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'No political bias' in FBI probe of Trump campaign | 'No political bias' in FBI probe of Trump campaign |
(32 minutes later) | |
A US watchdog has found no evidence of political bias when the FBI launched a probe into the 2016 Trump campaign, despite "serious performance failures". | A US watchdog has found no evidence of political bias when the FBI launched a probe into the 2016 Trump campaign, despite "serious performance failures". |
The US Department of Justice inspector general concluded the law enforcement bureau had "authorised purpose" to initiate the inquiry. | |
But his report also found applications to spy on a Trump aide had "significant inaccuracies and omissions". | |
The 476-page report provides fodder for Trump critics and supporters alike. | The 476-page report provides fodder for Trump critics and supporters alike. |
While it undercuts President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he was the victim of a "witch hunt", the report also raises questions about the integrity of the FBI's process. | While it undercuts President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he was the victim of a "witch hunt", the report also raises questions about the integrity of the FBI's process. |
The watchdog sought to assess the basis for the FBI's surveillance of Carter Page, a former Trump campaign adviser who had lived and worked in Russia. | |
How did the report criticise the FBI? | |
The inspector general identified 17 "significant inaccuracies or omissions" when the FBI applied to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (Fisa) for surveillance warrants to monitor Mr Page's communications. | |
Mr Horowitz wrote that the errors resulted in "applications that made it appear that the information supporting probable cause was stronger than was actually the case". | |
The watchdog also found that an FBI lawyer assigned to the Russia case doctored an email from the CIA to a colleague that was used in an application from the bureau to monitor Mr Page. | |
The attorney "altered an email that the other US government agency had sent" with the effect that "the email inaccurately stated that Page was 'not a source' for the other agency", the report said. | The attorney "altered an email that the other US government agency had sent" with the effect that "the email inaccurately stated that Page was 'not a source' for the other agency", the report said. |
The watchdog also found FBI personnel "fell far short of the requirement in FBI policy that they ensure that all factual statements in a Fisa application are 'scrupulously accurate'". | The watchdog also found FBI personnel "fell far short of the requirement in FBI policy that they ensure that all factual statements in a Fisa application are 'scrupulously accurate'". |
The report said "so many basic and fundamental errors... raised significant questions regarding the FBI chain of command's management and supervision of the Fisa process". | The report said "so many basic and fundamental errors... raised significant questions regarding the FBI chain of command's management and supervision of the Fisa process". |
How did the report back the FBI? | |
The inspector general found no basis for conservative claims that political bias against Mr Trump had influenced the bureau's probe. | |
Mr Horowitz also did not find that the FBI's mistakes were intentional. | |
The investigation was opened "in compliance with department and FBI policies", the report said. | |
"We did not find documentary or testimonial evidence that political bias or improper motivation influenced the decisions to open the four individual investigations." | |
Mr Horowitz also found the FBI's use of confidential informants was in compliance with agency rules. | |
What about the 'Steele dossier'? | What about the 'Steele dossier'? |
The watchdog faulted how the FBI presented the work of former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, who authored the so-called Steele dossier - a series of largely unsubstantiated allegations about Mr Trump. | The watchdog faulted how the FBI presented the work of former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, who authored the so-called Steele dossier - a series of largely unsubstantiated allegations about Mr Trump. |
Mr Steele was hired to do the research through a law firm on behalf of Mr Trump's political opponents, including Hillary Clinton's campaign. | Mr Steele was hired to do the research through a law firm on behalf of Mr Trump's political opponents, including Hillary Clinton's campaign. |
Mr Horowitz said the FBI "overstated the significance" of Mr Steele's past work when asserting it had been "corroborated and used in criminal proceedings". | Mr Horowitz said the FBI "overstated the significance" of Mr Steele's past work when asserting it had been "corroborated and used in criminal proceedings". |
The watchdog also said the FBI left out relevant information about one of Mr Steele's sources, whom Mr Steele himself had called a "boaster" prone to "embellishment". | The watchdog also said the FBI left out relevant information about one of Mr Steele's sources, whom Mr Steele himself had called a "boaster" prone to "embellishment". |
Mr Horowitz is expected to discuss his findings on Wednesday during a public hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. | Mr Horowitz is expected to discuss his findings on Wednesday during a public hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. |
What's the reaction? | What's the reaction? |
US Attorney General William Barr issued a statement on Monday rejecting the inspector general's main conclusion that there was enough evidence for the FBI to launch its investigation of the Trump campaign. | US Attorney General William Barr issued a statement on Monday rejecting the inspector general's main conclusion that there was enough evidence for the FBI to launch its investigation of the Trump campaign. |
"The Inspector General's report now makes clear that the FBI launched an intrusive investigation of a US presidential campaign on the thinnest of suspicions that, in my view, were insufficient to justify the steps taken," America's top law official said. | "The Inspector General's report now makes clear that the FBI launched an intrusive investigation of a US presidential campaign on the thinnest of suspicions that, in my view, were insufficient to justify the steps taken," America's top law official said. |
John Durham, a federal prosecutor hand-picked by the attorney general to conduct a pending, separate criminal inquiry into the roots of the Russia investigation, also rejected Mr Horowitz's findings. | |
"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," Mr Durham's statement said. | |
What's the background? | What's the background? |
Inspector General Michael Horowitz has reviewed more than one million records and conducted over 170 interviews since launching his investigation in March last year. | Inspector General Michael Horowitz has reviewed more than one million records and conducted over 170 interviews since launching his investigation in March last year. |
He scrutinised the FBI's process for launching its 2016 inquiry to look for any collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government before the US presidential election. | He scrutinised the FBI's process for launching its 2016 inquiry to look for any collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government before the US presidential election. |
That FBI investigation was ultimately taken over by special counsel Robert Mueller. | That FBI investigation was ultimately taken over by special counsel Robert Mueller. |
Mr Mueller's own inquiry concluded in April this year there was not enough evidence to conclude the Trump campaign conspired with the Kremlin to sway the 2016 US presidential election. | Mr Mueller's own inquiry concluded in April this year there was not enough evidence to conclude the Trump campaign conspired with the Kremlin to sway the 2016 US presidential election. |