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Following Trump’s decisive election victory, many DOJ officials and career staffers were already nervous about the possibility that they would be targeted by Trump loyalists, particularly members of Congress. “Everything we did was above board,” said a former senior FBI official, who has started contacting lawyers because he expects to be prosecuted himself. “Agents have to do 20 years,” the former senior FBI official said. DOJ and FBI officials say that the Trump investigations were carried out properly. Now, a new group of DOJ and FBI officials are facing the prospect of hefty legal fees as well.

Persons: Trump, Matt Gaetz, ”, elect’s, beholden, Gaetz, “, “ Trump, Wally Skalij, Weeks, Stephen Cheung, Witch Hunt, ” Cheung, Stephen Gillers, General Merrick Garland, Trump’s, Garland, Mike Davis, Jack Smith, Smith, Donald Trump, Jacquelyn Martin, Ilya Somin, ” Somin, Robert Mueller, Paul Manafort, Bill Barr, John Durham, Russia’s, Durham, Jack Smith’s, ” Gillers, Captain Ahab Organizations: Justice Department, FBI, Trump loyalists, Trump, “, DOJ, Los Angeles Times, Getty Images Trump, New York University Law School, ”, DOJ DOJ, Department, Justice, George Mason University, Russia, CIA, NYU Locations: Coachella , Calif, Washington, Gaetz

A firebrand legal adviser to the President-elect and a conservative lawyer under consideration for the post of Attorney General appear to be setting the stage for investigations and prosecution of Donald Trump’s legal adversaries, including Special Counsel Jack Smith and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The threats come as Trump campaign aides say that the president-elect considers his choice for attorney general to be his most important single appointment. Paoletta is among several people under consideration to run the Justice Department, people familiar with the matter tell NBC News. All of those people have claimed—without citing any specific evidence— that the federal prosecutions of Trump by Smith were politically motivated. The Trump Justice Department will have access to every text, email and memo written by everyone on the Smith team on government phones and computers during the investigation.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Jack Smith, Letitia James, Mike Davis, Trump, Smith, James, “, ” Davis, Benny Johnson, Davis, ”, Tom Williams, — Mark Paoletta —, Paoletta, ” Paoletta, Missouri Sen, Eric Schmitt, Utah Sen, Mike Lee, John Ratcliffe, Matt Whitaker, Donald Trump, can’t, —, Bill Barr, John Durham, Russia’s, “ Jack Smith Organizations: New York, Trump, Justice Department, Republican, Washington , D.C, Inc, Getty, NBC News, Department, DOJ, NBC, Justice, Democratic, DoJ, CIA, FBI, Trump Justice Department Locations: Washington ,, Missouri, Utah, Newsmax

☆ Former CIA officials worry Trump could politicize and weaponize intelligence agencies
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( Dan De Luce | Dan De Luce Is A Reporter For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

Yet Durham found that no senior FBI or CIA officials had committed crimes. Former intelligence officials disagree on whether Trump would seek to use the spy agencies against domestic political opponents, and if he did, how the intelligence workforce and courts would respond. Presidents face few legal constraints when it comes to their authority over the intelligence agencies, legal experts and former senior officials said. Supporters of Trump say dire warnings about the future of the intelligence agencies under a new Trump administration are hysterical and overblown, and that his record at the White House shows that he strengthened the spy agencies. “And the other is the risk that the intelligence agencies will be directed to do things that are either unlawful or inappropriate.”

Persons: Donald Trump, Kash Patel, MAGA, Gina Haspel, Patel, Trump, Marc Short, Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Dan Coats, ”, José Luis Villegas, ” Trump’s, Joe Biden, Brian Hughes, Justice Department —, Vladimir Putin, “, ” Trump, Putin, Devin Nunes, John Ratcliffe, Robert O’Brien, Sen, Marco Rubio, Robert Mueller's, Hillary Clinton, Bill Barr, John Durham, Durham, Steve Bannon, ” Bannon, Nixon, Chip Somodevilla, Trump’s, Glenn Gerstell, ” “, Robert Litt, ” Litt Organizations: Lawmakers, CIA, Justice Department, White House National Security Council, NBC News, “, Texas, FBI, Trump, DOJ, Democratic National Committee, Trump White House, Washington , D.C, National Security Agency, White House, National Intelligence, NBC Locations: Minden, Nev, Russian, Moscow, Helsinki, Devin Nunes of California, Russia, Vietnam, Washington ,, ”, Virginia

