Categories
FBI News Review

8:45 AM 6/20/2018 – FBI Agents Gave Trump a Weapon – NYT

Top Stories – Google News

FBI Agents Gave Trump a Weapon Against Mueller. Republicans Are Wielding It. – New York Times

A report by the Justice Department’s inspector general has given Republicans a weapon to assail the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III.CreditAndrew Harnik/Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s congressional allies trained their fire on the special counsel investigation on Tuesday, armed anew with a damaging report showing that the lead F.B.I. agent assigned to the case held strong anti-Trump views when the inquiry began.

Mr. Trump’s loyalists in the House and other Republicans used the report, released last week by the Justice Department’s inspector general, to cast the F.B.I. as part of an out-of-touch Washington bureaucracy that disdained both Mr. Trump and the blue-collar voters who swept him into office. And they argued that the 500-page document showed that top officials let the blindfold of justice slip so that personal politics influenced their work.

Though the report focused on the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server and found no evidence that political bias influenced the outcome of that case, Republicans could hardly have asked for a better weapon for assailing the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III. And for the second day of hearings on Capitol Hill with the inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz, they showed they intended to use it.

The attacks most likely foreshadowed a Republican strategy for the rest of the Mueller investigation, which is studying whether Mr. Trump tried to obstruct justice and whether anyone in his campaign conspired with Russian operatives to influence the 2016 presidential election. Mr. Trump has already claimed the report exonerated him and on Tuesday, his campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said the report gave Mr. Trump justification to fire his attorney general and end the Mueller investigation.

At the heart of Republicans’ criticism were two senior F.B.I. officials, Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, who exchanged text messages about their dislike of Mr. Trump, his supporters and his policies — even as they investigated his campaign’s ties to Russia.

“Just went to a southern Virginia Walmart,” Mr. Strzok wrote in August 2016, just a few weeks into the Russia investigation. “I could SMELL the Trump support.”

Image
Michael E. Horowitz, the inspector general, testified on Capitol Hill for a second day.CreditTom Brenner/The New York Times

Representative Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, said such quotes have undermined public faith in the F.B.I. in ways that stretch beyond the Clinton investigation. “The arrogance and condescension and the elitist attitude, that’s what ticks people off,” he said. “As they look at all this and see what Strzok said throughout these investigations, that’s why their confidence is so shaken.”

Democrats appeared frustrated at times as they accused Republicans of using the report to try to discredit Mr. Mueller. “The report has nothing to say about the ongoing work of the special counsel,” said Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, who holds the top Democratic slot on the Judiciary Committee. “Their argument is based on innuendo, and not on the facts, and certainly not on this report.”

Mr. Nadler and others noted that the F.B.I.’s actions during the presidential election almost uniformly harmed Mrs. Clinton’s candidacy. The former F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, was unusually frank and public in his remarks about Mrs. Clinton, even as he hewed closely to the rules and did not reveal that his agents were also investigating the Trump campaign.

Mr. Horowitz’s report found no evidence that political bias influenced key investigative decision-making, but he offered Democrats no relief from criticism that the text messages had raised questions about the credibility of the investigation.

“They weren’t just speaking about a generic election that they cared about,” Mr. Horowitz said. “It just so happened that the people they were speaking about had a connection to the investigations they themselves were working on.”

Mr. Strzok has said he is willing to testify about his text messages and his role in the investigation. No date has been set. Mr. Strzok was removed from the special counsel’s investigation when the text messages were discovered. He was reassigned to the human resources department, and his lawyer confirmed on Tuesday that he was escorted from F.B.I. headquarters as part of “ongoing internal proceedings.” He still works for the bureau, according to the lawyer, Aitan Goelman. Ms. Page has left the F.B.I.

While Democrats say the inspector general’s report closed the book on the question of Mrs. Clinton’s investigation, Mr. Trump and his allies are looking to the future. They argue that Mr. Mueller’s inquiry was born out of investigative bias.

“The F.B.I. is oath-bound to remain neutral and enforce the law impartially and fairly,” said Representative Scott DesJarlais, Republican of Tennessee. “How can we accomplish this when there are agents that are actively biased against our sitting president?”

