WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Justice Department’s Inspector General today released a report on the review of four FISA applications and the origins of the FBI investigation into President Trump’s 2016 campaign.
In a statement issued today, Attorney General William P. Barr noted:
“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.”
Congressman Higgins issued the following statement:
“The Inspector General’s report confirms that the Obama-era FBI abused the FISA process to target and spy on President Trump’s 2016 election campaign. We should all be alarmed at the abuse of authority and manipulation of probable cause to obtain FISA warrants and wrongfully target American citizens. This is a poor reflection on the standards of evidence expected from one of our nation’s most well-established law enforcement organizations.
“The IG report is an objective look at facts surrounding misuse of the FISA process. The ensuing criminal investigation will further address the motives and intent of bad actors within the Obama-era FBI. Those responsible should be held to account. The watchers should note that the American people are watching. We, the People, are paying attention and we will not tolerate purposeful, targeted violation of our 4th Amendment protections.”
