Justice
Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz has found evidence that
an FBI lawyer manipulated a key investigative document related to the
FBI's secretive surveillance of a former Trump campaign adviser -- enough to change the substantive meaning of the document, according to multiple reports.
The
show-stopping development comes as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman
Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told Fox News that Horowitz's comprehensive
report on allegations of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)
warrant abuse against former Trump campaign aide Carter Page will be
released on Dec. 9. "That's locked," Graham said.
The new evidence
concerning the altered document, which was related to the FBI's FISA
court warrant application to surveil Page, is expected to be outlined in
Horowitz's upcoming report. CNN first reported the news, which was largely confirmed by The Washington Post.
The Post, hours after publishing its story, conspicuously removed the portion of its reporting
that the FBI employee involved was underneath Peter Strzok, the FBI's
since-fired head of counterintelligence. The Post did not offer an
explanation for the change, which occurred shortly after midnight.
Earlier this week, the DOJ highlighted a slew of anti-Trump text messages sent by Strzok when he was leading the Hillary Clinton email investigation and the probe into the Trump campaign.
Horowitz
reportedly found that the FBI employee who modified the FISA document
falsely stated that he had "documentation to back up a claim he had made
in discussions with the Justice Department about the factual basis" for
the FISA warrant application, the Post reported. Then, the FBI employee
allegedly "altered an email" to substantiate his inaccurate version of
events. The employee has since been forced out of the bureau.
Sources told Fox News last month that U.S. Attorney John Durham's separate, ongoing probe into potential FBI and Justice Department misconduct
in the run-up to the 2016 election through the spring of 2017 has
transitioned into a full-fledged criminal investigation -- and
that Horowitz's report will shed light on why Durham's probe has become a
criminal inquiry.
Durham has reportedly taken up Horowitz's
findings concerning the falsified FISA document, meaning the ex-FBI
lawyer who made the changes is now under criminal investigation. The
Post indicated, however, that the document was not central to the
legality of the FISA warrant obtained against Page.
One-time advisor of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump Carter Page
addresses the audience during a presentation in Moscow, Russia, December
12, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin - RC165B503FF0
Republicans have long argued that the FBI's alleged
FISA abuses, which came as the bureau aggressively pursued ultimately
unsubstantiated claims of criminal links between the Trump team and
Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign, were politically
motivated. In recent months, a slew of unearthed documents have
strengthened those claims.
Just nine days before the FBI applied
for its FISA warrant to surveil Page, bureau officials were battling
with a senior Justice Department official who had "continued concerns"
about the "possible bias" of a source pivotal to the application,
according to internal text messages previously obtained by Fox News.
The 2016 messages, sent between Lisa Page and
then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, also revealed that bureau
brass circulated at least two anti-Trump blog articles, including a Lawfare blog post sent shortly after Election Day that called Trump possibly "among the major threats to the security of the country."
Fox
News is told the texts were connected to the ultimately successful Page
application, which relied in part on information from British ex-spy
Christopher Steele – whose anti-Trump views are now well-documented –
and cited Page’s suspected Russia ties. In its warrant application, the
FBI inaccurately assured the FISA court on numerous occasions that
media sources independently corroborated Steele's claims, and did not
clearly state that Steele worked for a firm hired by Hillary Clinton's
campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
FILE - In this July 10, 2018, file photo, former Trump national
security adviser Michael Flynn leaves the federal courthouse in
Washington, following a status hearing. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta,
File)
Page has not been charged with any wrongdoing despite more than a year of federal surveillance, and he has since sued numerous actors -- including the DNC -- for defamation related to claims that he worked with Russia.
"OI
[Office of Intelligence] now has a robust explanation re any possible
bias of the chs [confidential human source] in the package," Lisa Page
wrote to McCabe on Oct. 12, 2016. "Don't know what the holdup is now,
other than Stu's continued concerns."
It's unclear whether the
confidential source in question was Steele or another individual.
"Stu" was an apparent reference to Stuart Evans, then the DOJ's National
Security Division deputy assistant attorney general. In one previously unearthed and since-unredacted text message, Strzok texted Page that he was "Currently fighting with Stu for this FISA" in late 2016.
Page is not the only Trump official to allege misconduct by the FBI. Last month, an explosive court filing from Michael Flynn’s legal team alleged that FBI agents manipulated official records
of the former national security adviser’s 2017 interview that led to
him being charged with lying to investigators. Flynn's attorneys demanded the FBI search its internal "Sentinel" system to find more evidence of allegedly doctored files.
Newly
released text messages involving text messages between Strzok and
former FBI lawyer Lisa Page revealed that Page -- who was not present
for the Flynn interview -- had apparently made "edits" to the so-called
"302" witness report in the case, which was key to Flynn's prosecution
on a false statements charge. Page told Strzok on February 10, 2017 that
she “gave my edits to Bill to put on your desk.”