☆ Fact check: Vance falsely claims Trump did not ‘go after his political opponents’ as president
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Washington CNN —Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, falsely claimed Sunday that former President Donald Trump “didn’t go after his political opponents” during his presidency – an assertion that is contradicted by a mountain of evidence. As president, Trump publicly and privately pressured the Justice Department, and others in his administration, to investigate or prosecute numerous political opponents. Trump made extensive behind-the-scenes efforts to get his political opponents charged with crimes. But you don’t have to rely on investigative reporting or the memoirs of former administration officials to know that Trump went after political opponents as president. As CNN reporter Marshall Cohen has noted, there is a long list of political opponents whom Trump publicly called for the Justice Department and others to investigate or prosecute.

Persons: Washington CNN — Sen, JD Vance, Donald Trump “ didn’t, ”, –, Vance, Trump, Martha Raddatz, “ Martha, didn’t, Marshall Cohen, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, John Kerry, John Bolton, Barack Obama, Obama, Joe Scarborough, James Comey, Christopher Steele, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff of, Ilhan Omar, Minnesota, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Mark Warner of Virginia, Taylor Van Kirk, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s, Clinton, Biden, “, ” Clinton, John Kelly, Harris, Van Kirk, General Merrick Garland, harangued, Jeff Sessions, ” Trump, Hunter Biden –, William Barr, Bill Barr indicts, we’ll, Justice Department Trump, Barr, he’s, You’ve, ’ ” Trump, Sessions, Robert Mueller, Mueller, Bolton, Kerry, Geoffrey Berman, Berman, Trump’s, John Durham, Rudy Giuliani Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican, ABC News, Justice Department, CNN, Democratic, New York Times, Trump, MSNBC, FBI, Adam Schiff of California, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Joe Biden’s DOJ, Trump -, Homeland Security, White, IRS, Fox News Locations: Richard Blumenthal of, Ukraine, China, Russia, Comey, Trump’s

☆ Here are Cases of Trump Rivals Who Were Subject to Investigation
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( Michael S. Schmidt | Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +20 min

After Mr. Trump fired Mr. Comey, Mr. McCabe opened a two-pronged investigation into whether Mr. Trump was a counterintelligence threat and was obstructing justice. Mr. Trump said he wanted to “get the I.R.S.” on Mr. McCabe and for him to be fired. Working with Mr. McCabe, Mr. Strzok opened the two-pronged investigation into whether Mr. Trump was a counterintelligence threat and was obstructing justice. What Trump wanted doneMr. Trump called Mr. Strzok a traitor and said he should be criminally investigated for his handling of the Russia investigation. What news organizations did that Trump did not likeJournalists from all three organizations covered the Trump presidency and the Russia investigation aggressively and used material that Mr. Trump felt had been leaked to hurt him.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Marco Rubio, James B, Hillary Clinton, Robert S, Mueller III, James Comey, Comey, Clinton, Mr, “, Andrew G, McCabe, F.B.I, Comey’s, ”, Prosecutors, McCabe’s, Jeff Sessions, —, Peter Strzok, Strzok, Michael T, Flynn, Flynn’s, John F, Kerry Obama's, Kerry, Barack Obama, William P, Barr, Hilary Clinton, Sessions, Trump’s, John Durham, Michael D, Cohen Trump's, fixer, Cohen, Michael Cohen, Witch Hunt, John R, Bolton, Biden, John Bolton, Hillary, pardoning, subpoenaing Mr, White, Omarosa Manigault Newman, Manigault Newman, lowlife, ” Donald J, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Melania Trump, Wolkoff Organizations: Trump Rivals, America, Republican, CNN, Justice Department, Department, Trump, Mr, White, Federal, Biden Justice Department, Publicly, Prosecutors, Justice, U.S, Trump Justice Department, Clinton Foundation, FBI, DNC, of Prisons, News, Washington Post, The New York Times, Fake News, Bolton, White House, House Locations: Florida, Russia, Washington, Virginia, Clinton, Iran, Manhattan, New York, Maryland

☆ Rep. Adam Schiff calls on Biden to drop out of the race
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Rep. Adam Schiff on Wednesday became the most prominent elected Democrat to publicly call on President Joe Biden to drop out of the race. The announcement by Schiff, who is running for US Senate in California, makes him the first Democrat to urge Biden to step aside since the failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump over the weekend. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks during the House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Report of Special Counsel John Durham, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 21, 2023. And in doing so, secure his legacy of leadership by allowing us to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming election,” Schiff said in a statement. The Democratic Party remains roiled about the path forward amid fears that, in light of the debate, Biden cannot defeat Trump and he risks taking down-ballot Democrats with him in November.

