New York Times: John Durham has turned attention to FBI's investigation into Clinton Foundation
Category: News & Politics
Via: john-russell • 4 years ago • 15 commentsBy: By Veronica Stracqualursi, CNN 8 hrs ago (MSN)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Citing people familiar with the matter, the Times reported Thursday that Durham has pursued documents and interviews about how federal authorities handled a probe into allegations of corruption at the charity of Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Durham was tapped by Barr last year to examine the origins of the FBI's 2016 investigation into Russia and the Trump campaign, but Thursday's report from the Times suggests the scope of Durham's investigation is broader.
According to the Times, Durham's team suggested to others that they're looking at whether the investigators in the Russia probe flouted laws or policies -- and that they were comparing the FBI Russia probe to the Clinton Foundation investigation.
The Times noted that it's unclear if Durham's team was looking for similar violations in the FBI's Clinton Foundation investigation. The newspaper also said it was not clear whether the comparison between the two FBI investigations would weigh into the outcome of Durham's inquiry for Barr.
Former law enforcement officials declined to discuss the charity investigation with Durham's team, because they viewed it as highly unusual, according to the Times.
A spokesman for Durham declined to comment to the Times.
The Clinton Foundation told the Times in a statement that it has been "regularly been subjected to baseless, politically motivated allegations, and time after time these allegations have been proven false."
Ahead of the 2016 election, FBI agents from four field offices had opened preliminary inquiries into whether there had been any impropriety in the Clinton Foundation's dealings with donors.
They sought to get permission to formally conduct investigations, including the ability to subpoena records, causing tensions within the bureau and the Justice Department, CNN previously reported.
Justice officials declined to give the authorization for overt investigative techniques, citing a lack of sufficient evidence and concerns about the close proximity to the election, CNN reported at the time.
CNN reported in 2018 that the FBI and federal prosecutors began actively investigating whether Clinton Foundation donors were improperly promised policy favors or special access to Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of state in exchange for donations to the charity, as well as whether tax-exempt funds were misused.
The Times reported that the charity was served in 2018 with a grand jury subpoena for foundation records and complied.
CNN reported in January that a Department of Justice review of business dealings tied to Hillary Clinton essentially came to a close with officials not finding enough evidence to recommend the formal opening of a criminal investigation. The Justice Department, however, did not formally close the review, which was launched by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions and led by US Attorney John Huber.
President Donald Trump and Republicans have accused the Clinton Foundation of being a corrupt and opaque institution, while the foundation has always rejected the "pay-for-play" accusations.
Congressional Democrats have raised concerns over Durham's investigation, questioning whether it's being misused for political purposes.
This story has been updated with additional background information.
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Hot off the presses --- Bill Barr wants Durham to interview Vince Foster and Linda Tripp from the Great Beyond.
Next Durham will be investigating where Jimmy Hoffa was buried.
I think we could draw a straight line from Durham investigating the Clinton Foundation to Donald Trump's lips.
If there is an existing photo of Hoffa with either of the Clintons you will be proved correct. .
For Trump's DOJ, James Hoffa, Jimmy's son is close enough.
Still investigating the investigators?
Pathetic and desperate.
Again? Oh. Brother.
Dump Trump 2020!
They are just trying divert attention from the Trumpbino crime family.
The New York Times is reporting that the highest echelon of the US military is discussing their options on how to react to Donald Trump committing a post election coup to try and hold onto the government. The story goes so far to discuss whose role it would be to enter the Oval Office and arrest him. Answer - the US Marshals or the Secret Service.
I don't know why anyone would give much credence to the Fishwrap of Record
History will record that at the bitter end of Trumpism America suffered of an orgy of abuses of power...
Durham came up with zip so he wants to go fishing!
There is no there there.
I would not bet the farm on that.
More unnamed, undocumented, sources from the the supposed news people. At least this time they had the common sense to mention they didn't know what Durham was looking for.
There are two ways to fuck up an investigation. Conduct an illegal one using a fake piece of shit Steele dossier paid for by the Clinton campaign; or simply not follow leads and conduct a worthless investigation that leads nowhere and results in no damn charges against anyone (like the Clinton Foundation investigation). Same damn people involved in the FBI- but completely different set of biases. Pro Clinton- investigation goes nowhere; and results in nothing. TDS suffering anti Trump- investigation started and conducted by any damn means necessary- even if it was illegal.