Horowitz told congressional lawmakers in an October letter that his investigation and ensuing report were nearing their conclusion.
The "lengthy"
draft report "concerns sensitive national security and law enforcement
matters," Horowitz wrote in the letter, adding that he anticipated "the
final report will be released publicly with few redactions."
Horowitz noted that he did not anticipate a need to prepare or issue "separate classified and public versions of the report."
"After
we receive the final classification markings from the Department and
the FBI, we will then proceed with our usual process for preparing a
final report, including ensuring that appropriate reviews occur for
accuracy and comment purposes," Horowitz wrote in the letter. "Once
begun, we do not anticipate the time for that review to be lengthy." Fox News' Brooke Singman and Charles Crietz contributed to this report.
An appearance by conservative writer Ann Coulter at the University of California at Berkeley drew a crowd of protesters Wednesday night, in the latest episode of "cancel culture" on the nation's college campuses.
"Multiple" mask-wearing protesters were arrested, campus police confirmed on Twitter.
Covering
faces is a violation of campus protest policy, the Bay Area's FOX
2 reported. The station said as many as seven people were arrested.
Video
posted online showed Coulter being quickly escorted past protesters
into the building where the event, titled, “Adios, America,” was held.
It was hosted by the Berkeley campus' College Republicans.
Coulter
started speaking about 15 minutes late because attendees had trouble
getting through a “human chain” of protesters who tried to block
ticketholders from getting inside the building.
“They can protest
all they want and shout their slogans – free speech – I’m cool with
that, but I am not cool with having somebody block our way getting in,”
said Derrick Main, a Marin County Republican Central Committee member.
He told FOX 2 he paid $45 for his ticket.
“They can protest all they want and shout their slogans ... but I am not cool with having somebody block our way getting in.” — Derrick Main, speech attendee
Conservative writer Andy Ngo posted video that appeared to show a woman having her ticket stolen.
Some of the protesters said they were there to promote left-wing causes.
“We’re here to show our support for DACA and also to protest white supremacy,” Hamid Hakimi, a student protester, told Berkeleyside.
Some protesters said they wanted to see the event shut down, but others agreed Coulter had a right to speak.
“I think it’s important that we hear people like her speak to know that this is real,” a student named Aurora told FOX 2.
Ann Coulter appears on "The View" in 2017. (Getty Images)
“What we’re doing by protesting is showing that her
specific speech is not welcome here,” student Gianluca Pedrani told the
station.
“What we’re doing by protesting is showing that her specific speech is not welcome here.” — Gianluca Pedrani, student
There were two protesters inside the event, but only one was removed because the other agreed to be silent, FOX 2 reported.
The
Berkeley campus is frequently the center for free speech debates. in
September 2017 a scheduled four-day event dubbed Free Speech Week was canceled over safety concerns. Protesters had sought to silence a featured speaker, provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos.
Earlier that year, Coulter canceled an event on the campus, also over safety concerns. She called the situation "a dark day for free speech in America."
“¡Adios, America!: The Left's Plan to Turn Our Country Into a Third World Hellhole,” is a book written by Coulter in 2015.
Senate
Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told Fox News
Wednesday that Department of Justice Inspector General Michael
Horowitz's report on allegations of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Act (FISA) warrant abuse during the 2016 election will be released on
Dec. 9.
During an appearance on "Hannity"
Wednesday, host Sean Hannity noted Horowitz will be coming before
Graham's committee on Dec. 11 to testify on the matter and went on to
ask Graham not to allow a Friday night document "dump" that could
muffle the coverage of the news.
In response, Graham smiled and nodded.
"It'll be December 9th -- you'll get the report," the South Carolina lawmaker said.
"That's locked."
Horowitz told congressional lawmakers in an October letter that his investigation and ensuing report were nearing their conclusion.
The "lengthy"
draft report "concerns sensitive national security and law enforcement
matters," Horowitz wrote in the letter, adding that he anticipated "the
final report will be released publicly with few redactions."
Horowitz noted that he did not anticipate a need to prepare or issue "separate classified and public versions of the report."
"After
we receive the final classification markings from the Department and
the FBI, we will then proceed with our usual process for preparing a
final report, including ensuring that appropriate reviews occur for
accuracy and comment purposes," Horowitz wrote in the letter. "Once
begun, we do not anticipate the time for that review to be lengthy."
