For months, many people on the right have suggested that we need an investigation of the Russia investigation. Now it looks as though it may actually happen.
Attorney General William Barr has appointed a U.S. Attorney to look into it.
The Associated Press reports:
Prosecutor to examine Russia probe origins
Attorney General William Barr has appointed a U.S. attorney to examine the origins of the Russia investigation and determine if intelligence collection involving the Trump campaign was “lawful and appropriate,” a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Monday.
Barr appointed John Durham, the U.S. attorney in Connecticut, to conduct the inquiry, the person said. The person could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Durham’s appointment comes about a month after Barr told members of Congress he believed “spying did occur” on the Trump campaign in 2016. He later said he didn’t mean anything pejorative and was gathering a team to look into the origins of the special counsel’s investigation.
Barr provided no details about what “spying” may have taken place but appeared to be alluding to a surveillance warrant the FBI obtained on a former Trump associate, Carter Page, and the FBI’s use of an informant while the bureau was investigating former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos.
The Hill has more:
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Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz is reviewing how investigators used wiretap applications and informants as well as whether political bias motivated decisionmaking.
John W. Huber, the U.S. attorney in Utah, is also examining aspects of the investigation.
A spokesman for Durham’s office and the DOJ declined a request for comment from the Times. The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
Durham was nominated by Trump in 2017 and has served as a lawyer within the Justice Department for nearly 40 years, according to the Times. He has a history of performing special investigations.
This point is hilarious and true:
My favorite thing about Barr appointing a US attorney to investigate the Russia probe is that if anyone complains about it in any way they're guilty of undermining the rule of law, attacking the very foundations of our republic, and possibly even obstructing justice.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) May 14, 2019
Some people in the DC swamp will probably lose a little sleep tonight.
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