Five conclusions to retain Barr's new powers in connection with a spying investigation

President TrumpDonald John TrumpNASA, Leader of the Lunar Leadership Mission, Leaves Several Weeks After His Appointment The Hill & # 39; s Morning Report – After a Controversial Week, Trump Moves to Japan Frustration Overflows with the Senate's "Legislative Cemetery" NEXT this week gave the Attorney General William BarrWilliam Pelham BarrThe morning of Hill's Report – After a controversial week, Trump heads to Japan House Intelligence and the Justice Department enjoys a breakthrough. Schiff denounces Trump's "non-US" order to intelligence agencies to cooperate with Barr PLUS probe new authorities to review and possibly publish classified documents related to the investigation of the Ministry of Justice on the origins of the investigation in Russia.

This decision is widely viewed as an effort by Trump to intensify his administration's oversight of his 2016 campaigners. The president and his allies suggested that federal officials had been biased against him. by inappropriately opening the investigation into Russian electoral interference.

Mr Barr announced last month that he would examine the "genesis and conduct" of the investigation on Russia, adding that he thought the Trump campaign was "spied on" and wished to see it. To ensure that it was "properly established". These remarks were criticized by the Democrats, who accused him of advancing a conspiracy theory.

Here are five things you need to know about Trump's new direction.

Sweeping powers for Barr

Thursday night, Trump briefed the top intelligence officials, including the director of national intelligence. Dan CoatsDaniel (Dan) Ray CoatsHillicon Valley: Facebook co-founder calls for dissolution of company | Facebook pushes back | Experts study 2020 candidates to counter the "deepfake" threat | FCC votes to block China Mobile | Groups and lawmakers accuse Amazon of violating children's privacy Experts study behavior of 2020 candidates to help counter the threat of "counterfeit" videos Bolton held an unexpected meeting on Iran with top advisers at the CIA: report and director of the ICA Gina HaspelGina Cheri HaspelThe Republican "convinced" that threats against Iran are credible Bolton held an unexpected meeting on Iran with leading informants and military advisers to the CIA., to cooperate "rapidly and fully" with Barr's investigation of "surveillance activities" in the 2016 elections.

Barr has also been given the power to unilaterally declassify the documents related to the investigation, which allows him to "ask" intelligence officials to declassify them. These documents are generally subject to an inter-agency process to determine what can be declassified and made public, and the originating agency must approve the final declassification.

The White House memo sent Thursday to intelligence agencies said Barr should, "to the extent that he deems it feasible," consult intelligence officials before declassifying certain documents.

This decision gives Barr considerable new powers to post and distribute highly confidential documents collected by the FBI and the CIA during the investigation into Russia.

"As far as I know, it is unprecedented for the president to delegate his declassification power to a person who is not the original classifier," said Steven Cash, former CIA officer and former Chief Counsel of Sen. Dianne FeinsteinDianne Emiel Feinstein Feinstein, Iranian Foreign Minister, Dined in Tensions: Jeffrey Rosen Report Formally Sworn to Deputy Attorney General This Week: Democrats, White House Ready for Infrastructure and Budget Negotiations MORE (D-Calif.).

"He is now in the chain of command regarding the classification between the president and Coats, or Haspel, or whoever of the information," added Cash, who is now a lawyer specializing in security law at the Day Pitney Law Firm.

Trump's gesture also reflects his growing confidence in Barr, who has earned the President's praise for his management of special councils. Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan MuellerGraham: The Mueller investigation is a progressive "rectal political exam": Pelosi is right "on dismissal. Democrats talk about subpoena for Mueller MOREReport and decision to open an investigation into the origins of the investigation into Russia.

The new declassification powers are limited to the elements of Barr's inquiry into the Russian investigation. The memo released on Thursday indicates that the powers will end when Barr leaves his post and will not extend to the next Attorney General.

Potential for conflict with the intelligence community

Trump is no stranger to the conflict with US intelligence and former officials say his latest decision could put intelligence leaders in a difficult position.

While it is not unusual for the intelligence community to cooperate with law enforcement investigations, some former officials have said it would be problematic if Trump were to use agencies to attack his political enemies. .

John Sipher, a retired member of the CIA's underground service, said that this could create problems for Haspel and others if the president were looking for "scapegoats" responsible for collecting information that served as the basis for investigation of Russia.

"Let's hope that Barr and the members of Justice's national security structure act in a standard way. They can get the information they need, "said Sipher. "If he tries himself to make sure that the president uses specific information for political ends, then it is irresponsible."

Some also say that even the threat of decommissioning materials could cool existing intelligence sources and make it difficult to cultivate new sources. Foreign partners may also be cautious about sending information to the US if they think this information could be made public.

The extent to which intelligence agencies were consulted prior to Thursday's announcement is unknown.

Coats said in a statement Friday afternoon that he would provide Barr with the "relevant information" in his account. He also expressed confidence that the Attorney General would work with the intelligence community "in accordance with long established standards to protect highly sensitive classified information that, if made public, would endanger our national security".

An FBI spokesman declined to comment and a CIA spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Barr's use of the term "espionage" is already contradicting him with FBI director Christopher Wray, who told legislators during his testimony early this month that he would not use the term to describe legal investigations of the FBI. Wray also stated that he had no evidence "personally" that FBI agents had illegally monitored the Trump campaign.

