President Trump declined to explain whether he has confidence in John Durham’s investigation into the origins of the Russia probe.
“I can’t tell you that yet,” the president said during Thursday’s press briefing when he was asked about the probe that has already resulted in one guilty plea so far, with the possibility of more, according to Attorney General William Barr.
“I have to see. I’m not involved in it,” Trump continued. “I purposely stated uninvolved. I’m, I guess, considered the chief law enforcement officer of the country. I could be involved if I wanted to. I thought it would be better if I wasn’t. I think it’s better if our great attorney general handles it. He has Durham, who is a very, very respected man, and we’re going to see what it is. I can’t tell you that.”
Durham is investigating how the FBI’s investigation, code-named Crossfire Hurricane, was opened. The case was wrapped into special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, which concluded in April 2019 that Russia interfered in 2016 in a “sweeping and systematic fashion” but “did not establish” any criminal conspiracy between Russia and Trump’s campaign after about two years.
The investigation has resulted in one guilty plea, Kevin Clinesmith, a former FBI lawyer, so far. He pleaded guilty to a false statements charge for altering a CIA email to say that former Trump campaign associate Carter Page was “not a source” when he had, in fact, been an operational contact for the agency.
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz, who conducted a separate inquiry, concluded that the Russia investigation had “sufficient factual predication” to be opened by the FBI. But Barr and Durham stated that they disagreed with Horowitz while conducting their own inquiries into the Russia investigation’s origins.
It’s unclear if the conclusions from Durham’s investigation will be revealed before November’s election.
