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.
‘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
Minnesota green energy program funded by Obama fined for killing bald eagle: ‘National treasure’
US forces kill two suspected narco-terrorists in Eastern Pacific lethal strike operation
Harvey Levin gives explosive update on purported Nancy Levin ransom note on ‘Hannity’
Fox News True Crime Newsletter: No suspects identified in disappearance of Nancy Guthrie as deadline passes
Civil rights groups issue Florida travel advisory for FIFA World Cup over immigration enforcement tactics
White House slams Democrat governor for urging public to track ICE agents with new video portal
Boston’s Wu orders release of ICE surveillance and bodycam footage, says fed government ‘hides behind masks’
Baltimore Mayor Plays the Race Card After Being Called Out on His $163,495 Taxpayer-Funded Vehicle
FDA relaxes labeling rules on ‘no artificial colors’ claims amid crackdown
DHS says anti-ICE agitators helped child rapists, gang members evade deportation
Kamala Harris Gives Clearest Indication Yet That She’s Running in 2028, Restarts 2024 Machine
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.
