The U.S. Justice Department has opened a criminal inquiry into the origins of the Russia investigation, according to The New York Times. The Justice Department has been conducting an administrative review of the Russia investigation, but that review has now shifted into a criminal inquiry.
Now that a criminal investigation has been opened, prosecutor Durham has expanded powers to subpoena witnesses and impanel a grand jury, as noted by the Times.
In May, Attorney General William Barr appointed U.S. Attorney John Durham to look into the origins of the Russia investigation. Earlier this month, it was announced that Durham was broadening the scope of the investigation, adding agents and additional resources, and widening the timeline that was under investigation.
BREAKING: Justice Dept. elevates review of DOJ's own Trump-Russia inquiry to a criminal investigation. https://t.co/YZXMeTsEvl
— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) October 25, 2019
Interesting. The Justice Department has reportedly opened a criminal investigation into the Russia probe.https://t.co/wXCLuSlJ97
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) October 25, 2019
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz also told Congress on Thursday that his report on the findings from his investigation into potential FISA abuses would be released soon. Horowitz, an Obama appointee, announced in September that he had finished his inquiry into possible FISA abuses and would deliver his findings to Congress following an initial review from the Department of Justice.
BREAKING:The IG Report is being completed and will be out soon on the FISA and other abuses pic.twitter.com/eIxmUaCq6S
— Jim Blue (@TechTonicPlate) October 24, 2019