Barr Follows GOP’s Lead, Puts Together Team To Review How Russia Probe Began

US Attorney General William Barr testifies during a US House Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Justice Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2020, on Capitol Hill in ... US Attorney General William Barr testifies during a US House Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Justice Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, April 9, 2019. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Attorney General William Barr told a House panel on Tuesday that he put together a team to look at how the FBI’s investigation into the Trump campaign and Russian interference started in the summer of 2016. The inquiry is separate from the Justice Department’s inspector general probe on the matter, a source told Bloomberg News.

“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,” Barr told the House panel on Tuesday.

The move indicates Barr is following Republicans’ lead on the matter. GOP lawmakers have been pursuing the idea — that the Russia probe was born out of an anti-Trump bias within the FBI and DOJ — for more than a year.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and other prominent Republicans have already indicated plans to launch new probes into how the investigation started, once the furor over the impending release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report has cooled.

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  1. Where is the investigation into the anti-Clinton NY FBI office? What a bunch of hypocrites. (Of course it’s today’s GOP)

  2. This, of course, is total bullshit.

    But, tell ya what … release the entire unredacted Mueller report and the underlying evidence. Then investigate and review away.

    Pro tip - some of the information you want regarding how the investigation started is probably in that 400 page report that you’re using up 200 Magic Markers on to cover up for your boss. You’re probably redacting some of that very information. And, talk to Comey and McCabe - they may be able to help you out. Or just read their previous testimony.

  3. They need to be careful what they wish for, because there is still a lot of information, not yet released, that is not exculpatory for many of the players, very likely including Trump.

    It’s important to note also that they are mixing their metaphors. The Benghazi investigation got a lot of hearing time, including Hilary’s testimony, and targeted making Hilary look bad. Who are they chasing now? Nobody who’s at that level. This will not go well, but I suppose after they get into it, they can always pull back without revealing much.

  4. The General Store has lots of rope.

  5. So they really ARE gonna investigate the oranges?

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