This a breathtakingly false description of what the IG Report found. It’s not just an overstatement or exaggeration, it’s just wrong.
The IG found that officials had both an “authorized purpose” & “adequate factual predication” to investigate, as required by AG & FBI guidelines.
The IG found that officials had both an “authorized purpose” & “adequate factual predication” to investigate, as required by AG & FBI guidelines.
Here’s the proof. Plus, the FISA apps came long after the investigations had been launched—they definitionally had no role in “triggering” the investigation.
The Report also found “no evidence of intentional misconduct on the part of case agents.”
These are just facts, Steve.
The Report also found “no evidence of intentional misconduct on the part of case agents.”
These are just facts, Steve.
Now, the Report *does* highlight 17 errors & omissions in the briefing supplied by line agents up the chain of command. In some instances, these omissions were unimportant, in others they undercut other info that was included. This was inexcusable unintentional error by the FBI.
Importantly, contrary to GOP lines about Strozk & Page, the Report found “no evidence that political bias or improper motivation influenced the decision” to open the investigation or make the FISA application. This after reviewing 1 MILLION(!) docs & interviewing 100 people.
The Report does not take a position on whether the unintentional errors in the FISA application resulted in an erroneous granting of the surveillance privileges by the FISC. It also doesn’t say whether the FBI top brass would have approved the FISA app had they known all info.
Coincidentally, these are two pretty important questions, at least with respect to the Page FISA warrant. BUT—given the fact that the FISC ultimately approved the app & that the Steele Dossier was not the sole piece of evidence corroborating the FBI’s reasons, it’s a hard sell.
In any case, it’s pretty clear that the errors committed by staff agents in this case warrant most if not all of the remedial suggestions made by IG Horowitz, particarly w/r/t the review required when domestic investigations are launched that touch upon First Amendment rights.
