This is a waste of time and its sad that Fox News tripe is being taken seriously:
.@SenatorShaheen asks Barr about reports he's launched an investigation into officials who investigated Trump
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 10, 2019
"I think spying on a political campaign is a big deal," he says, echoing baseless right-win conspiracy theories. "I think spying did occur."
Shaheen is left speechless pic.twitter.com/G1fcAF2Irh
Someone should ask Barr why precious DOJ resources are being spent on this when IG is already investigating. https://t.co/wROt9QpJXy
— Mimi Rocah (@Mimirocah1) April 10, 2019
And as is Barr's specialty, he's couching outrageous insinuations in superficially reasonable language. He says that it's possible that the surveillance was "adequately predicated." But by calling it "spying," he's leaving the clear impression that it wasn't.
— James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki) April 10, 2019
.@SenJackReed: Do you have any evidence there was anything improper in the FBI's counterintelligence investigation of Trump?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 10, 2019
BARR: No
REED: So what are you investigating?
BARR: I have concerns about various things
REED: Do you believe it was a 'witch hunt'?
BARR: Depends! pic.twitter.com/9BRB0HtXVZ
The investigation was predicated on what Papadapolous said to an Australian ambassador. The first FISA warrant, against Carter Page, was taken out AFTER Page left the campaign. Now, the FBI may have looked into contacts that the Trump campaign had with foreign bad people, but you kinda have to expect that if you’re dealing with foreign bad people. If that’s all we’re talking about, investigate away.
But it is odd that Barr is refusing to state the basis for his suspicions of DOJ wrongdoing.
Barr now clarifies, says by "spying" he means "unauthorized surveillance." That implies he's not talking about FISA warrants, which = court-authorized surveillance. https://t.co/Ra6xNPQlOk
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) April 10, 2019
"I don't understand why the campaign was not advised," Barr tells Sen. Graham. He said he wants to make sure there was no abuse of law enforcement or intelligence powers.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 10, 2019
Leaving aside the fact FBI did brief both campaigns on the threat of Russian interference, Barr should be troubled that the campaign never picked up the phone & told the FBI about any, let alone all, of the outreach it had from Russians.
But Trump is spinning this to the hilt…
Trump: Russia investigators guilty of "treason". pic.twitter.com/sFEAzUQalB
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) April 10, 2019
On a related note, Barr is coming under scrutiny once more for the Mueller Report as he testifies for his second day before the House Judiciary:
A.G. Barr says that he does not know whether Mueller supports his conclusion on obstruction.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 10, 2019
Well, let’s get Mueller in and ask him!
SEN @ChrisVanHollen: You concluded Trump didn't obstruct justice. Do you agree with Mueller that the 'evidence presents difficult issues of law and fact'?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 10, 2019
BARR: I'm not commenting on the Mueller report
VAN HOLLEN: But *you* exonerated Trump, not Mueller!
BARR: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/DoldoHnccE
Well, that’s good at least.
SEN. FEINSTEIN, asking AG Barr about the DOJ's decision to support striking down Obamacare: "I assume you wouldn't have taken this position unless the president directed it."
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) April 10, 2019
BARR: "That would be a safe assumption."