The Department of Justice's inspector general released a report detailing the DOJ's tracking of communications during the investigation into classified information leaks related to President Trump in 2017. This report contains significant revelations about the Russia collusion allegations, which initially emerged following Trump's election in 2016 due to leaks from anonymous Democratic operatives. These leaks aimed to portray Trump as having colluded with Russia to win the presidency.
Among notable leaks were those found in major news stories, including ones from the Washington Post and the New York Times. One Washington Post story revealed a FISA warrant to spy on Carter Page, a Trump associate. However, the warrant later exposed corruption within the DOJ, revealing that it had falsified evidence and relied on dubious sources like the Steele dossier. The media widely disseminated the classified information, which contributed to chaos in the Trump White House. Polls demonstrated that many Democrats still believed in the collusion theory years later, and the leakers faced no repercussions.
The report indicated that a Democratic whistleblower had informed the FBI about suspected leaks from certain members of Congress, specifically naming Representatives Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell. This report identifies both as prominent figures in promoting the Russia conspiracy theory through media channels. Despite these allegations, the FBI suggested that there wasn't enough strong evidence to pursue investigations against them.
Moreover, the investigation also uncovered a senior Democrat staffer who communicated with journalists that published classified information. The DOJ took years to interview this suspect, raising questions about their commitment to addressing leaks that supported the Russia collusion narrative.
The report also revealed that the DOJ monitored communications from both Democrats and Republicans, a measure that seemed equally applied despite differing political contexts surrounding the leaks. The monitoring of congressional staff found 21 Democrats and 20 Republicans had their communications tracked, suggesting that the investigation was not genuinely rooted in political motivations.
The DOJ's actions, including their investigation and monitoring strategies, raised concerns about the integrity of their processes during the Russia collusion saga. Critics argue that these findings underscore the need for extensive reform within the DOJ to prevent further misuse of power.
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