Persons: Adam Schiff, Joe Biden, Schiff, Biden, Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi, John Durham, Jose Luis Magana, Biden’s, ” Schiff, “, Trump, ”, Nanette Barragan, CNN’s Owen Dahlkamp, Priscilla Alvarez, Annie Grayer Organizations: CNN —, Wednesday, US, Capitol, California Democrat, CNN, Democratic, Congressional, Democratic Party, Trump, Democratic National Committee Locations: California, Washington, Chicago

There may be a path for Smith to revive the case, Cannon noted in her ruling, and Smith can appeal the decision. Cannon left open a potential pathway in her ruling for the classified documents case to be revived. (He is being prosecuted by a separate special counsel, David Weiss.) And during the Trump-Russia investigation, multiple Trump allies similarly attempted to derail special counsel Robert Mueller’s work. Former Attorney General Edwin Meese and Citizens United argued the same, writing that Smith’s appointment “severely undermines” the constitutional order.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Aileen Cannon, Jack Smith, General Merrick Garland, Smith, Cannon, Trump, “, ”, ” Cannon, Garland, Bill Barr, John Durham, Smith’s, it’s, Clarence Thomas The, Clarence Thomas, Thomas ’, Thomas, John Roberts, wasn’t, ” Thomas, Steve Vladeck, Joe Biden’s, Hunter Biden, David Weiss, Robert Mueller’s, James Pearce, Cannon’s, Edwin Meese, ” “ Organizations: Washington CNN, Trump, Republican National Convention, Republican, Justice Department, Senate, United, United States Attorney, Defense, Treasury, The, Prosecutors, CNN, Georgetown University Law Center, FBI, Former, Citizens United Locations: Milwaukee, United States, California, Delaware, Russia, Virginia, Washington, DC, Mar

After a yearlong investigation, Hur concluded that Biden mishandled classified material and improperly disclosed classified information as a private citizen. Here are four key things to look for in Tuesday’s high-stakes hearing:What will Hur say about Biden’s age and memory? (At 81, Biden is the oldest US president in history, though Donald Trump is only a few years younger at 77.) House Republicans are looking for Hur’s public testimony to provide fresh momentum to their sputtering impeachment inquiry into Biden. Hur’s approach will determine how easy, or hard, it is for lawmakers to extract the political moments that they want.

Persons: Robert Hur, Joe Biden’s, Hur, Biden, wouldn’t, Donald Trump, Beau, Barack Obama, seething Biden, “, ” Biden, ”, Jack Smith, Trump, ” Hur, Will Hur, Hunter, Steve Ruark, Mr, Biden’s, Hunter Biden, Robert Mueller, John Durham, Bill Barr, – Hur, he’ll, Biden’s feebleness Organizations: CNN, GOP, Justice Department, Republicans, National Archives, Department of Justice, Court, Ukrainian, Justice, Internal Revenue Service, White, Trump, Democratic, Capitol Locations: Washington, Tuesday’s, Israel, Florida, Ukrainian, Baltimore, Maryland, Russia

☆ Trump's lawyers are hunting for the identities of secret consultants who approved Russiagate Pulitzer Prizes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

AdvertisementIn an overlooked lawsuit, Donald Trump's lawyers are exhibiting a habit from his White House days: Hunting for anonymous sources. At each turn, a lawyer for the Pulitzer Board members stopped their clients from answering. The journalists whom Trump's lawyers deposed did, however, offer some characterization of the "consultants" who conducted the reviews. The Pulitzer Prize Board is hosted by Columbia University, in Manhattan, which manages the small organization's payroll and offers institutional support. Chad Bowman, a Ballard Spahr attorney representing the Pulitzer board members, directed Business Insider to court filings.

