It’s the question that has dominated politics for more than two years — what exactly happened with counterintelligence activities conducted during the 2016 election and the Russia probe.
Now, in his first interview since joining the Trump administration, Attorney General Bill Barr detailed how he plans to get to the bottom of the origins of the probe, his thoughts on James Comey, Robert Mueller and other issues related to the special counsel’s investigation.
Barr told Fox News’ Bill Hemmer in the interview Friday that one portion of the review — which he has tapped U.S. Attorney John Durham to lead — would cover the time period between Election Day and Inauguration Day, saying “some very strange developments” took place during that time.
Barr specifically was referring to the early January 2017 briefing intelligence officials gave then-president-elect Trump at Trump Tower, and “the leaking of information subsequent to that meeting.”
Republicans blast Democrats’ Trump election meddling claims as hypocritical ‘conspiracy theory’
Mounds of Snow and Trash Are Just the Opening Act of Mamdani’s Collectivist New York
Who is Kyle Wagner? Meet the self-identified Antifa member arrested after targeting ICE
Maryland Man Charged with Attempting to Murder Trump Administration Official
Suicide bomber kills dozens at Shiite mosque in Pakistan
Benghazi terror suspect extradited to face US charges
It’s AOC’s Party Now: Bernie-Backed Far-Leftist Could Win Dem Nomination to Replace ‘Moderate’ Sherrill in NJ
12 Minneapolis anti-ICE agitators arrested after massive crowd gathers outside Hilton hotel
First Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note Deadline Expires: ‘Do the Right Thing’
Shapiro fires back at DHS, says truck driver accused in deadly crash had legal status in database
RNC rolls out ‘powerful’ new TikTok strategy to win over key demographic after Trump’s 2024 success
‘Not Alaska First’: Peltola’s Green New Deal allies draw scrutiny in Alaska Senate bid
Hegseth says US strikes force some cartel leaders to halt drug operations
Can the late shah’s son sell the Trump administration on leading a postcleric regime in Iran?
Proposed California ‘wealth tax’ may backfire on liberal politicians as state’s revenue base dries up
At that meeting, Trump was briefed by intelligence and law enforcement officials on Russian election meddling — and was also informed by former FBI Director James Comey about the now-infamous anti-Trump dossier which included salacious allegations against him. Details later leaked to the press.
Barr also said the country must know “exactly what happened” with counterintelligence activities conducted during the 2016 election — and he is determined to get to the bottom of the case.
In pointed terms, he fired back at Democrats who have castigated him over his handling of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report — calling Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s charge that he lied to Congress “laughable” and dismissing an attempt to hold him in contempt of Congress.
“That’s part of the usual … political circus that’s being played out. It doesn’t surprise me,” he said.
And the nation’s top law enforcement official provided new details about the recently announced probe into the origins of the Russia investigation, defending his decision to pursue it and stressing that many of the answers he’s gotten so far have been “inadequate.”
While the decision to look back at the origins of the investigation has prompted harsh criticism from Democrats who previously have accused him of acting as the president’s lawyer, Barr argued there’s much yet to learn.
Republicans blast Democrats’ Trump election meddling claims as hypocritical ‘conspiracy theory’
Mounds of Snow and Trash Are Just the Opening Act of Mamdani’s Collectivist New York
Who is Kyle Wagner? Meet the self-identified Antifa member arrested after targeting ICE
Maryland Man Charged with Attempting to Murder Trump Administration Official
Suicide bomber kills dozens at Shiite mosque in Pakistan
Benghazi terror suspect extradited to face US charges
It’s AOC’s Party Now: Bernie-Backed Far-Leftist Could Win Dem Nomination to Replace ‘Moderate’ Sherrill in NJ
12 Minneapolis anti-ICE agitators arrested after massive crowd gathers outside Hilton hotel
First Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note Deadline Expires: ‘Do the Right Thing’
Shapiro fires back at DHS, says truck driver accused in deadly crash had legal status in database
RNC rolls out ‘powerful’ new TikTok strategy to win over key demographic after Trump’s 2024 success
‘Not Alaska First’: Peltola’s Green New Deal allies draw scrutiny in Alaska Senate bid
Hegseth says US strikes force some cartel leaders to halt drug operations
Can the late shah’s son sell the Trump administration on leading a postcleric regime in Iran?
Proposed California ‘wealth tax’ may backfire on liberal politicians as state’s revenue base dries up
“I think there’s a misconception out there that we know a lot about what happened,” he said.
“The fact of the matter is Bob Mueller did not look at the government’s activities. He was looking at whether or not the Trump campaign had conspired with the Russians. But he was not going back and looking at the counterintelligence program. And we have a number of investigations underway that touch upon it — the main one being the office of inspector general that’s looking at the FISA warrants.”
Story cited here.
