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.
Arizona voter-law fight reaches SCOTUS as election groups warn ‘absurd’ consequence could ensue
Well-connected Dem operative learns fate after FBI busts him in child sex abuse sting
California McDonald’s Shootout Turns Deadly as Police Arrive: Turns Out the Perpetrator Was an Employee
How Stepdad Firefighter Learned of 911 Call in Most Painful Way Possible
Ex-Fetterman staffers promise more damaging details after blistering report: ‘Tip of the iceberg’
NJ mayor demands sanctuary policy rollback after baby killed in crash allegedly involving illegal immigrant
Patrick Clancy speaks out after hung jury in Lindsay Clancy case, addresses prospect of another trial
‘Black widow’ allegedly attempted to murder romantic partner, 69, she met online
Armed Florida Owner Shows What ‘Stand Your Ground’ Means as Intruder Attempts to Break Inside
Scientists Discover New Tick-Borne Virus After Spread of Mystery Illness
Squatter nightmare turns DC apartment building into ‘drug haven’ as legal battle drags on: ‘There’s no help’
Maryland’s only House Republican looks to Larry Hogan to help survive redistricting
Missouri AG files petition asking Supreme Court to revive Trump-backed redistricting map
Portion of the Kennedy Center ceiling collapses, renewing calls to close for renovations
Nevada Democratic election chief says Trump administration hit his office with seven DOJ subpoenas
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.