Graham further
broke news on "Hannity" when he confirmed he is sending a letter to
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo requesting the transcripts of three phone
calls the senator said then-Vice President Joe Biden had with
then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Graham
said the phone calls coincided with the timeframe in which a Ukrainian
prosecutor, once praised for going after the head of natural gas company
Burisma Holdings -- a person Graham said was known as the "dirtiest guy
in Ukraine" by one top American official -- was fired.
Burisma was the company on which Hunter Biden, the son of the 2020 Democratic candidate, sat on the board.
"I want
to know are there any transcripts or readouts of the phone calls
between the vice president and the president of Ukraine in February
[2016] after the raid on the gas company president's house," said
Graham. "After this raid, Hunter Biden kicks in. Hunter Biden's business
partner meets with [then-Secretary of State] John Kerry, and Vice
President Biden on three occasions makes a phone call to the president
of Ukraine and goes over there in March and they fire the guy, and this
is the same man that the ambassador wanted investigated in 2015."
Graham
added he found it "odd" that instead of lauding the Ukrainian
prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, for investigating the Burisma chairman, he
was instead relieved of his duties.
He said that in 2015,
President Barack Obama's ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, said in a
speech he wanted Shokin to be more forceful in his investigation of
domestic corruption.
"The one person he named as being a sleazebag was the president of Burisma," Graham remarked. Fox News' Gregg Re, Mike Emanuel and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Justice
Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz appears at the launch of
the Procurement Collusion Strike Force at the Justice Department in
Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
The DOJ watchdog is highlighting the elevated level of spending at
the FBI in its latest report of the bureau’s finances. In the report,
Inspector General Michael Horowitz said the FBI is spending $42 million
per year on payments to its informants.
Video: Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz
discusses today’s report on the FBI’s Management of its Confidential
Human Source Validation Processes.
However, only 20 percent of the informants reportedly meet the
bureau’s standards. Horowitz found at least one of the FBI’s informants
was a registered child sex offender.
The bureau reportedly has a mounting backlog of new informants
awaiting validation, which the IG said may hinder the FBI’s operations.
“Ineffective management and oversight of confidential sources can
result in jeopardizing FBI operations — placing FBI agents, sources,
subjects of investigation and the public in harm’s way,” stated
Horowitz. “The FBI agreed with all of our recommendations to improve its
management and oversight over this important program.”
The IG also found the FBI failed to provide agents with clear
guidelines on how to work with informants, which made its spending on
informants even less efficient.
President Trump is saying China is not stepping up as trade
negotiations get increasingly complicated and a Phase One deal is
further delayed. On Wednesday, trade officials close to the White House
said that a partial deal could get pushed back to next year.
China is reportedly pushing for an extensive tariff rollback while
the U.S. is demanding a deal that addresses intellectual property and
technology transfer issues. While touring an Apple assembly plant in
Austin, Texas, the president said he will not sign an inadequate deal.
“China would much rather make a trade deal than I would,” stated
President Trump. “I haven’t wanted to do it yet…because I don’t think
they’re stepping up to the level that I want.”
Speaking during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the president said he’s
considering raising tariffs on China if they can’t make a deal. Another
round of tariffs is set to go into effect December 15th.
The Trump administration had originally planned to sign the deal at
the APEC Summit in Chile this month, but that event was canceled amid
violent protests in the capital city. Talks have since hit a snag as
Beijing pushes for a full tariff rollback from the U.S.
Chinese media has since reported that although Beijing wants a deal, they are pessimistic it will get done.
WASHINGTON (AP) —
Two top national security aides who listened to President Donald Trump’s
call with Ukraine are preparing to testify in the impeachment hearings,
launching a week of back-to-back sessions as Americans hear from those
closest to the White House.
Lt.
Col. Alexander Vindman, an Army officer at the National Security
Council, and Jennifer Williams, his counterpart at Vice President Mike
Pence’s office, both say they had concerns as Trump spoke on July 25
with the newly elected Ukraine president about political investigations
into Joe Biden.
After
they appear Tuesday morning, the House will hear in the afternoon from
former NSC official Timothy Morrison and Kurt Volker, the former Ukraine
special envoy.
In all, nine current and former U.S. officials are testifying in a pivotal week as the House’s historic impeachment inquiry
accelerates and deepens. Democrats say Trump demanded that Ukraine
investigate his Democratic rivals in return for U.S. military aid it
needed to resist Russian aggression and that may be grounds for removing the 45th president. Trump says he did no such thing and the Democrats just want him gone.
“I
did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government
investigate a U.S. citizen,” said Vindman, an Iraq War veteran. He said
there was “no doubt” what Trump wanted from Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
It
wasn’t the first time Vindman, a 20-year military officer, was alarmed
over the administration’s push to have Ukraine investigate Democrats, he
testified.
