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.”
Lawmaker’s stunned face and other viral moments cap rough week for political class
Top investigator in Biden-era election probe wanted to tear key constitutional right away from lawmakers
‘Fauda’s’ new season is a gripping, moving tribute to the victims of Oct. 7
Arab parties set up for kingmaker role in Israeli election despite Netanyahu’s move to ban them
Three college students face federal charges over alleged threats against Trump ahead of campus rally
Trump planning a 10-state travel blitz in the midterms’ closing stages — visiting all but one battleground
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Christianity rejected, socialist streamer speaks, violence glorified
FBI’s first cyber fugitive on Ten Most Wanted list returns to US after capture in Venezuela
Blue state councilman mocked after claiming self-driving cars are ‘murdering’ pets: ‘Hide your cats’
Watch: Letitia James Has No Answer When Reporter Points Out Big Problem with Her Cornell Move
Inside explosive Cornell rape allegations: 7 men accused, conflicting accounts and a political firestorm
DNA Test Leads to Adopted Man Learning His Biological Father Is a Rock-and-Roll Legend
Justice Department Finds UCLA Law Has Been Discriminating Against White, Asian Applicants for Years
Watch: Reporter Narrowly Dodges ‘Murder Attempt’ While Filming Outside ‘Taxpayer Funded Drug Dealing Operation’
Death row inmate unconscious on ventilator after botched execution for teen’s killing: attorneys
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.
Lawmaker’s stunned face and other viral moments cap rough week for political class
Top investigator in Biden-era election probe wanted to tear key constitutional right away from lawmakers
‘Fauda’s’ new season is a gripping, moving tribute to the victims of Oct. 7
Arab parties set up for kingmaker role in Israeli election despite Netanyahu’s move to ban them
Three college students face federal charges over alleged threats against Trump ahead of campus rally
Trump planning a 10-state travel blitz in the midterms’ closing stages — visiting all but one battleground
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Christianity rejected, socialist streamer speaks, violence glorified
FBI’s first cyber fugitive on Ten Most Wanted list returns to US after capture in Venezuela
Blue state councilman mocked after claiming self-driving cars are ‘murdering’ pets: ‘Hide your cats’
Watch: Letitia James Has No Answer When Reporter Points Out Big Problem with Her Cornell Move
Inside explosive Cornell rape allegations: 7 men accused, conflicting accounts and a political firestorm
DNA Test Leads to Adopted Man Learning His Biological Father Is a Rock-and-Roll Legend
Justice Department Finds UCLA Law Has Been Discriminating Against White, Asian Applicants for Years
Watch: Reporter Narrowly Dodges ‘Murder Attempt’ While Filming Outside ‘Taxpayer Funded Drug Dealing Operation’
Death row inmate unconscious on ventilator after botched execution for teen’s killing: attorneys
“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.
