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‘Disgraceful’: Trump skewers AG Sessions over FISA abuses probe
President Donald Trump lashed out at Attorney General Jeff Sessions, criticizing his decision to let the inspector general, who can’t prosecute, handle the investigation into alleged FBI surveillance abuses.
Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc. Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 28 February 2018
Sessions said on Tuesday that the internal watchdog at the Department of Justice (DOJ) would be assessing allegations of FBI abuse.
“We believe the Department of Justice must adhere to the high standards in the FISA [Foreign Intelligence Service Act] court,” Sessions said. “Yes it will be investigated. And I think that's just the appropriate thing the inspector general will take that as one of the matters he'll deal with.”
Allegations that the FBI used biased evidence emerged in January when the ‘Nunes’ memo was published by the House Intelligence Committee despite opposition from Democrats and the FBI.
The four-page memo alleges the FBI abused its surveillance remit. It claims that the FISA warrant to spy on Trump adviser Carter Page was granted and then renewed based on information from a dossier paid for by the Hillary Clinton campaign. The so-called Steele dossier “formed an essential part” of the FISA probable cause order obtained by the FBI from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court on October 21, 2016.
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