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.”
Video: Toyota Chairman Goes Hard Core MAGA With Trump-Vance Photos on His Shirt and a Classic Red MAGA Cap
Dem Senator Fires Staffer Accused of Helping a Four-Time Deported Illegal Escape Custody
Chicago repeat offender accused of punching women arrested again after years of violent crimes: report
Mamdani keeps Jessica Tisch as NYPD commissioner
House Republican chairman refers Jack Smith’s former deputy to DOJ for prosecution
Sanctuary states need crackdown as Americans pay price for illegal immigrant truckers: GOP lawmaker
Watch: James Comer Exposes Hakeem Jeffries’ Connection to Epstein on House Floor
Joy Reid Admits the Truth: She’d ‘Freak Out’ if She ‘Saw a Penis’ in the Women’s Locker Room
Redistricting setbacks in court slow GOP map push ahead of 2026
Texas investigating USTA for possible violation of law banning biological males in women’s sports
Federal judge rules law requiring display of Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms unconstitutional
Zelensky under heavy pressure to fire Ukrainian ‘co-president’ Andriy Yermak after corruption scandal
House Dem slammed for ‘sick’ defense of colleague caught texting Epstein during 2019 hearing
DHS launching massive immigration operation in Louisiana, Mississippi: ‘Swamp Sweep’
Anti-Islam protesters, Muslims clash in Dearborn, Michigan, after man attempts to burn Quran
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.
Video: Toyota Chairman Goes Hard Core MAGA With Trump-Vance Photos on His Shirt and a Classic Red MAGA Cap
Dem Senator Fires Staffer Accused of Helping a Four-Time Deported Illegal Escape Custody
Chicago repeat offender accused of punching women arrested again after years of violent crimes: report
Mamdani keeps Jessica Tisch as NYPD commissioner
House Republican chairman refers Jack Smith’s former deputy to DOJ for prosecution
Sanctuary states need crackdown as Americans pay price for illegal immigrant truckers: GOP lawmaker
Watch: James Comer Exposes Hakeem Jeffries’ Connection to Epstein on House Floor
Joy Reid Admits the Truth: She’d ‘Freak Out’ if She ‘Saw a Penis’ in the Women’s Locker Room
Redistricting setbacks in court slow GOP map push ahead of 2026
Texas investigating USTA for possible violation of law banning biological males in women’s sports
Federal judge rules law requiring display of Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms unconstitutional
Zelensky under heavy pressure to fire Ukrainian ‘co-president’ Andriy Yermak after corruption scandal
House Dem slammed for ‘sick’ defense of colleague caught texting Epstein during 2019 hearing
DHS launching massive immigration operation in Louisiana, Mississippi: ‘Swamp Sweep’
Anti-Islam protesters, Muslims clash in Dearborn, Michigan, after man attempts to burn Quran
“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.
