‪‪Jefferson Sessions‬, ‪Donald Trump‬, ‪United States Department of Justice‬, ‪Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act‬, ‪Barack Obama‬, ‪Opioid epidemic‬‬ Feb 28, 2018 - Now

Jefferson Sessions‬, ‪Donald Trump‬, ‪United States Department of Justice‬, ‪Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act‬, ‪Barack Obama‬, ‪Opioid epidemic‬‬ Feb 28, 2018 - Now

Trump slams Sessions for using 'Obama guy' to investigate 'massive FISA abuse'

President Trump put Attorney General Jeff Sessions back in his political crosshairs on Wednesday, blasting him for tapping an “Obama guy” to investigate allegations of government surveillance abuse.

The president was reacting to Sessions revealing a day earlier that the Justice Department’s inspector general will investigate the allegations, in light of memos released on Capitol Hill about FBI and DOJ efforts to obtain FISA warrants to spy on a former Trump campaign adviser.

“Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc. Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!” Trump wrote.

President Donald Trump complained about the action on Twitter on Wednesday morning.

Sessions, appearing at a news conference announcing a new opioid task force, was asked about House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes' controversial memo outlining purported surveillance abuses and told reporters that "the inspector general will take that as one of the matters he'll deal with."

Sessions confirmed on Tuesday, in response to a question from Fox News’ Catherine Herridge, that the abuse accusations would be investigated at the IG level.

“The inspector general will take that as one of the matters he'll deal with,” he said, in reference to DOJ IG Michael Horowitz.

Horowtiz for months has been investigating the FBI and DOJ’s actions related to the probe of Hillary Clinton’s private email use while secretary of state.A final report is expected soon, though Trump seemed to complain Wednesday about the amount of time it has taken.

When the Nunes memo, which focuses on the FISA warrants on former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page, was released earlier this month, Sessions signaled that any abuses of the process would be investigated.

"We believe the Department of Justice must adhere to the highest standards in the FISA court, and yes, it will be investigated, and I think that's just the appropriate thing," Sessions added.

 

Sessions reiterated to Fox News last week that every FISA warrant "submitted to that court ha[s] to be accurate" and "that will be investigated and looked at."His comments Tuesday took the matter a step further by directly putting the accusations by House Republicans on the inspector general's plate.

"Congress has made inquiries concerning an issue of great importance for the country and concerns have been raised about the Department's performance," Sessions said in a statement at the time. "Accordingly, I will forward to appropriate DOJ components all information I receive from Congress regarding this. I am determined that we will fully and fairly ascertain the truth."

A spokesperson for the inspector general's office acknowledged the referral but declined to comment further.The office is currently examining how investigations were handled at the department and the FBI in advance of the 2016 presidential election, including, notably, the Hillary Clinton email server probe.