Media, Politics

“Raw, Unanalyzed, and Uncorroborated”: Durham Releases Report on the Russian Collusion Investigation

I have columns out today on the release of the long-awaited report from John Durham on the Russian collusion investigation, including on the new Messenger site. However, I wanted to post the report itself below. As expected, it is a scathing indictment of the Clinton campaign, the FBI, and the media for one of the most successful political hit jobs in history.

The report shreds the FBI and Justice Department for abandoning standards and ignoring the lack of evidence to launch and prolong the investigation. The report notes that the treatment of the unsubstantiated allegations in the Steele Dossier, funded by the Clinton Campaign, was “markedly different” from the government’s level of interest in Clinton’s campaign when it faced such allegations.

Durham’s report confirmed that the FBI ignored intelligence it received from “a trusted foreign source pointing to a Clinton campaign plan to vilify Trump by tying him to Vladimir Putin so as to divert attention from her own concerns relating to her use of a private email server.”

Durham noted that “The speed and manner in which the FBI opened and investigated Crossfire Hurricane during the presidential election season based on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence also reflected a noticeable departure from how it approached prior matters involving possible attempted foreign election interference plans aimed at the Clinton campaign.”

The FBI issued a statement on Monday:

“The conduct in 2016 and 2017 that Special Counsel Durham examined was the reason that current FBI leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time. Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect.”

“Missteps” is hardly how one would describe a false narrative promulgated by a campaign and perpetuated by the FBI or the derailing of a duly elected president for three years in a faux conspiracy. The statement is ample evidence of a lack of remorse by the FBI like a habitual offender giving a shrug in his court “allocution” before a judge.

As for the media, they are already minimizing and spinning their own key role in this disinformation campaign. Yesterday, as I went to the studio, I listened to CBS/WTOP cover the report in 20 words before a lengthy report on Martha Stewart making the cover of Sports Illustrated. Most viewers and readers will be given few details of this report by a media that spent three years pushing this false narrative. It is part of a long pattern that raises troubling questions of a de facto state media in this country.

If you are interested in the actual facts, here is the report: Durham Report

302 thoughts on ““Raw, Unanalyzed, and Uncorroborated”: Durham Releases Report on the Russian Collusion Investigation”

  1. I regret that national media (MSM) (particularly NBC/ABC) failed to even mention the “confirmation bias” toward/against Trump that Durham specifically noted, permeating the investigation(s) as well as media reporting.
    It is clear that selective investigation(s), along with the calculated mixture of fact and opinion in today’s media reporting, have intentionally found their way around, and effectively neutralized, the true meaning and protections of the First Amendment.
    if we lose our faith in a fair and unbiased government and media, we have no America.
    p.s. I agree with hullbobby and ZZdoc about Weissman.
    And BRAVO and thank you to the good professor Jonathan Turley

  2. I take note of one word in the FBI’s official response to the report: “Could”.

    They state that their current level of internal precautions, these missteps identified in the report “could have been prevented.” But that response begs several questions:
    1 Would they have been prevented?
    2 What were these preventative measures?
    3 Why weren’t they already in force before?
    4 How politicized was the top floor of the Hoover Building?

    1. “2 What were these preventative measures?”

      Next time, let’s not get caught.

  4. Ah yes…… lying on four FISA warrants was a “misstep”. The FBI now answers to a higher calling and does things for the greater good. As author Albert Camus aptly stated years ago, “the welfare of the people has always been the alibi of tyrants, giving the servants of tyranny a good conscious”. And our state media obediently licks the FBI’s boots and drones on. Thank you, Jonathan, for an excellent article.

  5. “As for the media, they are already minimizing and spinning . . .”

    The Left could jump off a 20-story building, and just before its head hit the ground, it’d be screaming: There is no concrete!

    Exhibit A: The MSM.

    Exhibit B: The FBI.

    Exhibit C: Leftist commenters on this blog.

  6. Despite a real active conspiracy between FBI and Justice with identifiable culprits – no one will get indicted. A fake Crossfire Hurricane Investigation costing some $80MM, triggering an impeachment for another similar amount then a Special Counsel investigation for another $100MM. And no one gets indicted and the report gets buried. Sick Justice.

    1. We have to live with their lies?? Trump deserves his second term that THEY took from him, the freaking liars. They deserve to go to Gitmo, or…better yet…what we used to do to TRAITORS, because THAT is what they all are.

      1. You refer several times to “they” but don’t say who “they” are.

  7. Turley knows that reality does not matter to the Cult 45 crowd, their minds are made up, regardless of the facts. Turley’s post today is about his contract with FOXNEWS.

    1. Go slither back under the rock from which you came. We all see what freaking liars and traitors you all are. Go to H*LL!!