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page A14 of the New York edition with the headline: New Weapon Wielded Against Mueller. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
_____________________________________
Saved Stories – FBI
FBI Agents Gave Trump a Weapon Against Mueller. Republicans Are Wielding It. – New York Times
FBI Director Defends Bureau Against Criticism – Voice of America
Two FBI agents sought to ‘stop’ Trump – Fox News
Trump says IG report shows bias at FBI top. IG says bias didn’t taint probe (Corrects Trump quote, adds context) – WTOP
Trump: IG report ‘destroys’ ex-FBI Director Comey – CNN
Giuliani: FBI, prosecutors investigating Trump belong in the psych ward – The Hill
Giuliani: FBI And Prosecutors Investigating Trump Are ‘Wackadoodles’ Who Belong In Psych Ward – Newsweek
WaPo: Former Trump operative Roger Stone met with Russian who wanted $2M for Clinton dirt – CNN
Conway: Has the FBI Agent Who Called Trump Supporters ‘Retarded’ Been Fired Yet? – Townhall
Peter Strzok, FBI agent pulled from Mueller probe over anti-Trump texts, open to testify to Congress – Fox News
FBI agent in texting scandal says he’ll voluntarily testify to Congress – Politico
FBI’s Strzok Says He’ll Testify to Congress on Anti-Trump Texts – Bloomberg
Byron York: What do Republicans suspect really happened in the FBI Trump-Russia investigation? – Washington Examiner
Michael Goodwin: FBI chief proves Washington has a vendetta against Trump – Fox News
Commentary: Trump wins because nobody trusts anything – CBS News
Why Trump is Lying About the IG’s Report on the FBI – Patheos (blog)
Russian Who Offered Clinton Dirt to Trump Campaign Outed Himself as Former FBI Informant – The Epoch Times
Horowitz, Wray pressed on political bias at FBI, next steps after IG report – CBS News
Peter Strzok’s FBI activity now in further question after IG report – Yahoo News
Why did Giuliani’s FBI friends slip him info on Comey and his “witch hunt” during the campaign? Because some FBI employees “hated” Clinton. Did you send Coney his “Thank-you” fruit basket yet for helping you get elected? Miss Manners says it’s a must.
mueller – Google News: Erik Prince: I ‘Cooperated’ With Mueller – Daily Beast
Trump-bashing Puerto Rican mayor reportedly facing FBI corruption probe – Fox News
mueller – Google News: FBI Chief Stands by Mueller as GOP Assails Probe as Anti-Trump – Bloomberg
Christopher Wray – Google News: FBI Director Christopher Wray, Justice Department watchdog refute President Trump’s Mueller investigation claims – New York Daily News
Justice Department IG investigating Comey memos after FBI referral http://dlvr.it/QXkj3c pic.twitter.com/ZHBz4xVpzp
Saved Stories – FBI
FBI Agents Gave Trump a Weapon Against Mueller. Republicans Are Wielding It. – New York Times


New York Times

FBI Agents Gave Trump a Weapon Against Mueller. Republicans Are Wielding It.
New York Times
WASHINGTON — President Trump’s congressional allies trained their fire on the special counsel investigation on Tuesday, armed anew with a damaging report showing that the lead F.B.I. agent assigned to the case held strong anti-Trump views when the …
FBI may have modified witness reports, misled DOJ watchdog with ‘false information,’ GOP Rep saysFox News
House GOPer unmasks identities of anti-Trump FBI agentsNew York Post
FBI agent Strzok escorted from FBI building FridayCNN
Chicago Tribune
all 805 news articles »
FBI Director Defends Bureau Against Criticism – Voice of America


Voice of America

FBI Director Defends Bureau Against Criticism
Voice of America
FBI Director Christopher Wray defended the bureau on Monday against criticisms leveled by Republicans following a scathing inspector general report about its handling of the 2016 Hillary Clinton email server investigation. Appearing before the Senate …
FBI director charts way forward after harsh criticism from inspector generalWashington Post
Director: FBI won’t repeat mistakes noted in watchdog reportSanta Fe New Mexican
Report Criticizes Comey but Finds No Bias in FBI Decision on ClintonNew York Times
The HillDepartment of Justice
all 5,645 won’t repeat Clinton probe mistakes, director tells panelPress Herald
Horowitz, FBI boss Christopher Wray face Senate grilling on bombshell reportFox News
Inspector General Disputes Trump’s Exoneration ClaimWall Street Journal
all 646
 
news articles »
Two FBI agents sought to ‘stop’ Trump – Fox News


Fox News

Two FBI agents sought to ‘stop’ Trump
Fox News
KURTZ: About his angry rhetoric towards the president and his criticism of the press especially Fox News. I’m Howard Kurtz and this is “Media Buzz.” The Justice Department’s inspector general ripped James Comey in that report, finding that the former 
Trump says IG report shows bias at FBI top. IG says bias didn’t taint probe (Corrects Trump quote, adds context) – WTOP


