Attorney General William Barr reportedly disagrees with a finding by the forthcoming Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) report that the FBI had sufficient reason to monitor the Trump campaign in 2016.
The FBI conducted surveillance on Trump campaign associates, including foreign policy aide Carter Page, on the basis of suspicions that the campaign might have been colluding with Russia to interfere with the 2016 election.
No evidence of collusion was ever found, though the surveillance continued well after the election, and the fact that the FBI was investigating the Trump campaign over Russia was leaked to Democrats and to the mainstream media.
The IG report is expected to criticize the FBI for the way in which it approached the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court to obtain a warrant for that surveillance. The FBI partly relied upon the so-called “dossier” prepared by former British spy Christopher Steele for Fusion GPS, an opposition research company being paid by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Republicans have claimed that the FBI failed to corroborate the unproven allegations in the dossier, and hid its political origins from the FISA court.
Reporter’s Notebook: House’s final sprint puts SAVE America Act and Iran funding in play
‘Is Mickey Mouse Racist?’: GOP’s Brandon Gill Corners Smithsonian Director on Leftist Policies
New Jersey Dem gov’s blame game backfires after tech company pins noncitizen voter registration on state
US soldier believed to be killed in Jordan attack remembered as living ‘life of courage and selflessness’
From NFL Legend, to NFL Owner, to… WWE Superstar? Tom Brady Slaps Controversial YouTuber
Trump administration has lost or abandoned hundreds of lawsuits against anti-ICE protesters, migrants: report
New report uncovers education groups’ DEI push to shape how artificial intelligence is used in classrooms
Hegseth turns tables on Dems as sparks fly during hearing clash: ‘I put this on you’
Mike Lindell proposes six-month amnesty for illegal immigrants if elected Minnesota governor
Trump flexes GOP muscle in Arizona primaries as Dems dodge far-left upset
Rubio says US remains open to Iran talks but warns there ‘will be consequences’
House narrowly backs allowing troops, Pentagon workers to carry personal guns on military bases
Progressive wave crashes in Sun Belt battleground as moderate holds his seat
House GOP votes to punt government shutdown battle to after November midterms
Woman’s remains identified by DNA in Virginia, exposing second alleged murder linked to same 4 suspects
But there have been conflicting leaks about what the report, which is set to be released next Monday, will say about misconduct at the FBI. Several individuals have already seen drafts of the report, as they are mentioned in it.
The Washington Post reported Monday evening that IG Michael Horowitz, an Obama administration appointee, had concluded that there was, in fact, sufficient evidence to justify what Barr earlier called “spying” on the campaign.
Barr reportedly disagreed, though a spokesperson for the DOJ dismissed reports of a dispute between Barr and Horowitz: “Rather than speculating, people should read the report for themselves next week,” she said.
Horowitz was criticized for his 2018 report on how the FBI handled the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s illicit email server, in which he found that officials mishandled the investigation but that political bias was not the reason.
Story cited here.