    2. Many minds are now made up….the FBI is the most dangerous domestic terrorist organization in America.

    3. Fishwings-The first part of your comment is the best recent example of a full blown hallucination. The second sentence is a full blown delusion, maybe with a personality disorder superimposed. If I was teaching a class on psychology or psychiatry today, your comment would be exhibit # 1.

    4. @FishWings: What Turley’s post is about is the moral and ethical turpitude infecting the DOJ and FBI as well as others such as yourself who are supportive of their inherent threats to this constitutional republic.

    5. Please, everyone, be quiet. The boor is talking. Intelligence has to provide him a lot of room.

    6. Do you have anything to offer besides insults ?

      An argument perhaps ?

      Is there an issue of fact that you have been right about ?

      What is it that you have to show for yourself ?

      “at long last, have you no shame ?”

  8. Russia Strikes Ukrainian Arms Depot, Prompting Speculation of Possible Fallout
    By Adam Morrow – The Epoch Times – May 15, 2023
    https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-strikes-ukrainian-arms-depot-prompting-speculation-possible-fallout

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  9. The Durham Report is a shocking tale of conspiracy by the FBI higher-ups , Hillary Clinton, and Biden/Obama to obstruct, delegitimize and subdue the duly-elected government of the United States. Whatever your political leanings, you have to admit this is the exact same goal Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito had in the 40s. This needs to be read by every American who believes the People should run the country and not the intelligence agencies and their willing apparatchiks in the Media. A Media, by the way, who’ve now become a State media controlled by the bureaucracies and enthusiastically hiding their sins. We’re in a dangerous place now and we need to know, understand and react.

    2. We’re in a dangerous place now and we need to know, understand and react.

      That is a great post mespo. Dangerous is an understatement. We are now at a point where the deep state is out in the open and there will be no consequences for their actions. We’ve lost the executive branch to traitors of this country and they have the state media controlling the narrative. We are poised for a total collapse.

  10. Focus on ‘Who Done It’ and “Who’s Still Doing It’

    Where in the World ‘was’ Hillary Clinton?

    Hillary Clinton’s plan to ‘vilify’ Trump by linking him to Putin was briefed to Obama and Biden before the election in 2016 – while the FBI and DOJ restricted investigations into her campaign, Durham report say
    By Rob Crilly, Senior U.S. Political Reporter For Dailymail.Com
    Published: 18:03 EDT, 15 May 2023 | Updated: 19:10 EDT, 15 May 2023
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12086891/Hillarys-plan-link-Trump-Putin-briefed-Obama-Biden-Durham-report.html

    Where in the World is Hillary Clinton? TODAY

    Good Friday Agreement: Hillary Clinton urges NI parties to return to power sharing – April 16th 2023
    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-65291631

  11. “[C]urrent FBI leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time.”

    BS.

    The FBI is still a politicized law enforcement agency. It used its police powers to manipulate the 2020 election. It used its police powers to censor Americans on social media. It uses it police powers to target the Left’s political opponents, while shielding its political allies.

    That is not the American system of law enforcement. That is a police state. But for the (as yet) brutality, the FBI is becoming America’s Stasi. Bleed it dry of funding. Shut it down. Install a Director with integrity. Do something to relieve America of this scourge.

  12. And only one guilty plea by the Deep State, and many convictions of Republicans. There will be no justice from judges and juries in the District of Corruption. D.C. is not our national capital anymore. It is a hostile occupation to any patriot who sets foot there.

      1. What do you mean by “break up DC?” Are you talking about the federal agencies or something?

        1. Move FBI, CIA, and IRS leadership out of deep-blue districts. Then they might actually get convicted for conspiracy and malfeasance. That’s what I’m suggesting.

          2. Diogenes, historically, we tried to decentralize government with federalism. Too bad we failed to learn from our forefathers and keep our government agencies decentralized.

            People might say centralization is more efficient, but that was an argument against federalism, checks and balances, etc. Efficiency can be corrupting. When discussing it, we should never forget the phrase associated with Mussolini he made the trains run on time.

          3. Sorry but I’m not understanding how that would change anything. How would moving the CIA building to Muncie, Indiana or wherever change how it’s run Or what statutes can be used to hold it accountable?

            1. D.C. juries are federal employees and 90% Democrat. It’s impossible to convict a corrupt Democrat in D.C. for playing unlawful tricks on Republicans–like Sussman and others did. By putting the agency leadership in more balanced venues, these political hacks can be convicted much more likely than in D.C.

    2. I never understood why DC, our center of government, is the same place where political matters could be settled. It doesn’t make sense.

  13. Meh, the Durham report is just a rehash of old debunked grievances. That’s why the media is not giving it the attention Turley is demanding. He forgot to mention Durham’s failed prosecutions and his inability to confirm the allegations. All he was left with is a list of complaints about issues that have already been addressed by the FBI.

