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FBI chief Wray refutes Barr, says no 'spying' on Trump campaign
Last month Bill Barr expressly stated he was of the mind that spying on the Trump campaign occurred:Barr: "We’re worried about foreign influence in elections ... I think spying on a political campaign — it’s a big deal, it’s a big deal. I’m not suggesting that [rules enacted to ensure there's adequate basis for investigative actions] were violated, but I think it’s important to look at that. I’m not talking about the FBI necessarily, but intelligence agencies more broadly."
Sen. Shaheen: "You’re not suggesting that spying occurred?"
Barr: "I think spying did occur."
(Source)
Yet later in the same hearing he remarked: "I’m not saying if improper surveillance occurred." (Source) Furthermore, Barr asserted the DoJ is investigating the FBI's investigation of Trump.
Today, Trump's handpicked FBI Director, Chris Wray, declared under oath:I was very concerned by [Barr's] use of the word spying, which I think is a loaded word," Shaheen said. "When FBI agents conduct investigations against alleged mobsters, suspected terrorists, other criminals, do you believe they're engaging in spying when they're following FBI investigative policies and procedures?"
"That's not the term I would use," Wray said of "spying." "So, I would say that's a no to that question."
-- FBI chief Wray refutes Barr, says no 'spying' on Trump campaign
So here we are:
- Trump's handpicked AG says he "thinks" there spying occurred, but fails to identify who (what organization) performed it, but he's not investigating the FBI.
- Trump's handpicked FBI Dir., in substance, asserts that no FBI surveillance or investigative policy-compliant activities are spying.
So what must one rationally conclude from the above?
- The AG was taking out of two sides of his mouth.
- Spying isn't what the FBI does.
- So-called "spying" occurred, but neither Barr nor Wray has identified who was spied upon and who did the spying.
Neither-- the Trump campaign was 'spied upon' or 'surveilled.' Wray doesn't like the word 'spy' in conjunction to what happened, and Barr said he doesn't know if the 'surveillance' was legal.