(CNN) Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe declassified more documents Thursday and a Senate panel approved a wide-ranging authorization to subpoena former Obama administration officials as Republicans ratcheted up their efforts to scrutinize the origins of the FBI's investigation into Russia and President Donald Trump's team. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines Thursday to authorize subpoenas to more than 50 officials who served in the Obama administration, including top officials like former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former FBI Director James Comey. The subpoenas are part of Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham's investigation into the origins of the FBI's Russia investigation and the abuses uncovered by the Justice Department inspector general tied to foreign surveillance warrants obtained on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, is conducting a similar investigation, and his committee voted last week along party lines for a subpoena authorization to many of the same officials from the Obama administration. The Senate Republican investigations have been boosted by a stream of documents declassified first by former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell, and now by Ratcliffe, who succeeded Grenell last month following his Senate confirmation.

Source: CNN June 11, 2020 18:22 UTC