Persons: Donald Trump, —, Donald Trump's, Trump, Pulitzer, Robert Mueller, Quincy Bird, Katherine Boo, Boo, Chad R, Bowman, Ballard Spahr, don't, Marjorie Miller, Miller, Weber, Crabb, Wein, Neil Brown, David Remnick, Nicole Carroll, Lee Bollinger, Kevin Merida, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Lee C, Bollinger, David Ake Trump's, Gail Collins, John Daniszewski, Bird, Daniszewski, Dana Canady, doesn't, Bebeto Matthews, Collins, we've, John Durham, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Brown, Chad Bowman, Ballard, Evan Vucci Trump, Christopher Steele, Jeff Gerth's, Gerth, You've Organizations: Service, Business, The New York Times, Washington Post, American, The Washington Post, Pulitzer, Times, Post, PAC Trump, Columbia University, Mar, Poynter Institute for Media Studies, Tampa Bay Times, New Yorker, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Global Enterprise, New, AP, Katherine Boo , New York Times, Trump, Republican, Columbia Locations: Russia, Chad, Manhattan, Florida, USA, New York City, Mar, Katherine Boo ,, New York, Palm Beach , Florida, United States, Washington, DC

CNN —Former President Donald Trump is suing retired British intelligence officer Christopher Steele over the controversial dossier he compiled which shook Washington with its unverified and salacious allegations about Trump. Multiple US government inquiries uncovered dozens of contacts between Trump campaign associates and Russians, which have since been acknowledged. The money trail behind the Steele dossier has also been a subject of intense political scrutiny for years. About one year after the 2016 election, it became public that Steele was indirectly paid by Democrats to research Trump. Steele has faced a series of civil lawsuits in the US and UK stemming from the dossier.

Persons: Donald Trump, Christopher Steele, Steele, Orbis Business Intelligence –, Trump, Tim Lowles, John Durham, Steele’s handiwork, Igor Danchenko, ” “, Danchenko, ” Steele, Hillary Clinton’s, Perkins Coie, Clinton’s Organizations: CNN, Trump, Orbis Business Intelligence, Kremlin, London’s, Department, Democratic National Committee, Fusion, DNC, FBI Locations: Washington, Russia, Durham, Trump

☆ House Republicans subpoena Citibank over info shared with FBI after Jan. 6
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, conducts the House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Report of Special Counsel John Durham, in the Rayburn Building, Washington, D.C., June 21, 2023. The subpoena, obtained exclusively by CNBC, came after Jordan previously requested that several financial institutions, including Citibank, provide the information voluntarily. Citibank was the only bank that had not voluntarily complied with the committee's request, according to a source familiar with the investigation. The bank's lawyers told the committee it would only do so under a subpoena, according to Jordan. WATCH: House committee investigating Jan. 6 riots release never-before-seen footage of insurrection

Persons: Jim Jordan, John Durham, Jordan, BofA, Jan Organizations: D.C, WASHINGTON —, Citibank, U.S, Capitol, CNBC, Bank of America, JPMorgan, PNC, U.S . Bank, Fox, YouTube Locations: Ohio, Rayburn, Washington, Truist, U.S, Wells Fargo, Jordan

☆ Hunter Biden: US attorney leading Hunter Biden criminal probe is now a special counsel after plea talks break down and a trial looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Marshall Cohen Hannah Rabinowitz Devan Cole | Marshall Cohen | Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —The Trump-appointed US attorney who is investigating Hunter Biden has been given special counsel status after plea talks between the Justice Department and the president’s son fell apart. It’s the latest dramatic turn in the long-running criminal investigation of Hunter Biden that’s impacted President Joe Biden’s White House and has been a priority of congressional Republicans. The probe appeared to reach its conclusion when a plea deal was announced in June. The GOP had criticized the plea deal, accusing Weiss of giving Hunter Biden preferential treatment. Two career IRS agents who worked on the Hunter Biden probe went public as whistleblowers, claiming there was political meddling in the probe.

Persons: Hunter Biden, David Weiss, Merrick Garland, Weiss, It’s, Joe Biden’s, Hunter, Maryellen Noreika, ”, “, Garland, Jim Jordan, “ David Weiss can’t, ” Jordan, Russell Dye, “ Weiss, James Comer of, Biden, coverup, California Weiss, Hunter Biden’s, Chris Clark, Robert Mueller, John Durham, ” Garland Organizations: Washington CNN, Trump, Justice Department, Republicans, GOP, Department, Hunter Biden, Ohio Republican, Biden, Central District of, District of Columbia, District of Locations: Ohio, James Comer of Kentucky, DC, California, Delaware, Washington, Central District, Central District of California, District, Delaware , Washington, “, District of Delaware

☆ Opinion: Judge’s rejection of Hunter Biden’s plea deal vindicates Republicans
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Opinion W. James Antle Iii | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On Wednesday, the GOP position on Hunter Biden received vindication from US District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who rejected an “unusual” plea bargain the Department of Justice had offered him. Noreika had been asked to approve to a plea deal that would have spared the president’s son prison. Hunter Biden is one reason Trump is able to survive, even thrive, under circumstances that would have felled almost any other candidate. But the voters who will decide the next GOP presidential nominee are not wrong in thinking that something about Hunter Biden’s treatment doesn’t sit right. Republican voters believe Hunter Biden is getting off with a slap on the wrist while their favored candidate is the one being hunted.

