In a bombshell statement before Congress on Wednesday, US Attorney General Bill Barr stated his believe that “I think spying did occur” against President Trump’s 2016 campaign – shocking proponents of the now-debunked allegations of Russian collusion.
Barr’s comments implied potential criminal behavior on the part of many within the Obama-era intelligence community, and came as a stark blow for many whose hopes of impeaching President Trump hinged upon the recently-submitted Mueller report.
For Trump’s political opponents, as well as many propagators of the collusion allegations, the Attorney General’s findings have not been easy to accept, leading to condemnation from several prominent Democrats and liberal media pundits.
NEW: AG Barr tells Congress “I think spying did occur, yes. I think spying did occur” on the Trump campaign. He adds “The question was whether it was adequately predicated. And I’m not suggesting it wasn’t predicated. I need to explore that” pic.twitter.com/oh1ATTpM4a
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) April 10, 2019
Among those were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who denounced AG Barr’s remarks as “very dismaying and disappointing,” while accusing Barr of “going off the rails.”
A clearly-frustrated Pelosi noted that Barr “is the Attorney General of the USA, not the Attorney General of Donald Trump,” echoing the sentiments of several of her colleagues.
Several prominent Democrats and others within the left-leaning media made similar remarks questioning Barr’s loyalty to the US, in an attempt to cast further doubt on the results of the Mueller probe.
.@SpeakerPelosi on Barr’s “spying” comments: “It’s very very dismaying and disappointing that the chief law enforcement officer of our country is going off the rails.”
“He is the Attorney General of the USA, not the Attorney General of Donald Trump.”
— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) April 10, 2019
These comments directly contradict what DOJ previously told us. I’ve asked DOJ to brief us immediately. In the meantime, the AG still owes us the full Mueller report. #ReleaseTheReport https://t.co/DFOP5igcnO
— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) April 10, 2019
Mr. Barr knows how counter-intel investigations work. He knows there was ample evidence of Russian attempts to infiltrate the Trump campaign and that the FBI took lawful action to stop it. Giving a wink and a nod to this long-debunked “spying” conspiracy theory is irresponsible.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) April 10, 2019
Schiff on Barr’s ‘spying’ remark: “This type of partisan talking point may please Donald Trump, who rails against a ‘deep state coup,’ but it also strikes another destructive blow to our democratic institutions.
“The hardworking men and women at the DOJ and FBI deserve better.”
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 10, 2019
The crony Attorney General of the United States William Barr just accused the @FBI of “spying” on the Trump campaign.
William Barr’s loyalty is not to the Constitution nor the American people.
William Barr has confirmed today he serves & is loyal to @realDonaldTrump.
— Fernand R. Amandi (@AmandiOnAir) April 10, 2019