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.

Anti-ICE rioters may face domestic terrorism federal charges as Trump admin sends stern message: ret FBI agent

Colorado terror attack exposes ‘national security threat’ posed by immigrant visa overstays: former FBI agent

Trump directs ICE to expand deportation efforts in America’s largest cities

Minnesota officials find car, hat belonging to assassin suspect Vance Boelter on highway in ‘fluid’ search

Trump says Israel and Iran ‘have to fight it out’ but believes deal is possible

Watch: ‘Harry Potter’ Actor Has Masterful Response After Reporter Tries to Bait Him on Series Creator

Gen. Flynn: Trump’s Great Test – Peace Through Strength or Endless Wars

FBI confirms capture of 2 of 4 illegal immigrants who escaped from Newark ICE facility

Ivanka Trump praises her father’s ‘unwavering determination, boundless vision’

Watch: Ex-NBA Star’s Contract Terminated After Ugly Brawl with Fans

Trump Officially Begins Phasing Out FEMA: ‘We’re Going to Give Out Less’

Doug Emhoff championed as a ‘wonderful dad’ by Harris and family

Not Even Hiding It: 148 Democrats Go Against Barring Non-Citizens from Voting

Padilla aghast that Noem did ‘not know’ him at press conference where he was detained

Dancing, Chanting Lawmakers Handed Historic Punishment: ‘Arrogant and Ignorant’

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.