Trump says IG report shows bias at FBI top. IG says bias didn’t taint probe (Corrects Trump quote, adds context)
WTOP
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump says IG report shows bias at FBI top. IG says bias didn’t taint probe (Corrects Trump quote, adds context). Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or …
and more »
Trump: IG report ‘destroys’ ex-FBI Director Comey – CNN


CNN

Trump: IG report ‘destroys’ ex-FBI Director Comey
CNN
Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump on Saturday continued to try to capitalize on the Justice Department’s internal watchdog report on the department’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe in an attempt to discredit special counsel Robert …
FBI agent’s text disclosed by Justice watchdog: ‘We’ll stop’ Trump from becoming presidentCNBC
Top Agent Said FBI Would Stop Trump From Becoming PresidentNew York Times
FBI Report: Anti-Trump Texts ‘Cast a Cloud’ Over Email ProbeSnopes.com
 
NECNThe Hill
 
Inspector general report could convince even skeptics of FBI’s anti-Trump biasThe Hill
Trump claims he’s ‘totally exonerated’ by Justice report, and that FBI was ‘plotting against my election’Washington Post
HuffPostReuters
 –Department of Justice

all 5,305 4,741 news articles »
Giuliani: FBI, prosecutors investigating Trump belong in the psych ward – The Hill


The Hill

Giuliani: FBI, prosecutors investigating Trump belong in the psych ward
The Hill
… suggested on Saturday that FBI agents and special counsel prosecutors should go to a psychiatric ward instead of investigating Trump. “Instead of investigating President Trump, they should go to Bellevue,” Giuliani said, referencing the infamous  
Giuliani: FBI And Prosecutors Investigating Trump Are ‘Wackadoodles’ Who Belong In Psych WardNewsweek
Giuliani suggests Trump may pardon Manafort after Mueller’s probeWashington Post
A Review of Various Actions by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and 
Goodlatte moves to subpoena FBI agent accused of anti-Trump biasPolitico
Trump pounces on Justice Department report findingsCNN
As Mueller moves to finalize obstruction report, Trump’s allies ready for political battleChicago Tribune
CBC.ca
 Department of Justice in Advance of the 2016 …Department of Justice 

New York Daily News
all 301 390 news articles »
Giuliani: FBI And Prosecutors Investigating Trump Are ‘Wackadoodles’ Who Belong In Psych Ward – Newsweek


Newsweek

Giuliani: FBI And Prosecutors Investigating Trump Are ‘Wackadoodles’ Who Belong In Psych Ward
Newsweek
President Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani has commented that the FBI agents and prosecutors investigating the president were “wackadoodles” who belong in a psychiatric ward. Speaking at a campaign rally for Republican Dan Donovan on Saturday, …
Giuliani: FBI, prosecutors investigating Trump belong in the psych wardThe Hill 
Giuliani suggests Trump may pardon Manafort after Mueller’s probeWashington Post
all 635 
Rudy Giuliani: No regrets saying FBI agents, prosecutors involved in Trump-Russia case belong in psych wardWashington Examiner
Giuliani: Trump won’t pardon targets in Russia probe while investigation is taking placeUSA TODAY
Washington PostIdaho StatesmanDepartment of JusticeNew York Daily News
all 461
 news articles »
WaPo: Former Trump operative Roger Stone met with Russian who wanted $2M for Clinton dirt – CNN


