And BOOM!
Attorney General William Barr testified just a few moments ago that he did think spying on the Trump campaign occurred in the runup to the 2016 election:
AG Barr tells Senate panel "I think spying did occur" on the Trump campaign, but says the question is whether it was adequately predicated.
— Jared Halpern (@JaredHalpern) April 10, 2019
And, yes, it is a big deal:
In Senate, AG Barr on investigating the Trump-Russia investigation: 'I am going to be reviewing both the genesis and conduct' of intelligence agencies' probe of Trump 2016 campaign. 'I think spying on a political campaign is a big deal.'
— Byron York (@ByronYork) April 10, 2019
Although he left open the possibility that there was a reason for the spying:
Dem Sen Shaheen to Barr: 'You're not suggesting that spying occurred?' Barr: 'I think spying did occur. The question is whether it was adequately predicated. I'm not suggesting it was not adequately predicated, but I need to explore that.'
— Byron York (@ByronYork) April 10, 2019
On the FBI:
Barr is adopting the GOP line in raising questions about the origins of the Russia investigation.
"I think there was a failure among a group of leaders (at the FBI) at the upper echelon…. I feel I have an obligation to make sure that government power is not abused."
— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) April 10, 2019
In summary:
Well here’s Barr’s take on the FISA’s:
“I think spying on a political campaign is a big deal.”
“I think spying did occur… but the question is whether it was adequately predicated.”
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) April 10, 2019
Watch as Barr’s answer leaves Dem Sen. Jeanne Shaheen “speechless”:
.@SenatorShaheen asks Barr about reports he's launched an investigation into officials who investigated Trump
"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
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 10, 2019
Full comments here:
Here's Barr's comments on "spying" and reviewing the origins of the Trump/Russia probe pic.twitter.com/fCoZx4QyGE
— Andrew Prokop (@awprokop) April 10, 2019
***
Related:
Keep hope alive: Rep. Nita Lowey says its ‘very hard’ to believe Barr didn’t consult Trump and make changes https://t.co/mug5Lh2NiC
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 9, 2019
ICYMI==> New testimony from AG William Barr BUSTS the Dem narrative on the Mueller report https://t.co/TaA4ChRtlw
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 9, 2019
AG William Barr testifies on the ongoing investigation of the FISA process https://t.co/YqvQkTlUVc
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 9, 2019
