William Barr may already have the highly-anticipated Michael Horowitz report in his hands, according to Sean Hannity.
“Sources are telling me it may now have already been handed to the attorney general,” Hannity said Monday.
Department of Justice Inspector General Horowitz is investigating misconduct in the FBI and DOJ’s spying on the Trump campaign. Republicans anticipate that Horowitz’s report will produce explosive revelations about senior intelligence officials including former FBI director James Comey, former CIA chief John Brennan and FBI agent Peter Strzok, with many speculating it could result in criminal indictments.
IG report imminent
Hannity made the claim during a discussion with Sara Carter and Tom Fitton from Judicial Watch on his show Monday night. Carter alluded to “explosive” implications of Horowitz’s report, predicting an “avalanche” of damaging information about top intelligence agents.
“Maybe this week,” Hannity interjected. “Could be any day now.”
This is not the first time Hannity has predicted the imminent release of Horowitz’s report. Hannity claimed last month on his show that Horowitz’s investigation is “done and it’s devastating.”
Fox legal pundit Gregg Jarrett then predicted that those who could be in legal jeopardy include Comey, Brennan, Strzok and Christopher Steele, the ex-British spy who compiled the infamous Russia dossier. Republicans have long alleged that these figures were part of a “deep state” cabal to deny Trump the presidency and, failing that, sabotage his administration.
Republicans have alleged that the FBI and DOJ were misleading about their reliance on the unverified, political dossier, which was funded by the Clintons and the Democrats, as evidence to obtain spy warrants for ex-Trump campaign aide Carter Page. Republicans allege that this alleged abuse of spy power was part of a wider political “coup” that began with the counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign.
Investigating the investigators
Michael Horowitz began his investigation in March of 2018 to review the alleged spy abuses. Barr has said that Horowitz’s investigation could be finished as soon as this month. Republicans including Reps. Mark Meadows (R-NC), Devin Nunes (R-CA) and others have said the Horowitz report will produce explosive proof of wrongdoing by top intelligence officials.
Horowitz’s review is just one of at least three investigations of the origins of the Russia probe. Barr has appointed U.S. Attorney John Durham to review the origins of the probe as well, and another review is ongoing by U.S. attorney John Huber. Horowitz may make recommendations to criminally indict subjects of his investigation to Barr.
Meanwhile, president Trump gave Barr sweeping authority last month to declassify documents related to the FBI’s spying on the Trump campaign. Trump also demanded that intelligence agencies cooperate with Barr’s probe. The declassification set off a firestorm on the left, as Adam Schiff (D-CA) declared that a “cover up” was underway.
According to the official narrative of Comey and others, the investigation into Trump began with Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos. But the FBI and DOJ have also come under scrutiny for using informants and an undercover agent to spy on Papadopoulos.
Deep State scrambling
Barr has indicated that he is troubled by the appearances of impropriety in the origins of the Russia probe, telling Fox and CBS in recent interviews that he has more questions now than when he began investigating. With scrutiny of the FBI and DOJ building, potential targets of the investigation including Comey have begun lashing out at Trump — and each other — with increasing urgency.
Comey has maintained that the FBI’s surveillance was a by-the-book investigation, rather than “spying.” A large group of Democrats, mainstream media, and senior intelligence officials have similarly denied that spying on the Trump campaign occurred, while attacking Trump and Barr for making the “dangerous” decision to declassify information about the FBI’s spying. Meanwhile, a dispute has erupted between the FBI and CIA over whether Comey or Brennan deserves blame for pushing the Russia dossier.
Accountability is finally coming for the Russia hoaxers.
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