No political bias but FBI made mistakes in probe of Trump 2016 campaign - watchdog

[webfact]

No political bias but FBI made mistakes in probe of Trump 2016 campaign - watchdog

By Sarah N. Lynch, Mark Hosenball and Andy Sullivan

 

The U.S. Justice Department's Inspector General Michael Horowitz's report entitled "Review of Four FISA Applications and Other Aspects of the FBI's Crossfire Hurrican Investigation" about the origins of the FBI's investigation into contacts between Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia is seen after its release by the Justice Department in Washington, U.S. December 9, 2019. REUTERS/Jim Bourg

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department's internal watchdog said it found numerous errors but no evidence of political bias by the FBI when it opened an investigation into contacts between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Russia in 2016.

 

The report by Inspector General Michael Horowitz gave ammunition to both Trump's supporters and his Democratic critics in the debate about the legitimacy of an investigation that clouded the first two years of his presidency.

 

It will not be the last word on the subject.

 

Federal prosecutor John Durham, who is running a separate criminal investigation on the origins of the Russia probe, said he did not agree with some of the report's conclusions.

 

Attorney General William Barr, who ordered the Durham investigation, said the report showed that the FBI launched its investigation "on the thinnest of suspicions."

 

Horowitz found that the FBI had a legal "authorized purpose" to ask for court approval to begin surveillance of Carter Page, a former Trump campaign adviser.

 

But Horowitz also found a total of 17 "basic and fundamental" errors and omissions in the original application and all subsequent renewals to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA). Those errors made the case appear stronger than it was, Horowitz said.

 

In particular, the report singled out an FBI lawyer who altered an email contained in a renewal of the application which claimed that Page was "not a source" to another U.S. government agency.

 

In truth, Page served from 2008 to 2013 as a "operational contact" to another agency, which was not identified in the report.

 

The lawyer was previously identified by Republican Representative Mark Meadows as Kevin Clinesmith, who is no longer with the agency. Clinesmith, former FBI attorney Lisa Page and former special agent Peter Strzok were among a group of FBI employees found by Horowitz last year to have exchanged text messages critical of Trump.

 

Clinesmith did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

"This was an attempted overthrow and a lot of people were in on it, and they got caught," Trump told reporters at the White House in reaction to the report.

 

The FBI investigation, opened in the summer of 2016 ahead of the November election pitting Trump against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, was taken over in May 2017 by former FBI chief Robert Mueller after Trump fired James Comey as the agency's director.

 

Mueller's 22-month special counsel investigation detailed a Russian campaign of hacking and propaganda to sow discord in the United States, harm Clinton and boost Trump. Mueller documented numerous contacts between Trump campaign figures and Moscow but found insufficient evidence of a criminal conspiracy.

 

Trump called the investigation, known within the FBI as Operation Crossfire Hurricane, a witch hunt and assailed FBI leaders and career staffers who worked on it.

 

Republican lawmakers said it showed that law-enforcement officials had abused their power.

 

"In any other instance, an administration using the weight of the federal government to spy on the campaign of a political rival would be a national scandal," Representative Steve Scalise, the No. 3 House of Representatives Republican, said in a statement.

 

Democrats said the report showed that the FBI conducted a legitimate investigation.

 

"It was never a witch hunt. It was the men and women of federal law enforcement doing their jobs," Democratic Senator Mark Warner said on Twitter.

 

FBI Director Christopher Wray said he had ordered 40 steps, such as changes to warrant applications and methods for dealing with informants, to fix problems highlighted in the report. The FBI would review the conduct of employees mentioned in the report, Wray said.

 

Horowitz said his office on Monday began a new review to further scrutinize the FBI's compliance with its own fact-checking policies used to get applications to surveil U.S. persons in counterterrorism investigations, as well as counterintelligence probes.

 

Operation Crossfire Hurricane opened on July 31, 2016, after the FBI received a tip from a foreign ally that Trump adviser George Papadopoulos suggested he had offers of help from Russia.

 

Horowitz found that the FBI relied heavily on research assembled by former British spy Christopher Steele when it asked for court permission to open a wiretap on Page.

 

But the FBI did not tell the Justice Department or the FISA court that that material gathered by Steele was internally inconsistent in some respects.

 

The FBI continued its surveillance of Page after Trump's election even though two agents said it was not necessary because they thought he was irrelevant to the investigation.

 

Steele assembled his dossier for an opposition-research firm that was funded by the Democratic Party. Trump's allies say the FBI should have disclosed that fact in its warrant application.

