The Federal Bureau of Investigation agreed to brief family members of those killed in a 2018 stretch limousine crash on the links the agency had to a man who had previously run a limo rental business, Rep. Elise Stefanik on Tuesday announced
The briefing for the family members comes after questions arose over the agency's ties to Shahed Hussain, who had run a limo rental business and was later revealed to be an undercover informant for the bureau.
Questions over Shahed Hussain's role were heightened after an initial plea deal was made in the case against his son, Nauman Husssain. Last August, a judge rejected that agreement. Nauman Hussain earlier this month was found guilty of manslaughter charges.
Stefanik, a Republican from the North Country, announced in March she had received a briefing from the FBI on the issue.
“After years of my tireless advocacy for transparency, accountability, and answers for families who lost their loved ones in the Schoharie limo crash, the FBI finally responded to my requests and informed my office that they will be briefing the families today," Stefanik said. “I am proud to lead the way in relentless oversight and demands to FBI Director Chris Wray to ensure that the FBI conducted an investigation, briefed Congress, and is now briefing the families. I will continue to work to deliver needed reforms of the confidential human source program that I believe was mishandled by the FBI in this particular case."
The 2018 crash killed 20 people and was the deadliest road disaster in a decade.
The push for an FBI briefing had been a bipartisan one.
Capital Region Democratic Rep. Paul Tonko previously wrote a letter calling for a briefing with family members as well.
“From the start, I’ve pushed the FBI relentlessly to secure a briefing with the families of the Schoharie limo crash victims," Tonko said. "I am heartened to hear that the FBI has heeded my numerous calls that these families be briefed directly and to the fullest extent on the agency’s internal investigation. The very least owed to the loved ones of those lost is transparency and answers to their questions.”