Infamous anti-Trump FBI official refuses congressional subpoena — and blames the FBI

Lisa Page, the former FBI lawyer whose anti-Trump texts sparked an outcry against bias in the government, refused Tuesday to testify before Congress and is blaming the FBI and the congressional committees calling for her testimony.

Here's why she's refusing

In a statement released by Page's lawyer Tuesday, she claims that she has not been given sufficient time to review materials relating to her case, and she blamed the FBI and the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform Committees.

"Instead of responding to our requests to explain the scope of the interview and provide sufficient notice to allow her to prepare, the Committees chose to issue a subpoena," Page's attorney wrote.  "The Committees would be asking Lisa about materials she has not yet been shown.

"In fact, Lisa and I went to the FBI today to review the materials that were previously produced to Congress relating to her proposed interview, but after waiting for more than three hours, we were not provided with any documents."

"We have asked the Committees to schedule another date that would allow sufficient time for her to prepare," the letter read. "The Committees have not honored this request. As a result. Lisa is not going to appear for an interview at this time."

Page was schedule to testify before Congress Wednesday.

'Bias exhibited by top officials'

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) was displeased by the letter from Page's lawyer.

"She has known for months that the House Judiciary Committee has sought her testimony as part of our joint investigation with the Oversight Committee into decisions made by the Justice Department in 2016, and she has no excuse for her failure to appear," Goodlatte said.

“We will use all tools at our disposal to obtain her testimony," he added. "Americans across the country are alarmed at the bias exhibited by top officials at the Justice Department and FBI, and it is imperative Congress conduct vigorous oversight to ensure that never happens again.”

'Indefensible'

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) called the notification from Page's lawyer "indefensible" in a tweet Tuesday.

"This statement from Lisa Page's attorneys could've been better summed up in one short sentence: 'We're choosing to ignore a Congressional subpoena,'" he tweeted.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) agreed.

"One set of rules for regular Americans," Jordan tweeted, "a different set for the Swamp!"

Here's the Fox News video about the refusal from Page: