'I think spying did occur': AG Barr leaves Dem senator 'speechless' when asked about Obama admin. investigation of the Trump campaign

Greg P. | 10:48 AM on April 10, 2019

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

.@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

***

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