Originally published May 16, 2023 8:12 am PDT
A recently disclosed document has shed light on the opening of the “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation conducted by the FBI during the 2016 presidential election looking for connections between Russia and then-candidate Donald Trump.
The report, which has sparked controversy and raised questions about the bureau’s actions, reveals concerns over the FBI’s handling of raw intelligence and possible bias against Trump.
According to the document, the FBI “swiftly opened the Crossfire Hurricane investigation” upon receiving unevaluated intelligence information from Australia.
Deputy Assistant Director for Counterintelligence Peter Strzok, under the direction of Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, is quoted as having opened the investigation “immediately.”
The report highlights that Strzok, who played a significant role in the investigation, had “pronounced hostile feelings toward Trump.”
This revelation supports concerns over potential bias in the FBI’s actions.
The document further states that the FBI opened the investigation as a full investigation “without ever having spoken to the persons who provided the information.”
It adds that the bureau failed to conduct “any significant review of its own intelligence databases” or gather intelligence from other U.S. intelligence entities.
“Unlike the FBI’s opening of a full investigation of unknown members of the Trump campaign based on raw, uncorroborated information, in this separate matter involving a purported Clinton campaign plan, the FBI never opened any type of inquiry,” the document states, indicating a disparity in treatment between the two campaigns.
The report raises concerns about the lack of comprehensive analysis, noting that the FBI did not utilize “standard analytical tools typically employed by the FBI in evaluating raw intelligence.”
It further suggests that if the FBI had conducted a thorough evaluation, they would have discovered that their own Russia analysts had no information about Trump’s involvement with Russian leadership officials.
One notable quote from the report reads, “The FBI had no information in its holdings indicating that at any time during the campaign anyone in the Trump campaign had been in contact with any Russian intelligence officials.”
The document draws attention to the discrepancy in the FBI’s approach to prior matters involving possible foreign election interference targeting the Clinton campaign.
It points out that the bureau acted with caution in those instances, providing defensive briefings and even ending an investigation due to improper financial contributions made on behalf of a foreign entity.
Calls for further investigation and transparency are growing as the document becomes public.
United States Representative Ben Cline (R-VA) stated that Durham’s report reveals the FBI’s lack of legitimate intelligence on Russia collusion during the investigation of Donald Trump and called for accountability for the alleged intentional weaponization of government.
“The Durham report confirms that the FBI had no legitimate intel of Russia collusion when it launched a political witch hunt against Donald Trump,” he tweeted Monday. “There must be accountability for this intentional weaponization of government.”
Trump responded to the news on his social media platform Truth Social.
“THEY ARE SCUM, LIKE COCKROACHES ALL OVER WASHINGTON, D.C. Congratulations to John Durham on a Report that is being praised for its quality, importance, and professionalism, by friend and foe alike!” he wrote in a Tuesday post.
“TREASON!!!” he wrote on Monday, adding that “CONGRESS MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. MUST NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN!”
“THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY!” he wrote the same day.
His first post responding to the news said: “WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe! In other words, the American Public was scammed, just as it is being scammed right now by those who don’t want to see GREATNESS for AMERICA!”
Even left-wing CNN admitted that Durham’s report is “devastating to the FBI. And to a degree, it does exonerate Donald Trump.”