Special Counsel John Durham has completed his probe into the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) "Crossfire Hurricane" investigation which morphed into the broader Trump-Russia probe by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The report minced no words in its criticism of the FBI and DOJ:
"Based on the review of Crossfire Hurricane and related intelligence activities, we conclude that the Department and the FBI failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law in connection with certain events and activities described in this report," the report said.
Durham said his investigation also revealed that "senior FBI personnel displayed a serious lack of analytical rigor towards the information that they received, especially information received from politically-affiliated persons and entities."
"This information in part triggered and sustained Crossfire Hurricane and contributed to the subsequent need for Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation," the report said. "In particular, there was significant reliance on investigative leads provided or funded (directly or indirectly) by Trump's political opponents."
"The Department did not adequately examine or question these materials and the motivations of those providing them, even when at about the same time the Director of the FBI and others learned of significant and potentially contrary intelligence," the report said.
In sum, the Trump-Russia probe never should have happened.
Even CNN's Jake Tapper called Durham's report "devastating to the FBI."
CNN'S Jake Tapper says the Durham report — which found the Russian collusion probe should've never been launched — is "devastating to the FBI" pic.twitter.com/HXxSOssuN4
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 15, 2023
In response to the release of Durham's report, former President Trump wrote:
WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe! In other words, the American Public was scammed, just as it is being scammed right now by those who don’t want to see GREATNESS for AMERICA!
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has written to Durham, inviting him to testify before the Judiciary Committee next week.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) May 15, 2023
Special Counsel John Durham's report can be read in its entirety here.