Posted on 04/09/2019 5:50:16 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
Attorney General William Bar has reportedly formed a team to review actions of Justice Department and FBI officials leading up to the launch of the federal probe into President Trump's campaign and possible Russian collusion.
Bloomberg reported Tuesday evening that Barr has assembled a team to review certain counterintelligence decisions made by Justice Department and FBI officials including during the probe into Trump's campaign during the election in the summer of 2016.
Barr had testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday that he was reviewing "conduct" from around that period.
“I am reviewing the conduct of the investigation and trying to get my arms around all the aspects of the counterintelligence investigation that was conducted during the summer of 2016,” he said.
News of the review comes following the conclusion of special counsel Robert Mueller’s nearly two-year investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.
Mueller was appointed as special counsel in May 2017 to take over the Russia probe after Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey.
Barr’s review is reportedly separate from the current investigation being conducted by the Justice Department inspector general’s office, Bloomberg reported.
The attorney general said during his testimony that he expects the internal inspector general review to be completed by May or June.
Republicans have long argued that anti-Trump bias at the FBI triggered the investigation and the "Steele Dossier," controversial opposition research conducted on the Trump campaign.
Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) during Barr’s hearing questioned if the Justice Department would investigate “how it came to be that your agency used a salacious and unverified dossier as a predicate for FISA order on a U.S. citizen?”
Trump and his allies have claimed that the dossier was used to obtain a secret warrant to spy on former Trump campaign aide Carter Page, Bloomberg noted.
Comey, however, rejected that assertion last year when he testified before Congress. He said the investigation was opened the officials learned that another Trump campaign aide, George Papaopoulous “had with an individual in London about stolen emails that the Russians had that would be harmful to Hillary Clinton.”
Mueller concluded his investigation last month and Barr summarized the contents in a March 24 letter, revealing that the special counsel did not “establish” that associates or members of the Trump campaign coordinated or conspired with the Russian government.
Barr’s summary noted that Mueller did not make judgement on whether Trump obstructed justice. Barr wrote that he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein reviewed the evidence and determined it insufficient to accuse Trump of obstructing the investigation.
Bar told lawmakers during his Tuesday testimony that he will release a public version of Muller’s report “within a week.”
A step in the right direction is still a step in the right direction.
And then there’s this:
Paul Sperry @paulsperry_ 7m7 minutes ago
BREAKING: Sen. Grassley of Judiciary Committee last month asked AG Barr for access to classified FBI intel reports that shed light on the URANIUM ONE sale Hillary Clinton shepherded through for Russia,giving Moscow rights to US uranium assets, but Barr refused to provide the docs
Excellent.
I am hoping they are serious and uncover the culprits.
Which he might do during an active investigation.
“Barr forms team to probe FBI actions in Russia investigation: report”
Can we get done in our lifetimes?
So far I’ve been pleased with Barr. Of course after Sessions anyone would seem great.
Barr has been around a long time but I would not classify him as necessarily “establishment”.
You can know the deep state ins and outs, how to manipulate it, how to use it to your advantage without actually being a part of it. My suspicion is that’s how Barr operates.
He appears to be a by the book law and order hard a$$ and puts up with neither sh!t nor shenanigans. We’ll soon see if I’ve got him pegged correctly.
Barr might not drag his feet.
AT MINIMUM anyone involved should be fired.
Start with the bottom rung and they’ll spill the beans on the ones who ordered them to do what.
Give ONE person total immunity- UNLESS he tells one lie.
Barr refused to provide the docs
Which he might do during an active investigation.
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Why would Barr waste his time giving anything to the worthless wussies in Congress? They will have hearings, talk about stuff, write some strong letters and then hide under the bed as always.
I wouldn’t trust anyone from the senate either
It's really juicy stuff.
He oughta be issuing warrants for arrest of the evil horde.
CW II coming to your backyard this fall ...
But...but...Huber already did that!
No, I am not getting my hopes up.
I don’t believe the DOJ is capable of investigating itself.
The rank and file is full of agenda radicals.
Out of all the circumstances in which an independent counsel with a team of outside investigators is needed, the one circumstance in which one truly is needed is where the DOJ itself is what must be investigated.
Barr cannot both handle the AG responsibilities and run an investigation that has to take on DOJ, the FBI, the CIA, the NSA and the Western intelligence alliance that conspired against a US presidential candidate and then mounted a coup to attempt to unseat him.
Of course, appointing a special counsel who is a loyalist to the DC establishment would be worse than having no independent counsel at all.
And any real investigation that actually prosecutes people is going to extend beyond the 2020 election. If Barr tries to handle it himself, the investigation dies if Trump loses the next election or if Barr no longer is AG for any reason. A special counsel up and running would be more difficult for a GOPe or Dem winner in 2020 to fire.
Anyone watching Hannity?
He’s talking about James Baker’s testimony, and it sounds like it has lit a fuse that’s about to blow up in the Demonrat’s faces!
Do you have some super secret special knowledge about how much Barr can or cannot handle?
Can you fill in some details?
I was thinking same thing! Will he coverup for the swamp? I pray not!! We’ll see!!
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