THREAD: The sweeping report from the Justice Department IG debunked several key claims and conspiracy theories that President Trump has repeatedly used to attack the Russia investigation. Here's my comprehensive breakdown: cnn.com/2019/12/10/pol…
1) Trump claimed the Russia probe was an "illegal witch hunt" and that it was "an investigation that should have never happened." TRUMP WAS WRONG. The IG said the FBI had "sufficient" evidence, and an "articulable factual basis," to launch the Russia investigation In July 2016. 
2) Trump claimed "the entire Russian probe is based" on the Steele dossier, and that the dossier "was responsible for starting" the investigation. TRUMP WAS WRONG. The IG concluded the Papadopoulos tip triggered the probe. (This affirms findings from Mueller and House Intel GOP.)
3) Trump said "the top people" at the FBI "were plotting against my election" and they "made up" the collusion allegations agains this campaign. TRUMP WAS WRONG. The report said these top FBI officials weren't motivated by political bias while they oversaw the investigation.
4) Trump claimed surveillance of Carter Page was "illegal" and proof of "potentially massive FISA abuse." MIXED VERDICT. The IG said the FISA process wasn't abused for political purposes. But he found serious errors and omissions in the applications, and one email was doctored.
5) Trump claimed the FBI had spies and informants "implanted, for political purposes, into my campaign." TRUMP WAS WRONG. The IG found "no evidence" that the FBI sent spies into Trump campaign, and the IG said the FBI wasn't biased when it legally used informants in the probe.
6) Trump re-tweeted clips containing theories that the Kremlin-linked professor who gave Papadopoulos early info about Russian hacks was really working for US intel. THIS APPEARS WRONG. The IG found "no evidence" that the professor, Joseph Mifsud, has ever worked for the FBI.
7) Trump pushed claims about DOJ official Bruce Ohr and his ties to Steele. He called Ohr a "disgrace" who was "helping...Steele find dirt." MIXED VERDICT. The IG said he made "consequential errors in judgment" about Steele, but his actions didn't Impact the start of the probe.
Long story short: The IG report demonstrates once again how Trump relied on unsubstantiated theories and blatant falsehoods to hammer away at the Russia investigation. /END cnn.com/2019/12/10/pol…
