In his final report into the origins of the Russia inquiry, Special Counsel John Durham strongly criticized the FBI over its activities during the investigation into President Donald Trump’s alleged links to Russia. Durham’s 305-page report accuses the FBI of failing to show fidelity to the law while conducting its probe. Among the accusations made in the report are a serious lack of analytical rigor among senior FBI personnel and a reliance on unsupported information from Trump’s political opponents. Durham also notes that the FBI neglected material information that didn’t support the idea of a “collusive relationship” between Trump and Russia, and failed to question either the predication for the probe or whether agents were being politically manipulated.
Durham’s report condemned former FBI leadership, with particular criticisms aimed at Andrew McCabe and Peter Strzok. The report also critiques the bureau’s reliance on “raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence” and its use of the Steele Dossier as a basis for securing a warrant to spy on then-Trump campaign advisor Carter Page. Durham’s investigation yielded multiple indictments, but limited results in court. However, the report stopped short of calling for the investigation to be cancelled.
The FBI responded to the report by urging that the agency “continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect.”
Former President Donald Trump, who called the Russia investigation a “treasonous charade” started by Democrats and former FBI Director James Comey, released a statement on Truth Social calling for a “heavy price to pay” for those responsible for putting the country through the experience.
Durham was appointed in 2019 to review the Russia inquiry by then-Attorney General Bill Barr. The release of the final report is likely to intensify partisan tensions about alleged bias within the FBI and Justice Department.
Although Durham’s report didn’t recommend any new charges, it offered a scathing assessment of the FBI’s process in launching and carrying out the investigation. The findings are likely to exacerbate concerns about the FBI’s inability to properly handle politically charged investigations. In response to the report, Congress has launched an investigation into the supposed “weaponization” of the FBI and Justice Department.
Durham’s report will leave a lasting impact on the FBI’s reputation. Although the report largely supports Inspector General conclusions from 2019 along with changes the FBI has since implemented, Durham’s criticisms of the bureau’s behavior are cause for concern and may result in additional scrutiny from lawmakers and scrutiny over its future investigations.
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