The saga of the Trump-Russia collusion probe took an interesting turn Wednesday when it was announced the Justice Department’s Inspector General had opened up an investigation into accusations the probe was politically biased. The liberal media gobble up almost any development in the Russia story, but when it came to this investigation, none of major network news outlets (ABC, CBS, and NBC) or the Spanish-language networks (Univision and Telemundo) reported it on their evening newscasts.
While the networks blacked out the investigation, Fox News’ Special Report actually covered it. “The Justice Department Inspector General is opening an investigation into Republican charges that the FBI and DOJ were biased in their work on the Trump-Russia probe,” announced anchor Bret Baier. “This move stops short of fulfilling calls from many in the GOP for a special counsel to look into the matter.”
The report was handed off to correspondent Peter Doocy, who noted:
These questions about whether or not the FBI’s surveillance capabilities were abused for political purposes ahead of the 2016 election are no longer just coming from Republican members of Congress. Because the office with the resources to root out criminal violations at the FBI has opened a case.
The investigation will apparently center on the FBI’s use of the salacious dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele (with the help of Russians and paid for by Democrats) to get a FISA warrant to surveil Trump campaign staffer Carter Page.
"As part of this examination, the OIG also will review information that was known to the DOJ and the FBI at the time the applications were filed from or about an alleged FBI confidential source,” Inspector General Michael Horowitz said in a statement.
The IG’s new investigation wasn’t just a something Fox News was trained on because CNN had also reported it.
In the CNN report, they also noted that Republicans were also calling for a new special counsel to investigate the Trump-Russia probe. “House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy said earlier this month they wanted a new special counsel because the scope of the investigation was too broad for the inspector general, arguing the IG could not call relevant witnesses who didn't work at the Justice Department or FBI,” according to the report.
“While Horowitz himself does not have prosecutorial powers, he can make criminal referrals to the Justice Department stemming from his investigations,” CNN added. “Horowitz is already working to finish another investigation into the FBI's handling of the Clinton email investigation. Allegations stemming from that probe led to the firing of former FBI Director Andrew McCabe two days shy of his retirement.”
The liberal networks were mostly mum when the DOJ’s IG had opened its investigation into the FBI’s handling of the Clinton e-mail investigation until McCabe was fired and they were worried about his pension. While they live for updates on the Trump-Russia probe, they clearly find little interest in investigations of those carrying it out.
The relevant portions of the transcript are below, click expand to read:
Fox News Channel's Special Report
March 28, 2018
6:04:34 PM EasternBRET BAIER: The Justice Department Inspector General is opening an investigation into Republican charges that the FBI and DOJ were biased in their work on the Trump-Russia probe. This move stops short of fulfilling calls from many in the GOP for a special counsel to look into the matter. Tonight, correspondent Peter Doocy tells us why some people see an inherent conflict. Good evening, Peter.
PETER DOOCY: Good evening, Bret. These questions about whether or not the FBI’s surveillance capabilities were abused for political purposes ahead of the 2016 election are no longer just coming from Republican members of Congress. Because the office with the resources to root out criminal violations at the FBI has opened a case.
[Cuts to video]
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now under investigation itself by the Justice Department Inspector General trying to see if anyone in the ranks broke the rules when convincing federal judges to sign off on the surveillance of American citizen.
Inspector General Michael Horowitz has, quote: "As part of this examination, the OIG also will review information that was known to the DOJ and the FBI at the time the applications were filed from or about an alleged FBI confidential source.” Republicans alleged in the Nunes memo that information from former British spy Christopher Steele compiled in an unverified dossier was key to that FISA warrant.
This announcement comes as the FBI director Christopher Wray doubles the number of staffers helping sort through documents that Republican lawmakers subpoenaed because they were so delayed. From 27 staffers to 54. Wray writes that quote, "The actual number of documents responsive to this request is likely in the thousands. Regardless, I agree that current pace of production is too slow.”
By dramatically expanding the number of staffers assigned sift through documents Republicans want, Wray is defying Democrats, like the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) who recently said, quote: "This subpoena is intended to speed up the production to pivot the discussion back to Hillary Clinton and divert attention from the chaos surrounding the Trump administration and allegations against the Trump campaign.”
The order to beef up the Bureau's staff assigned to help Congress came straight from the top. According to a DOJ insider who tells Fox, quote: “Senior staff on both sides of the street have met on this and the FBI is getting called to the carpet. The Attorney General is angry with how slow the process has moved when it comes to requests from Congress to the FBI.”
(…)
DOOCY: These extra FBI staffers working to speed up their response to Republican requests for documents aren't just planning to produce information about FISA abuse. They are also tasked with finding emails and texts and memos about the Clinton server investigation as Republicans continue to probe why nobody ever got in trouble for that.
(…)
