Threat Management

Huber, Justice IG probing into FBI bias, Page FISA app, Session says

A day after the Justice Department Inspector General said he was probing how investigators obtained a FISA on former Trump Campaign Adviser Carter Page, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that John Huber, the U.S. Attorney in Utah is looking into allegations of FBI misconduct.

"We understand that the Department is not above criticism and it can never be that the Department conceals errors when they occur," Sessions wrote in a statement.

The attorney general had been under pressure by Republican lawmakers to appoint a special counsel to probe bias in the FBI and Justice, but instead announced that Huber was at the helm of an ongoing investigation. 

"I am confident that Mr. Huber's review will include a full, complete and objective evaluation of these matters in a manner that is consistent with the law and facts," said Sessions, who explained Huber regularly updating him “and upon the conclusion of his review, will receive his recommendations as to whether any matters not currently under investigation should be opened, whether any matters currently under investigation require further resources, or whether any matters merit the appointment of a special counsel."

The move was met favorably by some GOP lawmakers, including House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., who, in a statement, called it “a step in the right direction” and praised Sessions “for demonstrating his commitment to this investigation by selecting an individual outside of Washington, DC to lead the review."

Justice IG Michael Horowitz's office said it will look into “information that was known to the DOJ and the FBI at the time the [FISA] applications [to surveil Page] were filed from or about an alleged FBI confidential source” as well as “the DOJ's and FBI's relationship and communications with the alleged source as they relate to the applications."

Get daily email updates

SC Media's daily must-read of the most current and pressing daily news

By clicking the Subscribe button below, you agree to SC Media Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.