Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that no one who was involved of obtaining the FISA warrants in the FBI's operation, Crossfire Hurricane, was vindicated, including former FBI Director James Comey.
Following Monday's release of the Inspector General's report about the abuses on the part of the authorities to obtain the FISA warrants, Comey wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post claiming "the allegation of a criminal conspiracy was nonsense."
"It was just good people trying to protect America," Comey tweeted.
So it was all lies. No treason. No spying on the campaign. No tapping Trumps wires. It was just good people trying to protect America. https://t.co/9nurCaIBq2
— James Comey (@Comey) December 9, 2019
"But most important, Horowitz’s report found that the investigation was opened and conducted according to the rules, finding no 'evidence that political bias or improper motivation influenced [the] decision' to start it or how to run it," Comey wrote. "Those of us who knew that truth had to remain silent while a torrent of smears and falsehoods flowed from the White House, from some congressional committee chairmen, the attorney general and Fox News personalities. The FBI’s work was perceived as a threat to the president, and many Republicans apparently believe that all threats to Trump must be destroyed, no matter the cost to the nation."
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"Former FBI director James Comey said this week that your report vindicates him. Is that a fair assessment of your report?" Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) asked.
"I think the activities we found here don't vindicate anybody who touched this," Horowitz replied.
"So when Comey speaks about FISA, you shouldn’t listen," Graham said. "You should listen to Mr. Horowitz. He’s not vindicated. And to be concerned about the FISA warrant process is not nonsense."
The report stated the Inspector General's office found no evidence of political bias for the start of the FBI's investigation and that the investigation was justified. They did find 17 errors and incidents of omissions in the Carter Page FISA applications.
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