DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz testified before congress today on matters relating to the overall IG office. However, with Democrat majority chairs refusing to call Horowitz for testimony on the recent Comey Report, republicans on the House Oversight Committee took advantage of the opportunity to ask questions about the FISA investigation and the prior IG reports on James Comey and Andrew McCabe.
The full hearing is below. However, to save time the key parts of the discussion are time sequenced and identified (each prompted, just hit play):
[@59:55] IG questioning by Rep. Hice begins to center on issues related to the IG report on FISA. Mr. Horowitz discusses the current status of the FISA IG report as under rough draft review by AG Bill Barr, where decisions on classification are taking place.
[@01:11:55] Rep Steube asks Horowitz about the criminal referral for James Comey. The IG responds that both Comey and McCabe were referred for the same overarching issues relating to the leaking of FBI material to the media. One interesting aspect (amid many) in this segment is Horowitz noting there is more evidence toward the referral of McCabe than currently exists publicly.
Mr. Steube notes the stunning aspects about the DOJ Inspector General sending criminal referrals for both the Director of the FBI and Deputy Director of the FBI. Mr. Steube goes through the three prior IG reports (Clinton Investigation, Andrew McCabe and James Comey).
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[@01:16:26] Rep. Jim Jordan takes over from where Steube was and asks Horowitz if any Committee Chairman has asked him to testify. Horowitz confirms that neither Chairman Nadler nor Chairman Cummings has asked for IG testimony. Democrats are attempting to hide the investigative findings.
Jordan told me after the hearing that "the fact that [Horowitz] hasn't been approached to come testify is just astounding to me and I hope that that's not what Mr. Nadler and Mr. Cummings expect to do on the upcoming FISA report."
— Nate Madden (@NateOnTheHill) September 18, 2019
Additionally, Rep. Jordan outlines how the Comey report shows the former FBI Director acting in an investigative capacity to question President-elect Donald Trump.
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[@01:22:40] Ranking Member Mark Meadows takes-up where Jim Jordan left-off. Meadows outlines some of the specifics around James Comey’s leaks to the media; pointing out that Comey’s testimony to congress conflicts with some aspects of the IG report on James Comey. Mr. Meadows notes that he and Jim Jordan anticipate sending an investigative referral to the IG based on the contradictions.
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[@01:27:55] Rep. Grothman asks questions about the “small group” within the FBI being “shocked” and “stunned” to discover the FBI Director leaked FBI investigative material to the media.
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[@01:29:50] Rep Grothman yields the balance of his time to Jim Jordan. Rep Jordan then asks additional questions about exactly who was in the “small group” who had a debriefing immediately following the meeting between James Comey and President-elect Trump.
James Baker, Jim Rybicki, Andrew McCabe and likely Lisa Page and Peter Strzok were part of the team debriefed by James Comey at the conclusion of the meeting with President-elect Trump.
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My thread on the inspector general Horowitz hearing.
Horowitz explains the classification and declassification process. pic.twitter.com/Wq6emrnYqU
— The “Dirty” Truth (@AKA_RealDirty) September 18, 2019
Horowitz says Andrew McCabe did not provide them with truthful information. pic.twitter.com/tXgYVhP3PI
— The “Dirty” Truth (@AKA_RealDirty) September 18, 2019
..@Jim_Jordan at the same time @Comey was giving @realDonaldTrump the intelligence assessment (briefing) he was trying to gather evidence on him. pic.twitter.com/C5cQjDF22q
— The “Dirty” Truth (@AKA_RealDirty) September 18, 2019
.@Jim_Jordan is trying to figure out what roll Strzok and Page played. pic.twitter.com/tgI6n5a8N1
— The “Dirty” Truth (@AKA_RealDirty) September 18, 2019
AG Barr appointed US Attorney Durham to investigate the Russia probe's origins. Today Horowitz confirmed he's in communication with Durham.
Them comparing notes provides a comprehensive approach to the investigation, giving us the best chance at finally getting the truth.
Huge! pic.twitter.com/oqjLME1ZkF
— Rep. Jody Hice (@CongressmanHice) September 18, 2019
There's an aspect to Horowitz's statement: "I'll stick to the public report, what's public".. that implies some more damaging internal information about McCabe that led to the criminal referral. t.co/9OC0H2Hq98
— TheLastRefuge (@TheLastRefuge2) September 18, 2019