https://www.yahoo.com/news/ap-...-russia-051944789.html

DOJ's review of Russia probe shifts to a criminal inquiry
Associated Press MICHAEL BALSAMO,Associated Press 3 minutes 10 seconds ago

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department has shifted its review of the Russia probe to a criminal investigation, a person familiar with the matter says. It's a move that is likely to raise concerns that President Donald Trump and his allies may be using the powers of the government to go after their opponents.

The revelation comes as Trump is already facing scrutiny about a potential abuse of power, including a House impeachment inquiry examining whether he withheld military aid to pressure the president of Ukraine to launch an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

The person who confirmed the criminal investigation Thursday was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

It is unclear what potential crimes are being investigated, but the designation as a formal criminal investigation gives prosecutors the ability to issue subpoenas, potentially empanel a grand jury and compel witnesses to give testimony and bring federal criminal charges.

The Justice Department had previously considered it to be an administrative review, and Attorney General William Barr appointed John Durham, the U.S. attorney in Connecticut, to lead the inquiry into the origins of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. It's unclear when Durham's inquiry shifted to a criminal investigation.

Durham is examining what led the U.S. to open a counterintelligence investigation into the Trump campaign and the roles that various countries played in the U.S. probe. He is also investigating whether the surveillance methods and intelligence gathering methods used during the investigation were legal and appropriate.

Mueller's investigation shadowed Trump's presidency for nearly two years and outraged the Republican president, who cast it as a politically motivated "witch hunt." Mueller determined that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 election, but his investigation didn't find sufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russia. Mueller also examined 10 possible instances of obstruction of justice and has pointedly said he could not exonerate the president.

The New York Times first reported that Durham's inquiry had become a criminal investigation.

The chairmen of the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees, which are leading the impeachment inquiry, said in a statement late Thursday that the reports "raise profound new concerns" that Barr's DOJ "has lost its independence and become a vehicle for President Trump's political revenge.

"If the Department of Justice may be used as a tool of political retribution, or to help the President with a political narrative for the next election, the rule of law will suffer new and irreparable damage," Democratic Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Adam Schiff said.

The Justice Department has said Trump recently made several calls at Barr's request to foreign leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, to help the attorney general with the Durham investigation.

Barr also traveled with Durham to Italy in August and September, and the two met with Italian intelligence officials to seek information about the activities of FBI agents assigned there, Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte said Wednesday.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

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Dora Hates You

A politicized and weaponized Justice Department. Russian interference was proven, now trump wants revenge on those who started the investigation.

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Capitalism is based on the ridiculous notion that you can enjoy limitless growth in a closed, finite system.

In biology, such behavior of cells is called "cancer".

Odumbo and his cronies will hopefully get the Trump Treatment--Karma!

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Romans 8;18-32 John 3;16-18

http://www.google.com/amp/s/am...m/amp/article/503516/

So trump threatened to jail Hillary before he knew anything. Then he rejected the conclusion that there were no facts to jail her. She is currently drifting into obscurity only to be brought out during fox pundit ratings slumps. So trump uses the threat of criminal prosecution against Obama and anyone else who can take him back to that nostalgic time of 2016 when he had the house and the senate and couldn't get a thing done.

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"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.

I wonder how far Barr is willing to go as trump's henchman behind a badge.

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Capitalism is based on the ridiculous notion that you can enjoy limitless growth in a closed, finite system.

In biology, such behavior of cells is called "cancer".

More dramatics from the Reality Show party. When do the Real Housewives testify?

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When America was "great"

Ironic, the Russian agent who infiltrated the NRA and GOP is being released from Federal Prison in Tallahassee and is expected to be deported Siberia.

Barr is going to have to go too. #ImpeachBarr

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Capitalism is based on the ridiculous notion that you can enjoy limitless growth in a closed, finite system.

In biology, such behavior of cells is called "cancer".

Edited: 10/25/2019 at 10:12 AM by RustyTruck

Hopefully everyone will be held to the same standard that Flynn, Manafort, and Trump have been held to. Look under every rock going back a decade or more.

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"The government who robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul," - George Bernard Shaw

“Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f—k things up.” - Barack Obama

“End of quote. Repeat the line.” - wise words from Joe Biden

Every Rock in Russia or all those same overturned rocks here that keep getting flipped by the same people that don't accept the results of these investigations.

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"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.

sniper is hilarious!

Flynn, Manafort, Cohen, Gates, and so on were so damn guilty even with the President, Senate, House, and DOJ controlled by the GOP they couldn't stop it!



Edited: 10/25/2019 at 01:27 PM by Greensleeves

They were guilty of process crimes or things they did over a decade ago. They didn't go to jail/prison for anything relating to Trump/Russia collusion

Pretty sure that anyone wrapped up in Durham's investigation will be charged with things actually related to collusion and interfering in our election process. If those same people have done so much as jaywalk in the past decade, then they should be tried for those crimes too.

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"The government who robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul," - George Bernard Shaw

“Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f—k things up.” - Barack Obama

“End of quote. Repeat the line.” - wise words from Joe Biden

A politicized and weaponized Justice Department. Russian interference was proven, now trump wants revenge on those who started the investigation....HAHAha A Politicized Justice Department was the beginning of the fake Russian Collusion Narrative... only fitting that they investigate why they allowed surveillance of Trump based on a false narrative to begin with.

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Shouldnt start shit and not expect it back

^^^ Oh the irony from this Trumpanzee..

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When America was "great"

This will go badly for Barr. He's looking like he's had so much of the Kool Aide that he's breaking through wall with conspiracies.

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"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.

The shit has not yet begun to start. Just wait...

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Capitalism is based on the ridiculous notion that you can enjoy limitless growth in a closed, finite system.

In biology, such behavior of cells is called "cancer".

I think there's a law about investigating oneself. TrumPapschmere should know. But I doubt it.

KKKrammit, if there was ANYTHING about O that could have been investigated, it was done the entire 8 years. You're a perfect traitor follower. Stupid and racist. MAGA!!!! you fuggin fool.

Barr's secret testimonials ready and waiting!!




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When America was "great"

taking bets counselor, got any extra cash you want to get rid of?