Latest Breaking News
Showing Original Post only (View all)Barr doesn't accept key inspector general finding about FBI's Russia investigation [View all]
Source: Washington Post
Attorney General William P. Barr has told associates he disagrees with the Justice Departments inspector general on one of the key findings in an upcoming report that the FBI had enough information in July 2016 to justify launching an investigation into members of the Trump campaign, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Justice Departments inspector general, Michael Horowitz, is due to release his long-awaited findings in a week, but behind the scenes at the Justice Department, disagreement has surfaced about one of Horowitzs central conclusions on the origins of the Russia investigation. The discord could be the prelude to a major fissure within federal law enforcement on the controversial question of investigating a presidential campaign.
Barr has not been swayed by Horowitzs rationale for concluding the FBI had sufficient basis to open an investigation on July 31, 2016, these people said. Barrs public defenses of President Trump, including his assertion that intelligence agents spied on the Trump campaign, have led Democrats to accuse him of acting like the presidents personal attorney and eroding the independence of the Justice Department. But Trump and his Republican allies have cheered Barrs skepticism of the Russia investigation. Its not yet clear how Barr plans to make his objection to Horowitzs conclusion known.
The inspector general report, currently in draft form, is being finalized after input from various witnesses and offices that were scrutinized by the inspector general. Barr or a senior Justice Department official could submit a formal letter as part of that process, which would then be included in the final report. It is standard practice for every inspector general report to include a written response from the department. Barr could forgo a written rebuttal on that specific point and just publicly state his concerns. Spokespeople for the Justice Department, the inspector general and the FBI all declined to comment.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/barr-doesnt-accept-key-inspector-general-finding-about-fbis-russia-investigation/2019/12/02/4464f018-154d-11ea-a659-7d69641c6ff7_story.html
No surprise.