When were they informed? Was it after the investigation had already begun? This would be more like asking for forgiveness rather than permission.
What evidence was presented to them? The dossier? Other false and speculative information? If the case was presented with phony intelligence, it would seem as though the "Gang of Eight" would not have been able to make a fully informed decision, and this was only given to them as a way of providing cover to the actual plot.
See my post above. The investigation (Idiot leftists called it “Crossfire Hurricane” started late June/early July 2016 about three months prior to the election. Then they weren’t notified about the investigation until May 2017.
That’s how I see it as well: The Comey-McCabe-Rosenstein-Brennan-Clapper-Rice-Jarrett CIA-FBI-NSA-WH-DOJ cabal used this to “ocer their tracks” by telling Congress they were investigating Trump. But not HOW they had manufactured evidence and meetings and files to “justify” WHY they started ivnestigating Trump!