Raskin Calls For ‘Weaponization’ Inquiry Into Durham Probe

Daniel ChaitinFebruary 9, 2023

A top Democrat urged the House’s new panel dedicated to investigating the “weaponization” The federal government should shift its attention to special counsel John Durham‘s investigation into potential misconduct in the Trump-Russia probe.

In making his plea to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) on Thursday, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) seized on a recent report by The New York Times detailing alleged problems in Durham’This effort was initiated by William Barr, then-Attorney general.

“After four years and millions of dollars spent, the Durham investigation closed as a total flop without unearthing anything like the deep-state conspiracy that Republicans have been denouncing around here for years,” Raskin stated.

Durham’s team “couldn’t find anything of substance to it,” Raskin agreed. “Yet Barr and Durham kept pressing in clearly abusive ways. I hope your subcommittee will investigate.”

Raskin was a witness in the first hearing by the Select Subcommittee on The Weaponization Federal Government. He claimed that the panel should resign. “conspiracy theories” A warning is issued. “weaponized MAGA campaign” Focused on “restoring” Former President Donald Trump at the White House Despite Raskin’s assertion that Durham’s inquiry is “closed,” Publicly, there is no indication that the prosecutor completed his investigation or gave a final report.

Raskin is very critical of the Durham investigation that failed as it shows real weaponization of government.https://t.co/HRVi1WYlfs”>pic.twitter.com/HRVi1WYlfs

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 9, 2023

The New York Times article Publication last month claimed a long review “flaws” in Durham’s inquiry as well as “internal dissent and ethical disputes” Some dissatisfied prosecutors quit the team, leading to their resignation.

Barr condemned the report, saying the New York Times’ reporters “ignored some fundamental facts as to why some of the information that Durham was seeking was very important information.” He also stated that the article was not complete. “obvious reasons” for Durham’s investigation, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Still, the report by The New York Times gave fuel to Durham’s detractors in Congress. Dick Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee (D-IL). Threatened an investigation House Democrats and Justice Department inspector General to be reprimanded Start a review To determine if Barr or Durham is the best choice “violated any laws, DOJ rules or practices, or canons of legal ethics.”

A particularly shocking section of the article claims that Durham expanded his investigation in fall 2019 to include criminal investigations “suspicious financial dealings” Trump was linked to the tip of Italian officials. However, the report claimed that details were unclear and that Durham was not charged.

Barr retorted that the tip should be retained “was not directly about Trump” and argued it was appropriate to rope it into Durham’s investigation because “it did have a relationship to the Russiagate stuff. It was not completely separate from it. And it turned out to be a complete non-issue.”

Seemingly unaware of Barr’s comments, Raskin said the inquiry into the Italian tip “mysteriously disappeared without a trace.” He argued that House Republicans want to “pick up the baton from the defeated and demoralized Durham team and keep the wild goose chase going today.”