Justice Department (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz has finished his investigation into the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) abuses during the 2016 election committed by then-President Barack Obama’s DOJ and, specifically, the FBI.
Horowitz wrote a letter to congressional leaders to inform them that his team of investigators was in the process of finalizing the report — and preparing to turn it over to the DOJ and FBI so that classified material could be redacted.
Fox News reports: “Horowitz and his investigators have probed how the infamous, anti-Trump dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele was used to secure the original Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant for former Trump aide Carter Page in October 2016, as well as for three renewals. Horowitz’s team has questioned why the FBI considered Steele a credible source, and why the bureau seemed to use news reports to bolster Steele’s credibility.”
“I am writing in connection with the [DOJ] Office of the Inspector General’s ongoing Examination of the [DOJ] and the FBI’s Compliance with Legal Requirements and Policies in Applications Filed with the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court Relating to a certain U.S. person,” Horowitz wrote in his letter, adding, “the team has reviewed over one million records and conducted over 100 interviews, including several of witnesses who only recently agreed to be interviewed.”
“We have now begun the process of finalizing our report by providing a draft of our factual findings to the [DOJ] and the FBI for classification determination and marking,” Horowitz continued. “This step is consistent with our process for reports such as this one that involve classified material. Once we receive the marked document back from the [DOJ] and the FBI, we will then proceed with our usual process for preparing final draft public and classified reports, and ensuring that appropriate reviews occur for accuracy and comment purposes.”
The Daily Caller reported that Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) disclosed the development from Horowitz in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler and asked Nadler to invite Horowitz and FBI Director Christopher Wray to testify in front of the committee after the report has been redacted.
“Earlier today, Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz notified Attorney General William Barr of the completion of his investigation into possible abuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance of Act (FISA) by DOJ officials during the 2016 presidential election,” Collins said. “After the DOJ has a chance to review and comment on the report, it will be sent to the Judiciary Committee and made public.”
In a tweet, Collins added: “#FISA oversight falls squarely within the Judiciary Committee’s jurisdiction. We must address concerns outlined in the IG’s report. I’m calling on the chairman to schedule a hearing as soon as possible after Congress receives the report.”
The latest developments come after former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe had his appeal to avoid criminal prosecution rejected this week.
“U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu has recommended moving forward with charges against McCabe, a CNN contributor, though no indictment has been handed down,” Fox News added.
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