 

Horowitz will testify about his findings at a public hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

 

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball, Brad Heath and Andy Sullivan; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Will Dunham, Jonathan Oatis and Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-12-10

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[MasterBaker]

... and this will get Trump elected for another term

[Kelsall]

And John Durham who is running the criminal investigation into this matter takes exception to the report's conclusion and predication.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

4 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

And John Durham who is running the criminal investigation into this matter takes exception to the report's conclusions

He and Trump’s illiberal base can take exception to what ever they wish, but without factual evidence they are blowing wind.

[Tug]

Well trumps little disinformation campaign failed as it naturally would his manufactured witch hunt came up empty surprise surprise lol what did you expect the fbi are honorable not so trump he will lie and slandèr to fit his needs it’s what he does

[Kelsall]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

He and Trump’s illiberal base can take exception to what ever they wish, but without factual evidence they are blowing wind.

Don't worry.  Durham's got it.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, Tug said:

Well trumps little disinformation campaign failed as it naturally would his manufactured witch hunt came up empty surprise surprise lol what did you expect the fbi are honorable not so trump he will lie and slandèr to fit his needs it’s what he does

I’m not sure Trump’s disinformation Campaign failed.

 

We can now observe some of his supporters stubbornly sticking to the lies they were told despite this report completely refuting those lies.

 

The evidence is in, Trump’s lies exposed but still some of his supporters cling to the lies.

 

Many others have faded out of discussions  and no longer post in support of Trump’s blatant lies.

[Chomper Higgot]

7 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Don't worry.  Durham's got it.

We’ve learned already, if anyone on team Trump has any evidence it’s locked away and great efforts are made to keep it hidden from public scrutiny.

[IAMHERE]

FBI made 'mistakes' ; anyone else making 'mistakes' would be charged with a crime.

[TopDeadSenter]

 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

But Horowitz also found a total of 17 "basic and fundamental" errors and omissions in the original application and all subsequent renewals to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA). Those errors made the case appear stronger than it was, Horowitz said.

So there were 17 errors. In a non-bias situation you could assume that 8 or 9 would be favorable to Trump and the other half against. But no, not in this case. In this case each and every error was detrimental to Trump. What are the odds?

 

1 out of 2, to the power of 17. Or 131,072 to 1.

 

Sorry, with odds like that, I'm not buying it. They had political bias, end of. Horowitz is a disgrace.

[Scott]

Troll posts removed.  

 

[Credo]

4 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

 

 

So there were 17 errors. In a non-bias situation you could assume that 8 or 9 would be favorable to Trump and the other half against. But no, not in this case. In this case each and every error was detrimental to Trump. What are the odds?

 

1 out of 2, to the power of 17. Or 131,072 to 1.

 

Sorry, with odds like that, I'm not buying it. They had political bias, end of. Horowitz is a disgrace.

There can't be an error that wouldn't be against the case for the warrant.   

[Tippaporn]

I've said it from the start . . . the impeachment and the Russia hoax are one and the same continual effort to oust Trump lest the corruption by both Democrats and Republicans gets exposed.  Trump came in as a billionaire and therefore could not be bought off.  He was a very real existential threat to those corrupt.  Yovanovitch, Graham, McCain, Biden, McConnell, George Kent, Bill Taylor.  Remember those names.  And many more to be revealed.  Remember who has business dealings in Ukraine?  Biden's son, Kerry's step son, Pelosi's son.  All energy related.  Amazing that considering all of the places in the world they're doing business in Ukraine.

 

From a Conservative Treehouse piece:

 

U.S. senators write foreign aid policy, rules and regulations thereby creating the financing mechanisms to transmit U.S. funds. Those same senators then received a portion of the laundered funds back through their various “institutes” and business connections to the foreign government offices; in this example Ukraine. [ex. Burisma to Biden]

 

This has never been about Democrats versus Republicans.  It's always been about money!

 

OAN is coming out with an exclusive that will shred Schiff's impeachment gambit.  Here's an episode with an interview with the former Ukrainian prosecutor Yuriy Lutsenko.

 

 

Edit:

 

BTW, those who scream loudest have the most to lose.  Think Schiff.

 

[Tippaporn]

Carter Page explains how the IG Horowitz report will not tell the whole story.  Horowitz is not in a position to tell the whole story for reasons which everyone here should by this time be aware of.

 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/carter-page-on-eve-of-doj-ig-report-says-findings-will-only-tell-part-of-the-story

[Tippaporn]

Barr's statement re the IG report:

 

"The Inspector General’s report now makes clear that the FBI launched an intrusive investigation of a U.S. presidential campaign on the thinnest of suspicions that, in my view, were insufficient to justify the steps taken.

