Trump says he wants to release FISA documents now that Mueller investigation is over

President Trump said Wednesday that he plans to release the unredacted Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants, which jump-started the Russia probe. Appearing on Fox News, Trump said that prior to Sunday’s report by Attorney General William Barr that concluded he didn’t conspire with Russia, he was advised by his attorneys not to release the FISA warrants and documents out of fear that he would be nabbed for obstructing justice.

Trump said that is no longer the case now that special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation is over. “I do, I have plans to declassify and release. I have plans to absolutely release,” Trump said. “A lot of people wanted me to do it a long time ago. I'm glad I didn't do it. We got a great result without having to do it, but we will.”

Since Sunday’s report, Republicans have turned their attention to how the inquiry began in the first place. During Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, Republicans allege the Justice Department and FBI abused the FISA process to secure warrants to spy on associates of the president as part of the Trump-Russia investigation, which ultimately led to the Mueller probe. Trump said Wednesday that he wants the details about those warrants released now that the Mueller investigation is over. “This was an attempted takeover of our government, of our country, an illegal takeover,” Trump said Wednesday. Trump described the investigation as the "insurance policy" set up by biased individuals within the Justice Department against him. "They wanted to do a subversion. It was treason. It was really treason," he said.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said during a Monday news conference that there would be continued investigations into the origins of Mueller’s investigation, including the FISA warrants. “When it comes to the warrant, the Clinton campaign, the counterintelligence investigation, it's pretty much been swept under the rug except by a few Republicans in the House. Those days are over. Going forward, hopefully in a bipartisan fashion, we’ll begin to unpack the other side of the story,” Graham said.

Barr announced Sunday in a four-page report that Mueller did not find evidence of Trump colluding with Russia. In addition, neither he nor Mueller made a judgment as to whether or not Trump obstructed justice during the 22-month inquiry.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-says-he-wants-to-release-fisa-documents-now-that-mueller-investigation-is-over

Don Lemon tells Cory Booker 'nice job' in 'hot mic' moment during CNN town hall

CNN anchor Don Lemon on Wednesday congratulated Sen. Cory Booker on his performance during the cable news network's televised town hall with the White House hopeful. "We're going to be right back with more from CNN's Democratic presidential town hall with Sen. Cory Booker live from Orangeburg, S.C., so make sure you stay with us," Lemon said of the New Jersey Democrat ahead of a commercial break. "Nice job, nice job," the host could be heard saying before the start of the first advertisement.

CNN's town hall on Wednesday with Booker was generally praised by social media pundits for the range of issues discussed during the hourlong broadcast, from the second-term senator's relationship with actress Rosario Dawson to his positions on reparations and the Electoral College. "I believe very simply that in presidential elections, the person with the most votes should be the president of the United States," the former mayor of Newark said. "But I want to tell you for us ever to get to a point where we can address that issue, we have got to win this next election under the rules that are there now. So it's nice to hear all this conversation going on, but we have about 595 days to win this election, and the way we're going to do it is by getting a lot of folks off the sidelines."

This is not the first time CNN's handling of presidential special events has been scrutinized. WikiLeaks in October 2016 published emails between former interim Democratic National Committee chairwoman and CNN political commentator Donna Brazile and John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, whose account was reportedly hacked by Russians. The emails suggested Brazile sometimes received questions in advance of presidential debates through her work with the network. CNN severed ties with Brazile that month.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/don-lemon-tells-cory-booker-nice-job-in-hot-mic-moment-during-cnn-town-hall

>>5937637

So much noise and no sauce!