At the same time, Wray described Barr's review as appropriate and said he had been "in close enough contact" with the Attorney General to help him.

Democratic fury meets Republican praise

Democrats, already critical of Barr's treatment of Mueller's findings, accused Trump and the Attorney General of trying to politicize the nation's intelligence apparatus. Some have suggested that the administration may be seeking to selectively publish classified documents to form a false narrative.

Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffThe Hill & # 39; s Morning Report – After a controversial week, Trump heads to Japan House Intelligence and enjoys a breakthrough with the Justice Department, Schiff denounces the "non-American" order from Trump to intelligence agencies to cooperate with the probe Barr PLUS (D-Calif.) Described Trump's order in a statement Friday as "a corrupt escalation of the president's intent, with the help of the attorney general, to give the weapon and politicization of intelligence and intelligence services." law enforcement of the country ".

Schiff added that its committee "will conduct a rigorous review of all steps to selectively reveal and distort classified information, misuse the declassification process and endanger sources and methods, thus undermining our security."

Trump's Republican allies have long called for an investigation into Russia's investigation, highlighting text messages exchanged by FBI agents critical of Trump before the elections.

Some have also reviewed the use by the FBI of information provided by Christopher Steele – author of the untracked Trump-Russia file – as part of a warrant request to spy on the former advisor to the United States. Trump's campaign, Carter Page, alleging that the office had not properly revealed the researcher's democratic connection.

"Exceptional – President Trump authorizing Attorney General to declassify records related to oversight at the 2016 election," House Freedom Caucus Chair Mark MeadowsMark Randall MeadowsHillicon Valley: Lawmakers Seek 'Time Out' for Facial Recognition Technology | DHS asks cyber security staff to volunteer for border assistance | Judge says Qualcomm has violated antitrust law | Bill Calls for a National Security Strategy 5G Lawmakers Call for a Break in Face Recognition DeVos Technology, a Michigan Family, Stops Supporting Amash MORE (RC), a close friend of Trump, wrote on Twitter. "Americans will learn the truth about what happened in their Ministry of Justice."

Other key Republicans, such as the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Richard BurrRichard Mauze BurrThe Morning's Morning Report – After a controversial week, Trump travels to Japan, Trump Jr. denounces the Republican committee chairman: "Too weak to stand up to the Democrats", the MJ plans to show the Senate the Intel Mueller report less redacted (R.N.C.), did not speak publicly. A spokesman for Burr declined to comment on Friday.

Trump's calls to "investigate investigators" become stronger

Thursday's developments illustrate Trump's calls to "investigate the investigators" – a message he used to counter the attack on Democrat investigations following the release of the Mueller report.

Trump accused FBI officials involved in the first investigation into Russia – former director of the FBI James ComeyJames Brien ComeyTrump orders intelligence agencies to cooperate with investigator Barr to "spy on" the 2016 campaign Attorney General Barr warns former intelligence officials that Christopher Steele's nugget was easily refuted – but the FBI did not wince anymore, former deputy director Andrew McCabeAndrew George McCabeTrump accuses Hillary Clinton of having "destroyed the lives" of his campaign collaborators. The Mueller report concludes that it was not necessary. Ten questions after the Mueller affair that could tip investigators over collusion in Russia MORE and others – to engage in "treason".

On Friday, Trump denied claiming "compensation" following Mueller's two-year investigation, which did not result in accusations of conspiracy against Russia against members of his campaign, but nevertheless took trap some of his allies. Mueller's final report contained embarrassing details about Trump's attempts to take control of the investigation, but ultimately failed to reach a judgment on the president's possible opposition to justice.

Trump has called Russia's investigation "an attempted coup d'etat or attempt to dismantle the US president" in a statement Friday to reporters.

"I do not care about the return on investment," said Trump. "I think it's very important that our country discovers what has happened."

More shoes to leave

The recent decision by Trump ensures that its administration will publish some documents in the early stages of the investigation into Russia.

Trump has long stated that he would declassify and release sensitive documents, including the petition filed in the Foreign Intelligence Oversight Court, a much redacted version that the Department of Justice released last summer under the pressure of the Republicans.

Last fall, Trump came back on the quick release of documents on Russia after the Department of Justice – then led by Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsAmash: Some of Trump's actions were "inherently corrupt". Voters "persuaded" are key to the 2020 elections – and Jeffrey Rosen, an unscrupulous news sector, officially sworn in as Deputy Attorney General SUI – and the American allies have raised objections.

Trump told reporters on Friday that he was leaving Barr to decide on the publication.

"I declassified, potentially, millions of pages of documents. I do not know what it is. I have no idea. But I want to be transparent, "said Trump. "We now have documents that I declassified for Attorney General's purposes. He can then show them to the public, do what he wants with. "

Barr operated John DurhamJohn DurhamTrump orders intelligence agencies to cooperate with investigator Barr on "espionage" of the 2016 campaign Attorney General Barr warns former intelligence officials that Roger Stone plans to sue for know he was being spied on by the FBI., the Connecticut American lawyer, to lead the exam. Meanwhile, the Inspector General of the Department of Justice, Michael Horowitz, is conducting a parallel investigation into the FBI's request for Page's mandate. The survey is expected to be completed by June and it is likely that Horowitz will soon publish a report on its findings.