"It is also clear that, from its inception, the evidence produced by the investigation was consistently exculpatory.  Nevertheless, the investigation and surveillance was pushed forward for the duration of the campaign and deep into President Trump’s administration.

"In the rush to obtain and maintain FISA surveillance of Trump campaign associates, FBI officials misled the FISA court, omitted critical exculpatory facts from their filings, and suppressed or ignored information negating the reliability of their principal source.

"The Inspector General found the explanations given for these actions unsatisfactory. While most of the misconduct identified by the Inspector General was committed in 2016 and 2017 by a small group of now-former FBI officials, the malfeasance and misfeasance detailed in the Inspector General’s report reflects a clear abuse of the FISA process."

 

Durham's statement:

 

"I have the utmost respect for the mission of the Office of Inspector General and the comprehensive work that went into the report prepared by Mr. Horowitz and his staff.  However, our investigation is not limited to developing information from within component parts of the Justice Department.  Our investigation has included developing information from other persons and entities, both in the U.S. and outside of the U.S.  Based on the evidence collected to date, and while our investigation is ongoing, last month we advised the Inspector General that we do not agree with some of the report’s conclusions as to predication and how the FBI case was opened."

 

What to expect next?  A heavy smear campaign against both Barr and Durham.  Guaranteed.  That is how the corrupt media works hand in hand with the corrupt politicians and other corrupt agencies.

[Tippaporn]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

He and Trump’s illiberal base can take exception to what ever they wish, but without factual evidence they are blowing wind.

I suspect you and all of the other liberals will be eating those words in the not-so-distant future.  Laugh all you like but it is we who will have the last laugh.  Though I will admit that this is not a laughing matter and there will be no schadenfreude on my end.  I'm simply in for the end to the insidious and pervasive corruption which has taken hold of so many governments and institutions around the world.  May they all burn h_e_l_l.

[allen303]

1 hour ago, IAMHERE said:

FBI made 'mistakes' ; anyone else making 'mistakes' would be charged with a crime.

Simple little mistakes on a warrant will get it thrown out and all evidence collected are from the Fruit of the Poisonous Tree and inadmissible. I have seen warrants disallowed for simple reasons as the address was off by a house number (2346 vs 2356). The defense team will eat you alive before a judge.

 

 

Second part, if you knowingly falsified information on a warrant you are looking at being prosecuted. Changed information or withhold information on a warrant you are going to get your a-- handed to you in a normal court. In the state of Florida, the FDLE and State Attorneys Office maintains a list of LEOs who have done something like this or similar to this.  It advises the state courts that your testimony can’t be trusted, so pretty much ends your LEO days. But we know the swamp don’t work that was.

[Tippaporn]

The Comey FBI’s 17 worst failures, inaccuracies and omissions flagged in the Russia FISA report

 

https://johnsolomonreports.com/the-comey-fbis-17-worst-failures-inaccuracies-and-omissions-flagged-in-the-russia-fisa-report/

 

Nothing to see here, folks.  555555555555

 

But don't worry, the libs here will find a way to discount it all!  555555555

[Tippaporn]

No Biden corruption!!  It's just a conspiracy theory!!  5555555555

 

"Yes, that's what he told me. He came to me and said, "You are a patriot of Ukraine, we need this billion dollars. We are at war, and if you are a patriot you will close this case."

"My conversation with Poroshenko was in a phone call," Shokin continued. "It was after we started seizing Burisma assets in Ukraine when Poroshenko called me and said "listen, this all has to stop already. Joe Biden's temper is overflowing. This seizing of Burisma assets was the last straw.""

 

Former Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin interviewed by OAN:

 

 

[Tippaporn]

"Mr. Lutsenko went on to explain that there is a unit called Specialized Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) which has under its purview National Anticorruption Bureau Ukraine (NABU) which investigates corruption cases that involved public figures from Mayors upward. He stated that the current US Ambassador protects SAP and NABU," adding "His office has absolutely no control over SAP or NABU and can't even ask what they are working on however they fall under his "control."

 

Of note, NABU was established in October 2014 "by Mr. George Kent who was the Deputy Chief to the Mission in Ukraine."

 

Remember the names.

[BobBKK]

This is the entree Durham the main course.

[spidermike007]

Clinton was the worst candidate the dems have had since Mike Dukakis. There were probably at least ten major mistakes she made, idiotic things she said (the deplorables, etc, etc.) that cost her millions of votes. Plus the DNC shunning of Sanders cost her millions of votes. However, if Putin had not sponsored that malicious espionage campaign, and those leaks had not been revealed so late in the game, she would have gotten another two to three million votes, which would have given her the idiotic electoral college.

