Politics

Attorney General Bill Barr Wants To Know If Russia Probe Was Abuse Of Power

Fox News

David Krayden Ottawa Bureau Chief
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Attorney General William Barr says he’s not satisfied with the Russia probe narrative and wants to know if abuse of power occurred.

Barr says he is committed to finding out whether “government officials abused their power and put their thumb on the scale” when they decided to investigate Russian election interference and ultimately targeted then-candidate Donald Trump’s election campaign.

U.S. President Trump speaks at annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service on Capitol Hill in Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the 38th Annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 15, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

“I’ve been trying to get answers to the questions and I’ve found that a lot of the answers have been inadequate and some of the explanations I’ve gotten don’t hang together, in a sense I have more questions today than when I first started,” Barr said on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.” (RELATED: Documents Show Steele Dossier Was Just Political Mudslinging For Clinton Campaign)


When asked exactly what doesn’t “hang together,” Barr responded, “Some of the explanations of what occurred.”

The attorney general says that even if nothing happened, it is imperative to investigate further get to the truth.

“People have to find out what the government was doing during that period. If we’re worried about foreign influence, for the very same reason we should be worried about whether government officials abused their power and put their thumb on the scale,” Barr told Fox News, adding, “I’m not saying that happened, but it’s something we have to look at.”

On Wednesday, Fox News host Sean Hannity reported that “sources” had told him that Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s investigation into alleged violations of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was “done” and prepared to report “devastating” findings.

Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz testifies during a Judiciary Committee hearing into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 26, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz testifies during a Judiciary Committee hearing into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 26, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

Barr has appointed U.S. Attorney John Durham to investigate what prompted the Department of Justice and FBI to begin their Russia probe.

The attorney general has been a lightning rod of controversy since taking the reigns at the DOJ. In his testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Barr suggested the infamous Steele dossier, which sought to implicate Trump in sexual and political scandal, may be the result of Russian disinformation. He also referred to the FBI’s surveillance of the Trump campaign as “spying.” (RELATED: Report: Attorney General Has ‘Team” Investigating Whether FBI Was Spying On Trump Campaign)

Democrats have accused Barr of thinking he is the president’s personal lawyer and the House Judiciary Committee voted to hold Barr in contempt of Congress. Barr had refused to appear before the group after they insisted Congressional staffers be allowed to question him.

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