Did The FBI Do Something Illegal? Inspector General's Report On Russia Investigation Expected Next Month

The Justice Department’s inspector general is expected to release his report on the FBI Russia investigation Dec. 9, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Thursday.

Attorney General William Barr ordered the investigation into whether the FBI acted improperly in initiating its investigation into whether the 2016 Trump presidential campaign coordinated with the Russian effort to interfere with the presidential election.

“I look forward to reviewing the report and hearing Mr. [Inspector General Michael] Horowitz’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee where he will deliver a detailed account of what he found regarding his investigation, along with recommendations as to how to make our judicial and investigative systems better,” Graham said in a statement.

The report is expected to address whether the FBI violated surveillance laws or policies in seeking a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant against Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser to President Trump’s campaign.

Trump has alleged the FBI illegally spied on his campaign and was secretly working to get Democrat Hillary Clinton elected.

Documents supporting the FISA warrants say the FBI had reason to believe Page had been targeted by Russian recruiters and was “collaborating and conspiring with the Russian government.”

Documents supporting the warrants accuse Page of establishing “relationships with Russian government officials, including Russian intelligence officers.” They said the FBI believed “the Russian government’s efforts are being coordinated with Page and perhaps other individuals associated with” the Trump campaign.

Some of the material supporting the warrants came from the so-called Steele dossier, opposition research compiled at the request of the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign by former British spy Christopher Steele. Republicans have labeled the dossier dubious.

Page has ridiculed the allegations as “ridiculous.”

“I’ve never been an agent of a foreign power by any stretch of the imagination,” he said on CNN.

No charges were filed against him.