Attorney General William Barr disagrees with the Justice Department inspector general’s conclusion that the FBI had enough evidence to launch an investigation into the Trump campaign in 2016.
Barr has told colleagues that he is not convinced by the evidence that Inspector General Michael Horowitz compiled suggesting that the FBI’s investigation into alleged Russian collusion by the Trump campaign launched on reasonable foundations, according to the Washington Post.
“[Horowitz’s] excellent work has uncovered significant information that the American people will soon be able to read for themselves. Rather than speculating, people should read the report for themselves next week, watch the Inspector General’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and draw their own conclusions about these important matters,” Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said in a statement.
Barr may make his disagreement known either through a public announcement or in a separate response included in the final draft of the report.
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has played down the disagreement between Barr and Horowitz. Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, appeared on Fox News on Monday and accused the Washington Post and the New York Times of attempting to “diminish” the upcoming Horowitz report.
“I can tell you without any hesitation Attorney General Barr has every confidence in the world in Mr. Horowitz,” Graham said. “He believes that he has done a good job, a professional job, and he appreciates the work and the effort he has put into disclosing abuse at the Department of Justice.”
