Attorney General William Barr on Wednesday reportedly released a new set of restrictions covering FBI investigations of political candidates.
The memo, obtained by The New York Times, stated that the Department of Justice has the responsibility to make sure that elections are “free from improper activity or influences.” Barr’s orders come after Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz found that the FBI’s investigation into President Trump’s former campaign aide, Carter Paige, was ridden with errors and falsified info.
Under the new guidelines, the FBI must get Barr’s approval before investigating any 2020 presidential candidates or their senior staff, the Times reports.
Agents must first talk with relevant officials and the Justice Department before opening any probe into “illegal contributions, donations or expenditures by foreign nationals to a presidential or congressional campaign.”
According to the newspaper, Barr is the first attorney general to impose such guidelines, though past attorneys general have advised the FBI to use the utmost sensitivity when it comes to political investigations.
Barr has sparked widespread criticism over how he has handled politically charged cases in the past, such as the delivery of the Mueller report to Congress.
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Barr directs FBI to get his permission before investigating 2020 candidates: report https://t.co/h2dp5WTrwv pic.twitter.com/FZvmQBUqJl
— The Hill (@thehill) February 6, 2020
But they’re free to ask other countries to do it? 🤔 https://t.co/ZgVLtUMAf4
— 97% William LeGate 🧢 (@williamlegate) February 6, 2020
I have multiple sources inside the Justice Department that tell me when Barr became Attorney General he shut down *six* separate investigations into Trump and Trump related companies and surrogates.
I'm told Barr has also prevented *two new* investigations from moving forward. https://t.co/ikK9WCfuXU
— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) February 7, 2020
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