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.
Police confirm investigation into anti-ICE Virginia Commonwealth nurse who encouraged drugging agents
Wild video captures tire flying off British Airways plane moments after takeoff in Las Vegas
Breaking: Man Who Allegedly Sprayed Vinegar at Ilhan Omar Hit with Federal Charge
Anti-Gun Chuck Schumer Defends Second Amendment in Bizarre Attempt to Own Trump: ‘Shall Not Be Infringed’
Texas Gov Greg Abbott calls for CAIR to be stripped of non-profit status
Dem governor ducks question on ‘monster’ illegal alien who fractured 8-year-old’s skull with rock attack
Israel accepts Gaza Health Ministry’s estimate of 70,000 Palestinians killed during war
San Jose mayor jumps into crowded California governor’s race in a move that could help GOP
Tom Homan Makes It Clear He’s All Business in Minneapolis: ‘I Didn’t Come … for Photo-Ops and Headlines’
Fox News ‘Antisemitism Exposed’ Newsletter: Walz shocks with misguided Holocaust comparison
Snowstorm could’ve sparked grid catastrophe if Biden climate policies weren’t reversed: Energy Dept
Trump Considering Major Strike on Iran After Latest Development in Nuclear Talks: Report
Ecuador complains to Trump admin, alleging ICE agent sought to enter Minneapolis consulate
Second elderly South Carolina woman dead from hypothermia in winter storm
Ellison brags to DNC activists how many times he has sued the Trump admin: ‘You can count on me’
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.
