorandum with the White Home got here three weeks after Trump’s victory on election evening. By comparability, then-candidate Joe Biden and his staff signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate a transition of energy in early September 2020, earlier than that 12 months’s election occurred.
Sources beforehand instructed The Hill that Biden White Home officers have pressed the Trump staff to signal the mandatory memoranda of understanding since September, and White Home chief of employees Jeff Zients personally harassed the significance of the paperwork after Election Day.