 

I am not saying she would have been a great president. But, even Miley Cyrus would have been a better leader than Trump. 

[TopDeadSenter]

Talk about when the hunters get captured by the game! Amazing how this whole hoax has changed direction so suddenly. The hearings yesterday were so painful to watch. Nadler was in full on panic mode and made no effort to keep a fair and impartial stance. Just shocking. I have no idea how the dems can walk this whole sordid affair back or try and weasel out of it. 

[Tippaporn]

Lutsenko:

 

"I was once again shocked when madame Yovanovitch told two members of the committee that "Lutsenko asked me to organize his meeting with American attorney general.  But you know, gentlemen, that there is a procedure for this," she told.  "The procedure that Lutsenko should even, must give us and short topics he wants to discuss with American law enforcement bodies."  And Yavonovitch said Lutsenko never gave us such information.

 

"I have bad news for madame Yavonovitch.  This is my letter (holding up a sheet of evidence) my deputy letter to request for cooperation in investigation against the criminal organization of Yanukovytch and regarding possible investment in U.S. based mutual and other funds for the purpose of money laundering."

 

It's all a great, big conspiracy theory, folks.  Nothing to see here.  No need for the Bidens to testify.  After all, what could they possibly know?  55555555555555

[Mick501]

24 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

The Comey FBI’s 17 worst failures, inaccuracies and omissions flagged in the Russia FISA report

 

https://johnsolomonreports.com/the-comey-fbis-17-worst-failures-inaccuracies-and-omissions-flagged-in-the-russia-fisa-report/

 

Nothing to see here, folks.  555555555555

 

But don't worry, the libs here will find a way to discount it all!  555555555

One or two omissions could be put down to mistake or inexperience.  But presumably the author knew what they were doing and was not inexperienced.  As for the overstating of facts, that is inexcusable and a deliberate attempt to paint a stronger case than actually existed.  Resulted in massive waste of taxpayer funds and unfair scrutiny on many.  

[Tippaporn]

7 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Clinton was the worst candidate the dems have had since Mike Dukakis. There were probably at least ten major mistakes she made, idiotic things she said (the deplorables, etc, etc.) that cost her millions of votes. Plus the DNC shunning of Sanders cost her millions of votes. However, if Putin had not sponsored that malicious espionage campaign, and those leaks had not been revealed so late in the game, she would have gotten another two to three million votes, which would have given her the idiotic electoral college.

 

I am not saying she would have been a great president. But, even Miley Cyrus would have been a better leader than Trump. 

Hillary is the epitome of corruption, if not evil.  She would have sold as much of the U.S. as she could and end her term(s) a billionaire.

[BobBKK]

21 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

No Biden corruption!!  It's just a conspiracy theory!!  5555555555

 

"Yes, that's what he told me. He came to me and said, "You are a patriot of Ukraine, we need this billion dollars. We are at war, and if you are a patriot you will close this case."

"My conversation with Poroshenko was in a phone call," Shokin continued. "It was after we started seizing Burisma assets in Ukraine when Poroshenko called me and said "listen, this all has to stop already. Joe Biden's temper is overflowing. This seizing of Burisma assets was the last straw.""

 

Former Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin interviewed by OAN:

 

 

I really hope Trumps team will bring this guy over to testify.

[Sujo]

23 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

"Mr. Lutsenko went on to explain that there is a unit called Specialized Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) which has under its purview National Anticorruption Bureau Ukraine (NABU) which investigates corruption cases that involved public figures from Mayors upward. He stated that the current US Ambassador protects SAP and NABU," adding "His office has absolutely no control over SAP or NABU and can't even ask what they are working on however they fall under his "control."

 

Of note, NABU was established in October 2014 "by Mr. George Kent who was the Deputy Chief to the Mission in Ukraine."

 

Remember the names.

you do understand that is a giuliano production.

[bendejo]

Next step: "we have our own report," just like they did with the perfect phone call transcript.  "Don't read that one, read THIS one!"

I'm surprised his bootlick AG let this report get released uncensored.

 

Maybe when all this is done Barr will be sporting an orange jumpsuit too.

 

 

[Tippaporn]

1 minute ago, BobBKK said:

I really hope Trumps team will bring this guy over to testify.

Ukrainians have been trying to get over to the U.S. to provide evidence but they are refused visas.

 

https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/437719-ukrainian-to-us-prosecutors-why-dont-you-want-our-evidence-on-democrats