Yahoo by LUKE BARR and PIERRE THOMAS 7/21/2022
The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general has turned the inquiry into the Secret Service deleted text messages into a criminal investigation, three sources familiar with the situation confirmed to ABC News Thursday.
The inspector general sent a letter to the Secret Service Wednesday night telling the agency to halt any internal investigations until the criminal probe has been wrapped up.
The inspector general's office told ABC News they do not confirm nor deny ongoing investigations.
"Consistent with Attorney General guidelines, DHS OIG neither confirms nor denies information about our investigations," an OIG spokesperson said.
News of the probe came hours before the House Jan. 6 committee was set to hold a prime-time hearing at which it was expected the deleted texts would be addressed, amid questions about they could shed light on the actions of then-President Donald Trump.
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https://news.yahoo.com/dhs-inspector-general-opens-criminal-185700449.html
