The Department of Justice's internal watchdog has opened an investigation into the conduct of the FBI regarding their reported use of an “informant” or “spy” in the Trump campaign after the President officially demanded the matter be looked into on Monday. Come Tuesday evening, NBC Nightly News was in a hysterical panic over the development with claims President Trump was trying to “insert himself” into Russia investigation.
As anchor Lester Holt led into their hyperventilating segment, he declared, “while he was speaking in the Oval Office today, President Trump also took new aim at the Russia probe and raised new questions about whether he is inserting himself into the investigation.” This was alluding to the hyperbolic liberal media assertion that Trump is acting like a dictator by investigating his enemies.
The only problem? Trump was not orchestrating or running the investigation, so if they find nothing they find nothing. It's worth noting that the last time the Inspector General looked into alleged misconduct by the FBI, it resulted in the firing of Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe.
But that fact didn’t stop NBC White House correspondent Kristen Welker from making what sounded like doomsday announcements. “Tonight President Trump is escalating his assault on the investigators who are investigating him, prompting a critical question, is the President threatening the long-standing independence of the Justice Department,” she proclaimed as she began her report.
“And it's not just the president,” Welker warned, figuratively clutching pearls. “His allies on Capitol Hill are also trying to discredit the investigation with a group of Republicans calling for a second special counsel to investigate the Justice Department and FBI.” For what it’s worth, NBC was the only network in the big three (ABC, CBS, and NBC) to mention this latest move by congressional Republicans.
Welker also leaned on comments from former Director of National Security James Clapper (made on The View of all places) to defend the Justice Department:
JOY BEHAR: Was the FBI spying on Trump's campaign?
JAMES CLAPPER: No, they were not. They were spying on -- a term I don't particularly like -- but on what the Russians were doing.
Of course, Welker failed to mention that Clapper was caught lying to Congress and the American people about the NSA’s wide-reaching domestic spying program.
The NBC reporter also talked with former Obama-era FBI Assistant Director Frank Figliuzzi to fling speculation about the President’s motives. “If this continues, there will be more than a standoff. There will be a constitutional crisis. I believe that's exactly what the President may want,” he bitterly surmised.
The liberal media was desperately trying to paint Trump’s actions in calling for an IG investigation as somehow inappropriate even though within his purview as President. There very well could be no “there” there and the investigation will end with nothing happening. But again, the last time the FBI was investigated for misconduct, there was a firing. Ironically, they’re behaving in the same Trumpian fashion they complain the President does.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
May 22, 2018
7:06:15 PM Eastern [1 minute 49 seconds]LESTER HOLT: And while he was speaking in the Oval Office today, President Trump also took new aim at the Russia probe and raised new questions about whether he is inserting himself into the investigation. We get more from NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker.
[Cuts to video]
KRISTEN WELKER: Tonight President Trump is escalating his assault on the investigators who are investigating him, prompting a critical question, is the President threatening the long-standing independence of the Justice Department; amid revelations an FBI informant had contact with his campaign during the 2016 election.
DONALD TRUMP: If they had spies in my campaign, that would be a disgrace to this country. That would be one of the biggest insults that anyone's ever seen. It would be very illegal.
WELKER: The fiery words come after President Trump demanded his deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein find out whether that FBI informant was used for political purposes. Mr. Trump even refusing to say whether he has confidence in Rosenstein.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you have confidence in Rod Rosenstein.
TRUMP: What's your next question, please?
WELKER: And it's not just the president. His allies on Capitol Hill are also trying to discredit the investigation with a group of Republicans calling for a second special counsel to investigate the Justice Department and FBI.
MARK MEADOWS: It is time for transparency, and it's time to allow the American people to know the truth.
WELKER: Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper insisting there was no wrongdoing by the FBI.
JOY BEHAR: Was the FBI spying on Trump's campaign?
JAMES CLAPPER: No, they were not. They were spying on -- a term I don't particularly like -- but on what the Russians were doing.
WELKER: Tonight law enforcement experts warn –
FRANK FIGLIUZZI: If this continues, there will be more than a standoff. There will be a constitutional crisis. I believe that's exactly what the President may want.
WELKER: Kristen Welker, NBC News, the White House.
