Ahead of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the results of an investigation to the effect that the FBI’s investigation into the “Russia scandal” that Russia colluded with Donald Trump’s Republican candidate camp at the time was revealed was inappropriate.
According to CNN and others on the 15th (local time), Special Prosecutor John Durham submitted a final report to the U.S. Department of Justice last week. In a report released by the Justice Department on the same day, the Durham Special Prosecutor pointed out that “the FBI launched an investigation based on information that has not been analyzed or verified.”
Previously, in July 2016, during the presidential election period, the FBI launched a full-scale investigation when allegations were raised that Russia was trying to interfere in the election in collusion with the Trump campaign. After Trump won the presidential election that year, he called the FBI investigation “a crime of the century in which investigative agencies and intelligence agencies collude,” and appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special prosecutor to investigate whether or not Russia intervened in the presidential election. However, the Mueller Special Prosecutor’s Office announced in March 2019 that it “could not establish whether Russia was involved.”
Two months later, the Trump administration appointed Durham as special counsel again, directing the FBI to reveal the details of the investigation. The Durham Special Counsel’s report summarizes the results of the investigation over the next four years. The Durham Special Counsel concluded that while pointing out that the FBI had launched an investigation without sufficient evidence, it found no evidence of collusion between the investigative agency and the intelligence agency.
Shortly after the results of the Durham investigation were announced, former President Trump said on social media, “After extensive investigation, the FBI came to the conclusion that it should not have started the investigation. The American public has been duped.” CNN analyzed, “With Trump re-challenging for the presidential election, (with the announcement of the special counsel), the 2016 presidential election debate between Russia, Trump, and the FBI will be reproduced.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.