WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes told reporters on Tuesday that they are launching a probe of the Russian uranium deal, dating back to the presidency of Barack Obama.
"What we are going to announce today is [an] inquiry of Russia into the Uranium deal that was several years ago," Nunes stated, adding that "this is just the beginning of this probe."
Nunes has explained that the lawmakers were concerned why the Congress was not informed the 2010 Russian deal involving US uranium. The strategic uranium deal was approved by a committee made up of representatives of US government agencies, including the State Department, then headed by Hillary Clinton.
During the 2016 election campaign, Donald Trump claimed that Hillary Clinton might have indirectly benefit for not opposing the transition of Uranium One under the control of the Russian state corporation Rosatom. In particular, the current US president accused the former sectetary of state of being giving Russia 20 percent of US uranium.
READ MORE: Uranium Deal Turns Spotlight on Hillary Clinton But Not the Way She Wanted
Uranium One is one of the world's largest uranium mining companies. It is registered in Canada and has a globally diversified portfolio of international assets in Kazakhstan, the United States and Australia. Rosatom through its affiliated structures owns 100% of the shares of Uranium One. According to The Hill, the controversial deal that made Rosatom one of the world's largest uranium producers, was inked despite substantial evidence obtained by the FBI during the probe.