Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleySenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Senators offer disaster tax relief bill Trump spikes political football with return of Big Ten season MORE (R) appeared to respond to former FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyTrump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa Graham: Comey to testify about FBI's Russia probe, Mueller declined invitation Barr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' MORE on Twitter Wednesday night, saying that America does not have an independent judiciary but rather one subject to congressional oversight.

In a tweet, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee warned that powerful bodies of law enforcement can lead to abuses such as those that occurred under former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.

"Law enforcement shld NOT be independent of constitutional oversight," Grassley tweeted. "Like the military, FBI/DOJ accountability to ELECTED leaders is essential for liberty. We are ACCOUNTABLE to the PEOPLE in our representative govt. Hoover FBI was unaccountable/did great harm w abuses of power."

Law enforcement shld NOT be independent of constitutional oversight. Like the military, FBI/DOJ accountability to ELECTED leaders is essential for liberty. We are ACCOUNTABLE to the PEOPLE in our representative govt. Hoover FBI was unaccountable/did great harm w abuses of power — ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) January 3, 2018

Grassley's tweet appeared to be in response to a tweet posted by Comey earlier Wednesday, in which the former FBI director questioned where the defenders of an independent Justice Department and FBI could be found in government. The remark comes as a number of Republicans in Congress have joined Trump in criticizing the political leadership of the FBI and the Justice Department as biased.

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"Where are the voices of all the leaders who know an independent Department of Justice and FBI are essential to our liberty? 'You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.' — Martin Luther," Comey tweeted.

Where are the voices of all the leaders who know an independent Department of Justice and FBI are essential to our liberty? “You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.” — Martin Luther — James Comey (@Comey) January 3, 2018

Comey was fired by President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE early last year over his handling of the Russia investigation as well as the investigation into Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden MORE's private email server use at the State Department.

The firing led to the appointment of Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE, the special counsel now in charge of the Justice Department's investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.