This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-jeff-sessions-fisa-inspector-general-comey-russia-obama-appoint-twitter-a8232901.html
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Trump berates Jeff Sessions over 'disgraceful' use of Obama-appointed Inspector General to investigate FISA abuse | Trump berates Jeff Sessions over 'disgraceful' use of Obama-appointed Inspector General to investigate FISA abuse |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Donald Trump has mounted a fresh attack on his attorney general, questioning his judgement on a federal investigation in a rambling tweet. | President Donald Trump has mounted a fresh attack on his attorney general, questioning his judgement on a federal investigation in a rambling tweet. |
| The president lashed out at Attorney General Jeff Sessions over his decision to appoint the Department of Justice inspector general to probe allegations of FBI surveillance abuse. | |
| "Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse," Mr Trump tweeted. | "Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse," Mr Trump tweeted. |
| "Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc," he added. "Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!" | "Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc," he added. "Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!" |
| Mr Sessions had announced the day before that the inspector general would investigate claims that the FBI inappropriately surveilled the Trump campaign during the 2016 election, using improperly obtained Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants. | Mr Sessions had announced the day before that the inspector general would investigate claims that the FBI inappropriately surveilled the Trump campaign during the 2016 election, using improperly obtained Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants. |
| The allegations stemmed from a memo written by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee, which Mr Trump declassified earlier this month. The memo claims the FBI obtained warrants to surveil former Trump campaign aide Carter Page based largely on a faulty opposition research dossier funded by Hillary Clinton's campaign. | |
| Democrats have pushed back at this idea, claiming in a rebuttal memo that the FBI made only "narrow use" of the opposition research dossier when obtaining warrants. | |
| “We believe the Department of Justice must adhere to the high standards in the FISA court,” Mr Sessions said at a news conference on Tuesday. “Yes it will be investigated. And I think that's just the appropriate thing the inspector general will take that as one of the matters he'll deal with.” | “We believe the Department of Justice must adhere to the high standards in the FISA court,” Mr Sessions said at a news conference on Tuesday. “Yes it will be investigated. And I think that's just the appropriate thing the inspector general will take that as one of the matters he'll deal with.” |
| Mr Trump has publicly criticised Mr Sessions official numerous times since taking office. This summer, he said he was "disappointed" in the attorney general's decision to recuse himself from the Justice Department investigation of possible Russian meddling in the election. | |
| Just last week, Mr Trump tweeted: "Question: If all of the Russian meddling took place during the Obama Administration, right up to January 20th, why aren’t they the subject of the investigation? ... Ask Jeff Sessions!" | |
| Mr Sessions has called the criticism "hurtful" but said he believes Mr Trump is a "strong leader". | |
| “I serve at the pleasure of the president,” Mr Sessions told the Associated Press last year. “I’ve understood that from the day I took the job.” | |
| More follows... | More follows... |