Trump begins to intensify intelligence agency investigation

May 24, 2019, 10:42 AM UTC / Update May 24, 2019, 10:45 AM UTC

By Associated press

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has urged the US intelligence community to "cooperate quickly and fully" with Attorney General William Barr's investigation into the origins of the multi-year investigation into whether his 2016 campaign was a collusion with Russia.

The move Thursday marked an escalation in Trump's efforts to "investigate the investigators", while he continues to try to undermine the findings of the Special Investigator Robert's investigation. Mueller amid calls more and more Democrats to initiate impeachment proceedings against Trump.

Sarah Sanders, press secretary, said in a statement that Trump was delegating to Barr the "power to revoke the documents relating to the investigation", which would facilitate his efforts to review the confidential information underlying the investigation. # 39; investigation. Such an approach could create new tensions within the FBI and other intelligence agencies, which have always resisted such demands.

Barr has already asked John Durham, the US attorney in Connecticut, to review the origins of the investigation being conducted in Russia to determine whether the intelligence and surveillance methods used during the investigation Investigation were legal and appropriate. Nonetheless, Barr was directly involved, according to someone close to the case who was not allowed to discuss it publicly, and also works with CIA Director Gina Haspel, National Intelligence Director Dan Coats and the director of the CIA. FBI Christopher Wray.

Trump has often claimed that his campaign was a victim of espionage, although the intelligence services insisted that he act legally by following the instructions of the investigation on Russia and by monitoring the places under the judicial order.

Last year, Wray was opposed to the release by Congress of details of a secret surveillance warrant obtained by the office of a former campaign advisor, Carter Page. The White House had urged Republicans of the House's intelligence committee to divulge this classified information, saying that this could help undermine the investigation into Russia.

Wray, while cooperating with Barr in a review of the origins of the Russian investigation, is likely to be reluctant to classify classified information that may reveal sources or methods of sensitive investigators.

Although Mueller found no evidence in support of criminal charges against Americans related to Russia's actions, his report documented Russia's considerable efforts to interfere in the 2016 campaign and the will of some members of Trump 's orbit to accept their help.

Thursday's decision further reinforces Barr's position in Trump's eyes as a judicial warrior fighting for him.

After Mueller submitted his report to Barr in March, the Attorney General published a four-page summary in Congress. Barr's letter framed the debate over the investigation over the coming weeks and, according to White House officials, allowed Trump to declare his victory before the release of the full report, whose content is much more ambiguous.

Trump also appreciated Barr's combative stance with lawmakers and journalists while he defended the report's handling by the Justice Department, and again when he refused to appear before Congress and challenged a subpoena, firing a possible charge of contempt. Trump told close confidants that he "had" finally "had" my attorney general, according to two Republicans close to the White House who were not allowed to speak privately in private conversations.

"The measures taken today will help ensure that all Americans learn the truth about the events that occurred and the measures taken during the last presidential election and restore confidence in our public institutions", said Mr. Sanders.

Trump's congressional allies, representatives Mark Meadows and Jim Jordan, were seen by reporters earlier Thursday at the Department of Justice.