    It’s just another excuse to keep the “rage” going. It will be short lived. Nobody really cares about a 4 year old protracted report. Yawn.

    2. And you are a traitor right along with the corrupt idiots running DC. YOU are the problem.

    3. Wrong. People DO care. People are paying attention. This news will not be short lived. Trump will make sure of it.

      Then we have President Dark Brandon’s strange speech at Howard graduation that was so inspiring (not).

      He snarled and shouted, “White supremacy is the single greatest threat to the nation!”

      This is Joe Biden’s message to the country going into 2024 election?

      Why is he spreading such a dark, divisive lie?

      Because it’s just another excuse for Dems to keep the “rage” going.

      They are losing black votes. So it’s time to amp up the race war. It’s the Democrat way.

      1. “He snarled and shouted, “White supremacy is the single greatest threat to the nation!” ”

        He actually said “The most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland is white supremacy.” And that’s backed up by FBI terrorism data.

        1. “backed up by FBI terrorism data.”

          hahaha. FBI data? Is this ‘narrative’ backed by ‘data’ how FBI will work with Dems to interfere in the next election?
          People ain’t buying what Dark Brandon is selling.

        2. What the American people now clearly see is that the most dangerous terrorist threat to our democracy, is the FBI.

        3. FBI data is as trustworthy as Fauci assuring us the Covid shots are safe and effective.

        4. Hahahahhahaha…It’s cute that you still believe the lies from the FBI after all of this.

        5. Durham has shown that ATS was wrong on every important issue discussed. Now he wishes again to use deception and lies.

          The FBI’s claim that white supremacy is the most dangerous terrorist threat is ridiculous. That is not true, and the FBI knows it. Based on the Durham report, everyone should know the FBI lies to promote its political interests.

          Violence and murder among Caucasians are lower than their percentage in the population. It might even be lower in the Asian population. Whites are not the problem. Look elsewhere.

      2. Nah, the only people who seem to care are conspiracy theory nut jobs who have been looking for fresh reasons to satiate their need to keep speculating on “deep state” suspicions and fantasies.

        Durham’s report is just overcompensating for what otherwise has been a lackluster set of findings and failed prosecutions.

        Turley is upset as he was in Ted last column about the media ignoring the Hunter Biden “scandal” because they are not giving it the attention he demands. He’s upset that the media knows it’s mostly BS and he wants them to acknowledge it so it gives it more credibility. They know it’s not worthy of such attention. Because it’s mostly old rehashed BS. It’s about an incident that is four years old. It will be forgotten in about a month at least.

        1. Raw political power determines who to prosecute today but the Durham report tells everyone that the MSM has been lying and that Trump is Totally Vindicated. You don’t know that yet because you don’t get all the news and you are too ignorant to understand.

    4. @Svelaz: That you opine that nobody cares suggests to the reader that you yourself are among the nobodies’ whose own inherent corruption would support the travesties committed by the FBI, CIA, DOJ, and the prior administration in facilitating the events of the past 8 years or more.

    5. Here is an affadavit and evidence of an Expert witness that will be testifying at the Lake Election hearing, regarding Ballot tabulaotr and printing issues in AZ in 2022.

      The Evidence attached is almost entirely from FOIA requests – i.e. it is Maricopa Conty Election Board Records,

      AZ Law requires that Election equipment is tested – with atleast 3 people present for testing.
      That the test must be done on the ACTUAL ellection equipment., That it must be done on the software that will be used on election day – not a copy,
      and that the equipment can not be altered after the testing.

      Katie Hobbs certified that the equipment was tested on Oct 11,2022, and that the equipment met the state requirements.
      Various officials signed letsting documents certifying that the testing took place on Oct 11,2022.

      But no testing actually took place on Oct 11, 2022.

      The equipment was tested – not by election officials – but by Runbeck – a private contractor. It was tested on Oct 14th – AFTER Hobbs ceretified the equipement.
      Runbeck produced detailed records of those tests, over half of the ballots tested in 440 machines FAILED, and this was reported to Maricopa County.

      Further the logs in the equipment were initialized on Oct 14th – not Oct 11th. The logs for the equipment must be initialized BEFORE the tests, and must record the results of the tests – which they do. The actual equipment tests took place on or After Oct 14th – not on Oct 11th.

      By AZ law – Hobb’s certification is fraudulent. And the equipment used in the election was uncertified.
      Further the error rate on the equipment as reported by the tests was far oo high to be certified. So again the equipment could not be certified.
      Further the error rates on the tests and those on election day match – so Maricopa county KNEW it had LARGE SCALE problems almost a month beforr the election and did nothing to correct.

      Further all of the above testimony AND factual records – actual Records of Maricopa County prove that Maricopa County Election officials LIED in the prior Kari Lake Lawsuit.

      I do not expect Lake to prevail – atleast not in this court with this judge.
      But even that is DAMNING – to You, the left, the courts.

