DOJ Inspector General Report Shows FBI Investigation on 2016 Election Was With Purpose and Authorized
January 3, 2020
On December 9, the Department Of Justice Inspector General’s report on the FBI investigation on the elections of 2016 stated that although some agents handled the case poorly, it was fully justified to open an investigation to look for Russian interference in the election. This nullifies the beliefs that the investigation is a “witch hunt,” designed to go against the Trump Administration.
The report states that the investigation was launched from suspicion that George Papadopoulos, President Trump’s former campaign manager, may have conspired with people in Russia to aid the Trump Administration’s campaign. It further reads, “This information provided the FBI with an articulable factual basis that, if true, reasonably indicated activity constituting either a federal crime or a threat to national security, or both, may have occurred or may be occurring.”
Despite its findings, the reactions to the report are very varied, with Attorney General Barr stating that the FBI investigation started with too little evidence, and was intrusive to the president’s campaign, and time in office. President Trump also tweeted that the findings were a disgrace to the country, and what it has gone through. He also called the report dishonest, and said it was “a very sad day.”
On the contrary, the DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz stated that the DOJ “did not find documentary or testimonial evidence that political bias or improper motivation influenced [Priestap’s] decision,” while also noting that some parts of the actual investigation were mishandled by FBI agents. They may have made it seem as though the political bias existed, and their errors may have made those that believe the investigation was opened for the wrong reasons feel more conviction than they should be.
[1] https://oig.justice.gov/press/2019/2019-12-09.pdf