Earlier,
during an unsettling July 10 meeting at the White House, Ambassador
Gordon Sondland told visiting Ukraine officials that they would need to
“deliver” before next steps, which was a meeting Zelenskiy wanted with
Trump, the officer testified.
“He
was talking about the 2016 elections and an investigation into the
Bidens and Burisma,” Vindman testified, referring to the gas company in
Ukraine where Hunter Biden served on the board.
“The Ukrainians would have to deliver an investigation into the Bidens,” he said. “There was no ambiguity.”
On
both occasions, Vindman said, he took his concerns about the shifting
Ukraine policy to the lead counsel at the NSC, John Eisenberg.
Williams,
a longtime State Department official who is detailed to Pence’s
national security team, said she too had concerns during the phone call,
which the aides monitored as is standard practice.
When
the White House produced a rough transcript later that day, she put it
in the vice president’s briefing materials. “I just don’t know if he
read it,” Williams testified in a closed-door House interview.
Sondland, the wealthy donor
whose routine boasting about his proximity to Trump has brought the
investigation to the president’s doorstep, is set to testify Wednesday.
Others have testified that he was part of a shadow diplomatic effort
with the president’s personal lawyer, Rudy Guiliani, outside of official
channels that raised alarms.
Pence’s
role throughout the impeachment inquiry has been unclear, and the vice
president’s aide is sure to be questioned by lawmakers looking for
answers.
The
White House has instructed officials not to appear, and most have
received congressional subpoenas to compel their testimony.
Trump
has already attacked Williams, associating her with “Never Trumpers,”
even though there is no indication the career State Department official
has shown any partisanship.
The
president wants to see a robust defense by his GOP allies on Capitol
Hill, but so far so far Republicans have offered a changing strategy as
the fast-moving probe spills into public view.
That
is likely to change this week as Republicans mount a more aggressive
attack on all the witnesses as the inquiry reaches closer into the White
House and they try to protect Trump.
In
particular, Republicans are expected to try to undercut Vindman,
suggesting he reported his concerns outside his chain of command, which
would have been Morrison, not the NSC lawyer.
Those
appearing in public have already given closed-door interviews to
investigators, and transcripts from those depositions have largely been
released.
Under
earlier questioning, Republicans wanted Vindman to disclose who else he
may have spoken to about his concerns, as the GOP inch closer to
publicly naming the still anonymous whistleblower whose report sparked
the inquiry.
GOP
Sen. Ron Johnson, who was deeply involved in other White House meetings
about Ukraine, offered a sneak preview of this strategy late Monday
when he compared Vindman, a Purple Heart veteran, to the “bureaucrats”
who “never accepted Trump as legitimate.”
“They
react by leaking to the press and participating in the ongoing effort
to sabotage his policies and, if possible, remove him from office. It is
entirely possible that Vindman fits this profile, said Johnson, R-Wis.
Vindman told the House investigators in his earlier testimony he was not the government whistleblower.
The
witnesses are testifying under penalty of perjury, and Sondland already
has had to amend his earlier account amid contradicting testimony from
other current and former U.S. officials.
Morrison
has referred to Burisma as a “bucket of issues” — the Bidens,
Democrats, investigations — he had tried to “stay away” from.
Sondland
met with a Zelenskiy aide on the sidelines of a Sept. 1 gathering in
Warsaw, and Morrison, who was watching the encounter from across the
room, testified that the ambassador told him moments later he pushed the
Ukrainian for the Burisma investigation as a way for Ukraine to gain
access to the military funds.
Volker
provided investigators with a package of text messages with Sondland
and another diplomat, William Taylor, the charge d’affaires in Ukraine,
who grew alarmed at the linkage of the investigations to the aid.
Taylor, who testified publicly last week, called that “crazy.”
A
wealthy hotelier who donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration,
Sondland is the only person interviewed to date who had direct
conversations with the president about the Ukraine situation.
Morrison
said Sondland and Trump had spoken about five times between July 15 and
Sept. 11 — the weeks that $391 million in U.S. assistance was withheld
from Ukraine before it was released.
Trump has said he barely knows Sondland.
Besides
Sondland, the committee will hear on Wednesday from Laura Cooper, a
deputy assistant secretary of defense, and David Hale, a State
Department official. On Thursday, David Holmes, a State Department
official in Kyiv, and Fiona Hill, a former top NSC staff member for
Europe and Russia, will appear.
___
Associated
Press writers Jill Colvin and Hope Yen in Washington and Bruce
Schreiner in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed to this report.
One-time advisor of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump Carter Page
addresses the audience during a presentation in Moscow, Russia, December
12, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin - RC165B503FF0
FILE - In this July 10, 2018, file photo, former Trump national
security adviser Michael Flynn leaves the federal courthouse in
Washington, following a status hearing. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta,
File)
