WASHINGTON, D.C.— Following today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on findings of the DOJ inspector general’s report related to the Russia investigation, PFAW Senior Fellow Elliot Mincberg released the following statement:

“Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s testimony today made clear that the FBI properly opened a counter-surveillance investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 elections and contact with the Trump campaign, with no evidence of political bias or FBI ‘spying,’ despite unsupported claims by President Trump and Attorney General Barr to the contrary. In fact, Horowitz raised serious concerns about the criticism aimed at the report by Barr and U.S. Attorney John Durham. At the same time, as someone who has done significant oversight of the FBI and FISA matters, I was gratified to see IG Horowitz, FBI Director Wray, and both Republicans and Democrats on the committee express serious concerns about FBI management and supervisory failures concerning improper surveillance applications to the FISA court. The focus should be on correcting these failures on a nonpartisan basis, as Director Wray has pledged to do.”

About People For the American Way

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.