Persons: James Antle III, Hunter Biden’s, James Antle, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Hunter Biden, Maryellen Noreika, Noreika, couldn’t, Joe Biden, wasn’t, Biden, he’s, It’s, Kevin McCarthy, Trump, Jack Smith, Ron DeSantis, Hunter, Hillary Clinton, John Durham, Durham, “, ” Durham, ”, Joseph Ziegler, David Weiss, Weiss, Nixon’s Organizations: Washington Examiner, CNN —, Republican, Republicans, GOP, of Justice, Trump, Democratic, Justice Department, Florida Gov, Intelligence, FBI, DOJ, IRS, CNN, Twitter, Facebook Locations: New York, Iowa, Hampshire, Russia, Trump

☆ U.S. lawmakers extend social media investigation to Meta's Threads
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The letter, obtained exclusively by CNBC, is an early indication of the added spotlight Meta's newest product could bring to the company in Washington. "Indeed, Threads raises serious, specific concerns because it has been marketed as rival of ElonMusk's Twitter, which has faced political persecution from the Biden Administration followingMusk's commitment to free speech," Jordan wrote. On July 4, a federal judge in Louisiana granted in part a preliminary injunction in that suit that barred several Biden administration officials from meeting with social media companies to encourage them to remove or delete posts. It also prevented those officials from even flagging certain kinds of social media posts to the companies to encourage their removal or suppression. On Friday, an appeals court agreed to put a temporary pause on the preliminary injunction, meaning government flagging of social media posts could resume until the court further considers the case.

Persons: Jim Jordan, Jerrold Nadler, John Durham, Mark Zuckerberg, Biden, Elon Musk, Jordan, Twitter, Meta Organizations: CNBC, Twitter, Meta, Elon, Wall, Federal Trade Commission, Biden, State Department, Facebook, Washington Post, Apple, Google, Microsoft Locations: Ohio, Rayburn, Washington, Missouri, Louisiana

☆ How Trump turned the ‘law and order party’ into an enemy of the FBI
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Trump has pleaded not guilty in the classified documents case and in another prosecution in New York related to a hush money payment to an adult film star. “President Trump endured an unprecedented raid at his home in Mar-a-Lago. (A special counsel is still investigating classified documents found in Biden’s possession, while the Justice Department closed a case on the possible mishandling of documents found at Pence’s Indiana home.) Ron DeSantis and other Republicans have promised a comprehensive gutting of the FBI, Justice Department and other government agencies in response to what they claim is a wholesale effort to stop Trump winning the 2024 election. Some independent investigations looking at the Trump era have found wrongdoing or mistakes in the FBI.

Persons: Donald Trump pulsated, Christopher Wray, –, Wray, Biden, that’s, Wray’s, James Comey, Hillary Clinton, ”, George W, Harriet Hageman, Liz Cheney, Cheney, Jerrold Nadler, Justice Department –, Trump, Hunter Biden, Wesley Hunt, Biden didn’t, Biden’s, ” Hunt, Mike Pence, “, ” Wray, Jim Jordan –, Trump –, ” Jordan, Ron DeSantis, Richard Nixon, Comey, Matt Gaetz, DeSantis, Chris Wray, There’ll, ” DeSantis, Trey Gowdy, J, Edgar Hoover –, John Durham, William Barr, ’, Barr, David Weiss –, “ Weiss, COWARD, Bill Barr, ” Trump, didn’t Organizations: CNN, Republican, Trump, Democrats, FBI, Judiciary, Bush’s, Department, Wyoming Rep, Rep, Justice Department, GOP, Biden, Texas Republican, Pence’s Indiana, The Biden, Florida Gov, Justice, White, NBC, Fox News, DOJ, Committee, Foreign Intelligence, Delaware US Locations: Wyoming, York, New York, Moscow, Florida, Mar, Pence’s, Delaware, Ohio, Rehoboth , Delaware, Trump, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Durham

☆ FBI Director Christopher Wray, who is a Republican, says it's 'somewhat insane' to suggest he's biased against conservatives
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed exasperation that House Republicans would think he's biased against conservatives. A more sympathetic GOP lawmaker expressed hope that Wray wouldn't leave the party after a contentious hearing. Wray also began to snap back, at one point expressing shock that anyone would suggest he's biased against conservatives. The onslaught led Rep. Ken Buck, a Colorado Republican, to quip that he hoped Wray wouldn't leave the party. The reception illustrates the fury many conservatives hold for the FBI and Wray.

