Justice Department Will Investigate Alleged FBI Abuse

The Justice Department's internal watchdog is going to investigate reports of alleged FBI misconduct in the Russia investigation—but it's not a move that goes far enough for Republicans, who accuse the department of abusing its powers because of anti-Trump bias. Justice Department Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz says his office will investigate alleged abuses of surveillance powers in the wiretapping of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, the AP reports. The alleged abuses, which involved a Russia dossier compiled by British ex-spy Christopher Steele, were outlined in a controversial House Intelligence Committee memo on the FBI released last month.

House Republicans say that while they are glad the matter is being investigated, what they really wanted was a second special counsel, the New York Times reports. "This is not a substitute for a special counsel to investigate this and other matters," said House Judiciary Committee Rep. Robert W. Goodlatte, noting that Horowitz's office doesn't have the power to "compel witness interviews." Democrats, meanwhile, say the probe is an attempt to undermine Robert Mueller's investigation, but they are confident the FBI will be cleared. President Trump complained last month about Jeff Sessions asking the DOJ watchdog to investigate, saying it would be too slow, CNN reports. "Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy?" he tweeted. "Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL." (More Justice Department stories.)