CNN

WaPo: Former Trump operative Roger Stone met with Russian who wanted $2M for Clinton dirt
CNN
The disclosure of the meeting comes a month after multiple reports that the FBI dispatched a confidential source to speak with at least two advisers to Trump’s presidential campaign after the bureau obtained evidence that the aides had ties to Russia.
Roger Stone: Russian wanted Trump to pay $2M for dirt on Clinton during the campaignThe Hill
Trump associate Roger Stone reveals new contact with Russian national during 2016 campaignChicago Tribune
all 62 news articles »
Conway: Has the FBI Agent Who Called Trump Supporters ‘Retarded’ Been Fired Yet? – Townhall


Townhall

Conway: Has the FBI Agent Who Called Trump Supporters ‘Retarded’ Been Fired Yet?
Townhall
On September 9th, the same day that Hillary Clinton would go on to refer to President Trump’s supporters as irredeemable and deplorable. The same day, an FBI agent according to the IG report referred to Trump’s supporters in Iowa, excuse me, Ohio as …
and more »
Peter Strzok, FBI agent pulled from Mueller probe over anti-Trump texts, open to testify to Congress – Fox News


Fox News

Peter Strzok, FBI agent pulled from Mueller probe over anti-Trump texts, open to testify to Congress
Fox News
Horowitz cited numerous exchanges between Strzok and Page, who were in a romantic relationship, but ultimately concluded that there was no evidence that anti-Trump bias played a role in the FBI’s investigation of Hillary Clinton’s private email server.
and more »
FBI agent in texting scandal says he’ll voluntarily testify to Congress – Politico


Politico

FBI agent in texting scandal says he’ll voluntarily testify to Congress
Politico
Strzok’s role in FBI investigations into both Hillary Clinton and President Donald Trump drew the attention of Republicans in Congress after the publication of text messages he had exchanged with an FBI attorney. In them, Strzok and attorney Lisa Page  
FBI’s Strzok Says He’ll Testify to Congress on Anti-Trump TextsBloomberg

FBI agent who sent anti-Trump texts offers to testify on Capitol HillThe Hill
FBI agent removed from Russia probe for anti-Trump texts says he’s willing to testify before CongressChicago Tribune 
Washington PostPolitico
all 121 
Peter Strzok, FBI agent pulled from Mueller probe over anti-Trump texts, open to testify to CongressFox News
all 87
 news articles »
FBI’s Strzok Says He’ll Testify to Congress on Anti-Trump Texts – Bloomberg


Bloomberg

Byron York: What do Republicans suspect really happened in the FBI Trump-Russia investigation? – Washington Examiner


Washington Examiner

Byron York: What do Republicans suspect really happened in the FBI Trump-Russia investigation?
Washington Examiner
The struggle to uncover the FBI’s conduct in the Trump-Russia probe has made some congressional investigators deeply suspicious of the bureau. But what do those investigators think the FBI actually did in its investigation of the Trump campaign, Russia 
and more »
Michael Goodwin: FBI chief proves Washington has a vendetta against Trump – Fox News


Fox News

Commentary: Trump wins because nobody trusts anything – CBS News


CBS News

Commentary: Trump wins because nobody trusts anything
CBS News
But fading trust in the FBI didn’t start with the hubris-fueled ineptitude of James Comey or the politically motivated PR pounding the bureau is getting from President Trump. The FBI’s own record, from the fiasco at Ruby Ridge in 1992 to the failure to 
Why Trump is Lying About the IG’s Report on the FBI – Patheos (blog)


Patheos (blog)

Why Trump is Lying About the IG’s Report on the FBI
Patheos (blog)
Anyone who has been paying attention could easily predict what happened late last week when the DOJ’s Inspector General issued his report about the FBI and the Clinton email investigation: Trump was going to claim it proved him innocent no matter what 
Russian Who Offered Clinton Dirt to Trump Campaign Outed Himself as Former FBI Informant – The Epoch Times


The Epoch Times

Russian Who Offered Clinton Dirt to Trump Campaign Outed Himself as Former FBI Informant
The Epoch Times
A Russian man that offered to sell damaging information on Hillary Clinton to the campaign of then-candidate Donald Trumprevealed in earlier court documents that he had been a long-time FBI informant. The man, Henry Greenberg, offered to sell the …
and more »
Horowitz, Wray pressed on political bias at FBI, next steps after IG report – CBS News