Persons: Christopher Wray, Wray, Wray wouldn't, Joe Biden's, Matt Gaetz, Edgar Hoover, Harriet Hageman, Ken Buck, Buck, Donald Trump, Chris Christie's, General Michael Horowitz, John Durham's, Ron DeSantis, wouldn't, CNN's Jake Tapper Organizations: Republican, Service, Republicans, Florida Republican, Wyoming Republican, Colorado Republican, FBI, Justice Department, New, New Jersey Gov, Florida Gov, CNN, GOP, The Colorado Republican Locations: Wall, Silicon, Florida, Wyoming, Colorado, New Jersey, United States

CNN —House Republicans unloaded a barrage of criticism directed toward FBI Director Christopher Wray Wednesday, outlining a litany of complaints while Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee. Chairman Jim Jordan opened the hearing launching into a wide array of attacks on the FBI. “House Republicans will attack the FBI for having had the audacity to treat Donald Trump like any other citizen. FBI Director Christopher Wray is sworn in prior to testifying before a House Judiciary Committee hearing. “We did stand up a whole dedicated unit to focus on threats to FBI, individuals, FBI employees and FBI facilities because of the uptick that we saw over that time period,” Wray said.

Persons: Christopher Wray, Wray, Jim Jordan, Hunter Biden, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, “, ”, Matt Gaetz, ” Wray, ” Gaetz, Edgar Hoover, Gaetz, Jonathan Ernst, ’ Wray, Trump . Jordan, Jordan, Jerry Nadler, ” Nadler, Saul Loeb, –, John Durham, Biden, Hunter, ” that’s, ” Jordan, Thomas Massie, Massie, Nadler, Jack Smith’s, – Wray Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, FBI, Catholic Church, Florida Republican, Reuters, GOP, Foreign Intelligence, Republican, Trump ., Ohio Republican, Republicans, Trump, DOJ, FISA, “, White, ” New York Rep, ”, Committee, Getty, CNN, US State Department, Biden, White House, Democratic National Committee, Capitol, Trump’s Locations: Richmond, Florida, Washington , DC, Ohio, United States, Russia, Durham, Ukrainian, Louisiana, Kentucky, Lago, Mar

☆ DOJ has spent over $9 million investigating Trump since special counsel was appointed
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Justice Department has spent over $9.2 million investigating former President Donald Trump since the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith in November, according to the first public accounting of his expenses. Smith’s office, leading the high-profile investigations into Trump, has spent more than $5.4 million between November and March 31, the Justice Department said. Other DOJ entities have spent an additional $3.8 million to support Smith. Another $1 million dollars paid for investigative support and more than $80,000 went to helping employees relocate while they worked for the special counsel. Durham spendingDurham, the special counsel appointed to investigate potential misconduct in the Trump-Russia probe, spent more than $7 million from the time he started his investigation as a special counsel, according to Friday’s filing.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Smith, Robert Hur, John Durham, Robert Mueller, Trump . Hur, Joe Biden’s, Hur, Durham, Hillary Clinton Organizations: CNN, The Justice, Trump, Justice Department, DOJ, White Locations: Russia, Durham, acquittals

☆ Special counsel Jack Smith spent $5.4 million on Trump probes through March
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Special counsel Jack Smith's office spent more than $5.4 million during the four and a half months since he took over two criminal probes centered on former President Donald Trump, the Department of Justice said Friday. Smith's operation spent the remainder of the money on travel, rent, printing, supplies, acquisition of equipment, according to the statement of expenditures. The DOJ on Friday also released separate spending reports for two other special counsels, Robert Hur and John Durham. The special counsels' activities are funded by the permanent appropriation for independent counsels, the reports note. Marshals Service also incurred a combined $3.8 million in support of Smith's probes, but that figure is not included in the $5.4 million total because the agencies paid their own respective costs.

