The FBI document that was supposed to spell out the reasons for opening the sprawling investigation into the 2016 presidential campaign of Donald Trump appeared to be a mere “pro forma exercise” and lacked the substantive elements that such documents are required to have, according to a veteran FBI agent and supervisor.
The document, dated July 31, 2016, was prepared by Peter Strzok, who was the FBI’s counterintelligence section chief at the time. It was published on May 20 by Judicial Watch, a conservative government watchdog, which obtained it through a Freedom of Information lawsuit.