CBS News

Horowitz, Wray pressed on political bias at FBI, next steps after IG report
CBS News
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the Justice Department inspector general report on the Justice Department’s and FBI’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation in advance of the 2016 presidential election. DOJ Inspector  
Justice Department IG investigating Comey memos after FBI referralABC News
Horowitz, FBI boss Christopher Wray face Senate grilling on bombshell reportFox News
 
After FBI cleared by IG report, GOP must reform itselfThe Hill

Readers sound off: No bias on the part of FBI, Comey? Not buying itUSA TODAY 
WDIV ClickOnDetroitKankakee Daily Journal
all 4,983 
Full Replay: DOJ Inspector General, FBI Director Wray Testify On IG Report At Senate Judiciary CommitteeRealClearPolitics
Fox Newstheday.comWDIV ClickOnDetroit
all 5,220
 news articles »
Peter Strzok’s FBI activity now in further question after IG report – Yahoo News


Yahoo News

Peter Strzok’s FBI activity now in further question after IG report
Yahoo News
The Daily Caller executive editor Vince Coglianese discusses the inspector general’s report and whether FBI official Peter Strzok should still have a job at the Federal Bureau of Investigations. At least 20 injured after gunfire erupts at New Jersey 
and more »
Why did Giuliani’s FBI friends slip him info on Comey and his “witch hunt” during the campaign? Because some FBI employees “hated” Clinton. Did you send Coney his “Thank-you” fruit basket yet for helping you get elected? Miss Manners says it’s a must.

Why did Giuliani’s FBI friends slip him info on Comey and his “witch hunt” during the campaign? Because some FBI employees “hated” Clinton. Did you send Coney his “Thank-you” fruit basket yet for helping you get elected? Miss Manners says it’s a must.

mueller – Google News: Erik Prince: I ‘Cooperated’ With Mueller – Daily Beast


Daily Beast

Erik Prince: I ‘Cooperated’ With Mueller
Daily Beast
Erik Prince, the founder of private security company Blackwater, has found himself embroiled in special counsel RobertMueller’s investigation of potential coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. During the campaign, Prince reportedly 

 mueller – Google News

Trump-bashing Puerto Rican mayor reportedly facing FBI corruption probe – Fox News


Fox News

Trump-bashing Puerto Rican mayor reportedly facing FBI corruption probe
Fox News 
The mayor of San Juan,
 
Back home in
 Puerto Ricowho shot to international fame after criticizing President Trump for not doing enough to help Hurricane Maria victims is being investigated by the FBI on corruption charges, according to multiple news outlets.
and more »
 officials say the island remains in desperate need of help and is woefully unprepared should another storm hit soon. Among other things, there is little to no water or diesel fuel for generators. This year’s hurricane season 
mueller – Google News: FBI Chief Stands by Mueller as GOP Assails Probe as Anti-Trump – Bloomberg


Bloomberg

FBI Chief Stands by Mueller as GOP Assails Probe as Anti-Trump
Bloomberg
“I do not believe Special Counsel Mueller is on a witch hunt,” Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday, repeating his formulation before the same panel almost a year ago, as the politically riven panel reviewed a 500-page report issued last
FBI Director Christopher Wray, Justice Department watchdog refute President Trump’s Mueller investigation claimsNew York Daily News
all 363 news articles »

 mueller – Google News

Christopher Wray – Google News: FBI Director Christopher Wray, Justice Department watchdog refute President Trump’s Mueller investigation claims – New York Daily News


New York Daily News

FBI Director Christopher Wray, Justice Department watchdog refute President Trump’s Mueller investigation claims
New York Daily News
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz and FBI Director Christopher Wray took subtle shots at President Trump on Monday, pushing back against his factually dubious Twitter assertions and frequent attacks on the Russia investigation.
FBI director says department won’t repeat mistakes noted in Clinton email investigationChicago Tribune
Horowitz, FBI boss Christopher Wray face Senate grilling on bombshell reportFox News
Horowitz, Wray pressed on political bias at FBI, next steps after IG reportCBS News
CBS Miami –NPR –Meeting | Hearings | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary –Dictionary.com
all 450 news articles »

 Christopher Wray – Google News

Justice Department IG investigating Comey memos after FBI referral http://dlvr.it/QXkj3c pic.twitter.com/ZHBz4xVpzp

Justice Department IG investigating Comey memos after FBI referralhttp://dlvr.it/QXkj3c