Persons: Jack Smith, Donald Trump, Jack Smith's, General Merrick Garland, Smith, Trump, Joe Biden, Robert Hur, John Durham . Hur, Durham Organizations: US Department of Justice, Department of Justice, IT, DOJ, White, FBI, U.S . Marshals Service Locations: Washington ,, Durham

☆ John Durham Testifies, yet ‘Collusion’ Lives
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Holman W. Jenkins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Holman W. Jenkins Jr. is a member of the editorial board of The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Jenkins joined the Journal in May 1992 as a writer for the editorial page in New York. In February 1994, he moved to Hong Kong as editor of The Asian Wall Street Journal's editorial page. Mr. Jenkins won a 1997 Gerald Loeb Award for distinguished business and financial coverage. Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Jenkins received a bachelor's degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

Persons: Holman W, Jenkins, Mr, Gerald Loeb, William Smith Organizations: Street, William, William Smith Colleges, Northwestern University, University of Michigan Locations: New York, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Hobart

☆ Trump's defenders have launched a plan months in the making that ignores the substance of the indictment while attacking the credibility of federal prosecutors
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Supporters of Trump in Congress have now launched a plan months in the making to discredit federal prosecutors. McCarthy called it a "grave injustice" and said that House Republicans "will hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable." "God bless President Trump." As special counsel Jack Smith was preparing this week to release the indictment, Trump's allies on Capitol Hill were working overtime to prepare the defense of the former president. Jordan issued a series of letters to the Justice Department, demanding documents related to his investigation into Trump's handling of classified records.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, skims, Joe Biden —, Kevin McCarthy, Trump, McCarthy, Biden, Department's, Biden's, Hunter Biden, Jim Jordan of, Andy Biggs, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Jamie Raskin, Alvin Bragg, Jordan, Jack Smith, Trump's, John Durham, General Merrick Garland, Garland, Steven D'Antuono, Nancy Mace, Donald Trump, James, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, Cruz's, Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney, Romney Organizations: Trump, Service, Justice Department, Department, Republican, Republicans, FBI, Twitter, GOP, America, Department of Justice, Democratic, Capitol, Ohio Republican, Washington Field Office, South Carolina, CNN, ABC Locations: Congress, Florida, United States of America, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Arizona, New York, Russia, York, Manhattan, Bragg's New York, Trump's, Lago, Georgia, Washington, Texas, Utah

☆ Opinion: A boast that could sink Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. CNN —“I’m the one that got rid of Roe v. Wade,” former President Donald Trump boasted Tuesday on Newsmax. Congress has the power to rein in the court, wrote CNN legal analyst and law professor Steve Vladeck, whose new book “The Shadow Docket” focuses on the Supreme Court. Courtesy Boaz FreundIn 2019, then-President Trump issued an executive order requiring hospitals to post the prices of common medical services and procedures. For some, its celebration of a multiracial but purely fictional British aristocracy may even be a big part of its appeal.”As escapism, “Queen Charlotte” is a success.

☆ Why the Durham Report Matters to Democracy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The final report by special prosecutor John Durham. Special counsel John Durham ’s final report makes clear that a partisan FBI became a funnel for disinformation from the Hillary Clinton campaign through a secret investigation the bureau never should have launched. The 306-page Durham report released Monday afternoon is far more comprehensive than anything issued by original special counsel Robert Mueller . Mr. Durham had already unfurled some of the narrative with his prosecutions of Russian national Igor Danchenko and Democratic lawyer Michael Sussmann . He lost those cases, though the indictments laid out how the Clinton campaign used foreign nationals, an oppo-research outfit, and political insiders to feed the FBI and the media lies about Trump collusion.

☆ Special Counsel John Durham Criticizes FBI Actions in 2016 Trump-Russia Probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Aruna Viswanatha | Sadie Gurman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Special counsel John Durham said his report was based on more than 480 interviews, 190 subpoenas and other actions. Photo: Evan Vucci/Associated PressWASHINGTON—A special counsel appointed in President Donald Trump’s administration issued a highly critical report on how the FBI handled allegations linking Mr. Trump to Russia in 2016, ending four years of work Monday after having lost the two criminal cases he took to trial. In his 306-page report, John Durham , the former top federal prosecutor in Connecticut, repeated prior criticisms faulting the Federal Bureau of Investigation on a number of points.

☆ John Durham’s Report and a Presidency in Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Holman W. Jenkins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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