A) Neither the initial application in October 2016, nor any of the renewals disclose or reference the role of the DNC, Clinton campaign, or any party/campaign in funding Steele's efforts, even though the political origins of the Steele dossier were then known to senior DOJ and FBI officials. However, our findings indicate that, as described below, material and relevant information was omitted. In the case of Carter Page, the government had at least four independent opportunities before the FISC to accurately provide an accounting of the relevant facts. This should include information potentially favorable to the target of the FISA application that is known by the government. However, the FISC's rigor in protecting the rights of Americans, which is reinforced by 90-day renewals of surveillance orders, is necessarily dependent on the government's production to the court of all material and relevant facts. Consistent with requirements under FISA, the application had to be first certified by the Director or Deputy Director of the FBI.Īs such, the public's confidence in the integrity of the FISA process depends on the court's ability to hold the government to the highest standard - particularly as it relates to the surveillance of American citizens. RELATED: Investigation Update: On October 21, 2016, DOJ and FBI sought and received a FISA probable cause order (not under Title VII) authorizing electronic surveillance on Carter Page from the FISC. Our findings, which are detailed below, 1) raise concerns with the legitimacy and legality of certain DOJ and FBI interactions with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), and 2) represent a troubling breakdown of legal processes established to protect the American people from abused related to the FISA process. Here is the full memo: Purpose: This memorandum provides Members an update on significant facts relating to the Committee's ongoing investigation into the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and their use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) during the 2016 presidential election cycle. Editor's Note: Bold, italics and underlined text is as it appears in the actual memo.
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