Rep. Tim Burchett has formally asked FBI Director Kash Patel to disclose all bureau records tied to the 2016 killing of Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich, pressing for transparency about what files exist, where they were found, and whether any material can be released under the law.

Burchett Demands FBI Records on Seth Rich Case

Republican Rep. Tim Burchett (TN-02) sent a letter dated July 7, 2026, to FBI Director Kash Patel requesting the bureau’s records connected to the 2016 death of Seth Rich. Burchett says he wants the release of “all Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records related to the death of Seth Rich,” arguing the American public deserves clarity about what federal records exist. He stresses the request is for records only and does not accuse specific parties or claim the case has been solved.

Burchett points out the initial public message from the FBI that it was not investigating Rich’s death and then the later acknowledgement that the bureau possessed material on the matter. He specifically mentions Rich’s work laptop and a forensic image of his personal laptop as items the FBI has acknowledged possessing. The representative frames the request as basic transparency: if the FBI has files, Americans should be able to know what they contain as permitted by law.

https://x.com/timburchett/status/2074574337722437697

Burchett’s letter notes that Rich was 27 when he died in 2016 and describes the official classification of the incident as a botched robbery handled by local law enforcement. The letter reiterates that Rich’s “killer remains unidentified” and that questions about the circumstances persist. Burchett does not assert a conspiracy; he asks for access to federal records so independent review can address lingering doubts.

Burchett posted the letter on X on Tuesday, making the demand public and tying it to ongoing FOIA litigation and media attention. The public posting underscores the political angle: Republicans in Congress have been pushing for more disclosure from federal agencies, and Burchett frames this as consistent with a commitment to government openness. His approach is to put the burden on the bureau to detail what it has and what it can legally release.

The letter references litigation efforts by attorney Ty Clevenger, who filed a June 15 motion seeking additional FBI records and metadata tied to Rich’s devices. Clevenger asked the court to order the FBI to produce more documents or to appoint a special master to supervise the review and production process. That litigation is relevant because it signals demand for technical records and raises questions about what the bureau has already located.

Initially, the FBI informed the public it was not investigating Mr. Rich’s death, which was described as a botched robbery handled by local law enforcement. The FBI later acknowledged possessing evidence related to Rich, including his work laptop and a forensic image of his personal laptop, but resisted releasing these materials for years.

Clevenger also has said a government attorney told him “several hundred pages” of Rich-related records were located in a secure room, a claim the FBI has not publicly confirmed. Burchett’s letter carefully references those reports without asserting their complete accuracy, noting that recent reporting suggests files may have been found in so-called burn bags or in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility at FBI headquarters. That phrasing leaves room for the bureau to clarify the provenance and classification of any discovered material.

Other reporting has said Patel’s team found multiple burn bags with sensitive documents in a previously undisclosed secure room, and that some records tied to other investigations were turned over to Senate investigators. Those reports did not, however, conclusively tie Seth Rich records to the burn bags, and Burchett’s letter highlights that distinction. He seeks concrete answers about whether Rich-related materials are among the files and whether they can be unclassified or produced consistent with law.

“Given the Administration’s commitment to transparency, I strongly urge the full release of these records, as permitted by law. Doing so would address longstanding questions and demonstrate the Administration’s continued support for upholding public trust.”

No one has been charged in Rich’s killing, and Burchett’s demand focuses squarely on federal records rather than criminal allegations. The central question he presses is simple: what records does the FBI have, where are they, and what can be released to the public under existing statutes and protections? The letter asks Patel to answer those questions and produce whatever material can legally be disclosed.

Burchett frames the issue as one of accountability and openness that should be nonpartisan, though it fits within broader Republican pushes for better access to government files. He asks the bureau to comply “as permitted by law,” leaving room for lawful exemptions while urging maximal disclosure. The request puts pressure on the FBI to explain its handling of potentially important records and to clarify whether past public statements matched what the bureau actually held.