US Justice Department watchdog faults Trump-Russia probe
Photo: Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The US Department of Justice’s internal watchdog expressed concern over investigations into information leaks during Donald Trump’s first administration. These investigations targeted members of Congress and the media. However, no evidence suggested that the investigations were politically motivated, according to ABC News and Reuters.
Subpoenas were issued shortly after The Washington Post reported in July 2017 on a meeting between then-Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak and Trump adviser Jeff Sessions. The meeting was allegedly held to discuss the 2016 US presidential campaign.
The article cited intelligence intercepts as a source to confirm the meeting took place. It also noted that classified information was leaked to the media in 2017 and 2018.
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz initiated an investigation following public reports. The reports stated that prosecutors during Trump’s first term had obtained warrants to access communications records of members of Congress, their staff, and reporters from CNN, the New York Times, and The Washington Post.
The investigation remained undisclosed until after Trump left office.
According to US media reports, Kash Patel, recently appointed by Trump as the new FBI director, was among the congressional staff whose records were reviewed during the leak investigation.
As noted by ABC, a report released after Trump threatened to take action against his political opponents and the media through the Department of Justice and the FBI reveals a much broader scope of the investigation. The investigation involved information leaks from members of Congress and staff.
Horowitz’s report states that the party affiliation of those involved was balanced. Twenty-one individuals whose records were examined were Democrats, 20 were Republicans, and two worked in nonpartisan positions.
The Inspector General’s investigation found that the grounds for searching employees’ records were fully explained. The explanation was based on their ability to access material leaked to the press.
Records reviewed by Horowitz show that prosecutors investigated congressional members. These investigations were "almost entirely without senior-level supervision or notification." There is no evidence of any pressure being applied to them.
Notably, after the leak investigation was made public in 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland held several meetings with editorial leaders in Washington. He also implemented a new Department of Justice policy prohibiting prosecutors from obtaining search warrants for reporters' records to obtain information about their sources.
Earlier, it was reported that US Special Counsel Jack Smith filed a motion to dismiss the federal case against Donald Trump. This case concerns interference in the 2020 presidential election results.
In November, it was also revealed that a court suspended Trump’s case concerning the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
