House Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) is calling for Congress to enact “new guardrails” to prevent a recurrence of the “serious errors and shortcomings” described in the Durham report’s analysis of the FBI’s highly politicized investigation of allegations that Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign colluded with the Russian government.
“The Durham Report underscores what former Chairman Devin Nunes and Republican members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence have been saying for years: There were serious errors and shortcomings with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s probe into the alleged connections between the Russian government and the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential election,” Turner said in a statement to The Epoch Times.
Democrats Mostly Silent
Congressional Democrats were mostly quiet in the wake of the May 15 release of special counsel John Durham’s long-awaited report on the conduct of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI in probing the Trump–Russia allegations during and in the years following the 2016 election.Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) condemned Durham for revealing “little new substantive information” on the FBI’s politicized activities.
“Donald Trump once predicted that special counsel Durham would uncover the ‘crime of the century,'” Durbin said. “Instead, we were given a report that cost taxpayers more than $6.5 million over four years, just for it to reiterate the conclusions of the IG’s 2019 report.
The Illinois Democrat, who is the Senate majority whip, was referring to DOJ Inspector General (IG) Michael Horowitz’s 2019 report on several of the same issues covered by the Durham investigation.
“The IG said there was reason to open the [FBI] investigation. The Durham Report said there was no corroborating evidence to suggest the Trump team colluded with the Russians in any fashion.”
“Sadly, this report—that shines a bright light on problems at the FBI and DOJ—reinforces the narrative that the Rule of Law in America is subservient to political outcomes. It is a very dangerous development and moment in American history.”
Graham called on Durbin “to quickly hold a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Durham Report to fulfill the committee’s oversight obligations.” A Durbin spokesman didn’t respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times’ for comment on Graham’s call for a hearing.
Republicans Fume
Republicans on both sides of Capitol Hill, however, were outraged by Durham’s findings.Calling it “one of the dirtiest smears in American history,” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), former chairman and currently a senior member of the Senate Judiciary panel, denounced the government’s political manipulation of evidence, as described in the report.
“The Durham report validates the concerns I’ve raised since we first learned of the bogus investigation in 2017,“ he added. ”The FBI allowed itself to be hijacked and weaponized by political actors to target a political rival during a presidential election and administration. Restoring its integrity, if that’s even possible, will take humility, transparency, and accountability.”
Comer’s panel has subpoenaed the document, an FD-1023 statement describing the information that was given to the government.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said the report details conduct at the highest levels of the FBI that is “serious and unforgivable,” and he called for more rigorous congressional oversight of the bureau.
“Those responsible need to be held accountable, not just for meddling in the presidential election but also for the damage done to our institutions. America and its institutions are weaker today because of their actions, and it will take years for the FBI and others to rebuild that trust. Rigorous oversight of the FBI’s intelligence activities must be a top priority for the congressional intelligence committees.”
“As a former U.S. attorney, I know that justice, equality, and impartiality are the bedrock of our legal system. Special counsel Durham’s report shows just how miserably the DOJ and FBI failed in upholding those values when they launched this investigation into former President Trump without predication,” he said.
“It’s shameful that a select group of individuals—through this irresponsible and deceitful probe—have risked the reputation of some of our most crucial federal agencies, whose rank and file members serve our nation with integrity. To ensure Americans can maintain faith in our legal system, those responsible for this miscarriage of justice must be held accountable,” he said.
“The Durham report confirms what most Americans knew all along: The Trump–Russia investigation was nothing more than a political witch hunt. Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, or independent, every American should be outraged that leaders at the FBI and DOJ—two incredibly powerful agencies—abused their authority by using the federal government as a weapon to try and take down a political opponent,” he said.
“While I’m glad this report debunks yet another false narrative pushed by the Left and liberal media, the House will conduct vigorous oversight and do everything within its power to ensure this never happens again.”