Barr: ‘Very Unusual’ For FBI To Rely On Steele Dossier Given ‘Clear Mistakes’

Attorney General William Barr said in an interview that aired Friday that he is investigating what role the Steele dossier played in the Russia probe, and that the salacious document had “a number of clear mistakes.”

“It’s a very unusual situation to have opposition research like that, especially one that on its face had a number of clear mistakes and a somewhat jejune analysis,” Barr told Fox News’ Bill Hemmer.

“And to use that to conduct counterintelligence against an American political campaign is a strange — would be strange development.”

In the interview, Barr spoke at length about an inquiry he launched at the Justice Department into the origins of the Russia investigation. He told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that the investigation is also focusing on what information U.S. intelligence agencies gathered on Trump campaign associates before the FBI formally opened its investigation in July 2016.

Breaking: Intimidation Arrest Made Outside Courthouse of Lindsay Clancy Trial Setting Stage for Potential Mistrial

Top Democrat survives double-barreled challenge as party’s Israel divide hits home

Colin Kaepernick Reemerges and Tries to Cash in on Playing the Victim

House Democrat survives left-flank challenge as Bernie volunteer mounts insurgent bid

Trump Wants Congress to Save Hollywood from Going Bust – His Heart Might Be in The Right Place, But He’s Dead Wrong

DOJ sues Kansas school district over ‘secret gender transitions’ in first-of-its-kind lawsuit

Former president-turned-amateur artist George W. Bush debuting new paintings for 9/11 remembrance

Canadian Voters Double Down on Hostility Toward Trump, Hand Liberal Party Special Election Sweep

Republicans turn on House GOP lawmaker accused of late-night texts, lavish gifts to female staffers

Starmer steps down from Parliament to seek opportunities in ‘international affairs,’ with Greens eager to snatch his seat

Ex-Indiana deputy charged with felony for allegedly using Flock cameras to stalk girlfriend

House Democrats Panicking as Republicans Prepare to Make Them Go on the Record with Socialism Vote

Spanberger fact-checked after Trump mail-voting warning raises military ballot fears

Six Fascinating, Barely-Known Facts Proving America and Jews/Judaism Have Been Linked Since the Founding

Swimmer rushed to hospital after suspected shark attack at Martha’s Vineyard

The FBI relied heavily on the Steele dossier, which was funded by the DNC and Clinton campaign, to obtain surveillance warrants against Carter Page, a Trump campaign adviser. But Republicans have accused the FBI of misleading the surveillance court by relying on the dossier given that its allegations were unverified.

Christopher Steele, a former British spy, claimed in the dossier that the Trump campaign was involved in a “well-developed conspiracy of co-operation” with the Russian government to influence the 2016 election. He alleged that Page and other Trump associates, like Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen, were at the center of the scheme.

But the special counsel’s report all but debunked the dossier’s central thesis, while dismissing one specific allegation about Cohen. The report said that prosecutors were unable to establish a conspiracy between the Trump team and Russia. It also said that Cohen did not visit Prague in August 2016, which is where the dossier claimed the former Trump lawyer went to pay off Russian hackers.

Steele and his client, Fusion GPS, shopped the dossier around to numerous journalists. Steele also provided memos from his dossier to the FBI and State Department.

Barr told Hemmer that the answers he has received so far about the origins of the investigations “aren’t sufficient.” He is reportedly working with the directors of the CIA, FBI and Office of National Intelligence on the inquiry.