Hawley says Mayorkas, Wray 'absolutely' skipped Senate hearing due to Laken Riley verdict, calls for subpoenas

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., claims that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray skipped a public Senate hearing Thursday to avoid criticism over the verdict in the case of Laken Riley's murder.

Mayorkas and Wray were scheduled to testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Thursday, but the hearing was postponed after they insisted it be classified and not open to the public. Hawley told Fox News Digital in a Thursday interview that he is calling on Committee Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., to subpoena the pair's public testimony.

"Let's not forget who let him into country," Hawley said of Riley's murderer, Jose Ibarra. "Mayorkas lied about how he got into country. He said authorities didn't have information about his past crimes. False. Then he claimed he didn't remember the details. False. Now he's refusing to comment." Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment on Hawley's remarks, but they did not immediately respond.

Ibarra was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Wednesday.

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Sen. Josh Hawley is calling on the Senate Homeland Security Committee to subpoena public testimony from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray. (AP)

Thursday's hearing is the second time in as many days that Mayorkas and Wray have forced the postponement of their testimony before Congress by insisting on a classified setting.

The House Homeland Security Committee punted its hearing, originally scheduled for Wednesday, to December. A source with the committee told Fox News Digital that the hearing will be classified.

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Hawley indicated that the Senate would not comply so easily, however. He said he is formally calling on Peters to issue subpoenas to force both Mayorkas and Wray to testify publicly.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is facing heavy criticism for refusing to appear in a public Senate hearing. (Getty Images)

Representatives for the FBI and DHS told Fox News Digital earlier on Thursday that they believe Mayorkas and Wray have already provided "extensive testimony" to the House, Senate and the American people.

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Peters' office did not immediately respond when asked about potential subpoenas. The senator was heavily critical of Mayorkas and Wray in a statement on X, however, saying that their refusal to testify publicly "robs Americans of critical information."

FBI Director Christopher Wray is facing calls to resign ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Hawley went on to call for Wray to resign ahead of President-elect Doanld Trump's inauguration, citing his record on illegal immigration and his alleged hostility toward Catholic Americans.

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"If he doesn't resign, Trump should fire him," Hawley said of Wray.