An update because I'm a sadist that likes to give redhats some hope. Conveniently in time for election season: https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/19/bill-barr-russia-investigation-report-088416 Barr: Durham report on Russia investigation won’t be ready ‘for quite a few months’ “He is moving very diligently,” the attorney general said. Attorney General William Barr on Thursday said that he does not expect U.S. Attorney John Durham’s report on the origins of the Russia investigation “for quite a few months.” “He is moving very diligently,” the attorney general told Fox News' Martha MacCallum in an interview. But he cast doubt on some estimates that Durham could file his report as soon as the next few weeks, citing the scope of the investigation. Barr added that he has not been involved in the day-to-day operations of the probe, nor had he given Durham a specific timeline for completion. “Just based on my general knowledge of the things that he is looking at or has to look at in the future,” he explained, “I would not think that he would be in a position for quite a few months.” Barr tapped Durham, the U.S. attorney in Connecticut, in May to oversee the probe into whether the 2016 counterintelligence investigation into President Donald Trump and his campaign was “lawful and appropriate.” “He’s not just looking at the FISA aspect of it. He is looking at all the conduct, both before and after the election.” Durham’s impending report has been held up by the president and his allies as a way to counter the scrutiny and allegations of foreign interference he has faced surrounding the 2016 election. They had similarly touted a report from the Justice Department’s inspector general, Michael Horowitz, that looked more specifically at the process used to secure warrants to surveil a former Trump campaign aide. While that investigation ripped the FBI and found a slew of serious errors and omissions had taken place, the watchdog report found that the investigation had not been tainted by political bias. The scope of Durham's investigation has been characterized as wide-ranging; Barr confirmed earlier this fall that Durham has been conducting foreign outreach as part of the investigation. In October, it evolved into a criminal investigation, which Barr confirmed Thursday. “He is looking at other agencies and also private — departments, and also private actors. So it is a much broader investigation,” Barr said of Durham's probe. “And also, he’s not just looking at the FISA aspect of it. He is looking at all the conduct, both before and after the election.” Part of what Durham has been examining, Barr explained, included dealing “with some of the various theories that have been thrown out and show one way or another whether they are valid or not. So the fact that you are looking into certain allegations does not necessarily mean you give them credence.” He added: “And the media understood that when Bob Mueller was doing his work, and they should bear that in mind when they are watching Durham.” While Barr reiterated that he was letting Durham run the investigation “as he sees fit,” he did not shy away from doubling down on criticism of past leaders of the Justice Department and FBI for their handling of the probe that was ultimately taken over by special counsel Robert Mueller. He argued that former Attorney General Loretta Lynch or former FBI Director James Comey should have provided Trump with a defensive briefing when authorities received a tip that a campaign adviser George Papadopoulos had disclosed his knowledge of Russian-held “dirt” on Hillary Clinton in 2016. Barr publicly split with Horowitz earlier this month over the inspector general’s conclusion that the Russia probe was adequately predicated, and pushed back on that finding once again Thursday. He agreed with MacCallum when she characterized the publicly stated origin of the probe — the Papadopoulos tip — as “really a very thin thread to go on,” arguing Papadopoulos’ boast “had very little probative value” based on “rampant speculation” to that effect in political and media circles. And when it came to renewals of FISA warrants on Trump campaign aide Carter Page, Barr contended, “I just think that by the time the president entered office, around that time, it was becoming clear that there was no basis to these allegations.” Still, he said he would accept Durham’s eventual conclusion, whatever that may be. “I certainly will rely on John,” he said, explaining that his decision to appoint Durham stemmed from his “sterling” reputation “as legendary within the department.”
Through the Law of Synchronicity - thank you Marianne Williamson- the Durham report or reporting out (not sure he is going to do a formal report) will arrive right after or during the Dem Convention. Thank you Mr. Barr.
Christopher Steele refuses to cooperate with Durham. I think a little bit of pissing Durham off right about now could be a good thing. Some others will get squeezed twice as hard. Trump 'dossier' author Christopher Steele rejects prosecutor's interview request https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...s-prosecutors-interview-request-idUSKBN20T31O
Steele was concerned that Durham’s investigation was overly politicized and he would not be treated fairly, the sources said. Oh that's rich.
"Some of those targeted by Durham, including senior former aides to President Barack Obama who raised questions about Trump’s connections to Russia before the 2016 election, have expressed concern the probe could be used to retaliate against them." Yeh but Steele is in the UK and hard to extradite just for an interview. You would have to charge him or something. However, the Obama Cabal is not in the UK and could be called as witnesses and forced to testify the minute they or one of their buddies is charged with anything or becomes the target of an grand jury investigation. Brennan and Clapper, I am lookin' at you. Of course they would have the right to remain silent too, but that does not have a good look to it. giggle .
Durham report/findings being slowed somewhat by the Wuhan Virus. Not to worry. It just means that Bill Barr has a perfectly fine excuse for dumping the findings right before the election whereas DOJ policies state that that should be avoided in politically sensitive matters unless there is a good reason. A pandemic is a good excuse for why it could not have been completed earlier. It's all good. Maybe even better.