      There is lots of evidence of malfeasance here. There are lies under oath. Maricopa County election officials testified the problems were small – but their own records – obtained via FOIA requests, show that the problems were large, and that they knew about them ahead of time, and did nothing.

      Regardless, Lets assume (falsely) that there is no malfeasance here. There is still massive evidence of incompetence and lawlessness.

      If the law is not going to be followed. If the courts are not going to require the law to be followed, how is it that you expect to conduct a trustworthy election ?

      You were ranting before that all the claims regarding Elections were false.

      YOUR claim is false. Similar things to this happened in the 2020 election – you just have your head burried in the sand.

      I would further note that While it is NOT likely that Dominion caused the problem in Maricopa County – this equipment is DVS equipment.
      The cause of the problems that have occured have been identified, and require an intentional change to large numbers of peices of election equipment.
      While it is more likely that was done by Election officials. It is plausible that the problems were caused by DVS.

      We do not know who caused the problem. But we do know it was not a random error, or a hardware malfunction. We KNOW it was either a software problem or a configuration problem.
      Those are intentional acts of humans.

  14. When I was growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s, the mainstream media (NYT’s, ABC, CBS and NBC) regularly espoused democrat party talking points. This democrat bias was well known, and became part of the news landscape.

    Beginning sometime in the 1990’s, something began to change. Corporate media began to evolve from being the reliable propaganda arm of the democrat party and left wing thought to driving that agenda. Corporate media, now joined by cable news, drove its own, progressively more leftist, ideology – presenting it as news rather than the leftist agenda it actually was.

    Something has shifted again. The Department of Justice, the FBI, the IRS , and other federal agencies have jumped on the leftist ideology bandwagon and driven that agenda into our political system.

    Unfortunately no one is, or will be, held accountable. The FBI will tell us about all the changes they’ve made, but nothing will change. Concerning the FBI, this non action action is similar to their gross failure in investigating the sexual abuse of hundreds of young gymnasts. They essentially enable the continuing abuse of these young girls, and then bragged about all the changes they made to make sure it never happened. Those changes, like these, did not hold anyone responsible and accountable.

    So where are we? Corporate media will cover up their own failings. Government agencies will do the same. Most Americans will never hear the truth, and nothing will change. The only hope that a new present will clear out the entire leadership of these federal agencies – publicly expose guilty individuals – and place worthy individual in charge. Of course this assumes those people even exist in Washington

  15. …and there was that treasure trove of moral and ethical turpitude, Andrew Weissman, Mueller’s ‘bag man’, trashing the Durham report on MSNBC, a media source most fitting to his purpose. He’d have sold his own mother out to the Nazis for letters of transit out of Casablanca to Lisbon. This wretched wreck of a human being is on the law school faculty of NYU, yet. Uffff!! I’ll retire to bedlam.

    1. ZZ, I saw a clip of Weissman speaking on MSNBC and I was appalled but not surprised. This man should be persona non grata for the damage he has done to the legal system and our country.

      1. @hullbobby: Having been unanimously overturned by the the SCOTUS, there should have been legal repercussions to his wrecking of J.Arthur Anderson, Co, but “No”. Garbage such as he never winds up in the landfill. It’s just left in the streets to stink.

  16. I hope someone analyses Durham’s decisions not to prosecute anyone at the FBI for what they did. The reasons he gives appear to me weak: lack of recall, uncooperative witnesses and blurred responsibilities.

    Also, I could not find anything in the report about Mifsud.

    Finally, there appears to be important information in a classified appendix. This is unfortunate.

    1. Also, I could not find anything in the report about Mifsud.

      The leftists trolls defending the DoJ hang there hat on the snippet around Page telling the Aussie that the campaign had the leaked emails, even though that too was a planted story. . The FBI created the entire scenerio for Page to be at that bar meeting those people, and prompted to mention the emails that MIFSUD told Page about.

      We have to understand Durham was strictly limited to what he could investigate. It’s clear he never touched on the US IC, and for sure never delved into the Foriegn spy agencies recruited by the CIA to plant evidence and spy on US Citizens. Because the CIA cant spy domestically, but their friends from Great Britian, and Spain, and Isreal, operate on US soils all the time.

      1. I think you mean Papadopolus not Page.

        Durham reports that the two Aussies in fact disagreed about what Papadopolus said. It appears to have been even more innocuous than the suggestion of a suggestion included in their May report which was forwarded to the US embassy in late July.

        Barr and Durham made trips to Italy to investigate Mifsud. What did they learn through the investigation? Not in the Durham report.

    1. How many times will we have to hear the phrase “nothing burger” today?

        1. We’d all be plastered before noon (although it appears that Anonymous has had a head start).

  20. “nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle.”
    Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell, June 11, 1807

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