CONG. GOODEN: Far from Over, House Republicans Must Now Hold FBI & Democrats Accountable

The FBI’s misconduct was not just a breach of trust, but a failure to uphold the Integrity of Our Democracy

By Cong. Lance Gooden

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Texas Insider Report) — Last week I questioned Special Counsel Robert Durham on his investigation into Crossfire Hurricane, the FBI's code-named counterintelligence investigation, launched in July 2016, into potential links between Russia and associates of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. The probe sought to determine whether individuals associated with Trump's campaign were involved in reported Russian efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Durham's report exposes Crossfire Hurricane as a politically-motivated investigation built on uncorroborated allegations.

What Durham Revealed

Special Counsel Durham (right,) revealed damning facts about the Crossfire Hurricane investigation in the report:
 

• The investigation was initiated under questionable circumstances without adequate verification or justification.
• Central FBI figures openly exhibited bias against then-candidate Trump.
• Standard procedures for evaluating raw intelligence were grossly neglected.
• The FBI overly depended on uncorroborated information and disregarded exculpatory evidence.
• Even with glaring inconsistencies and errors in the initial FISA surveillance application against Trump aides, the FBI continued to push for renewals.
• The investigation was not only unfounded, but it also carried a clear partisan agenda.

The Special Counsel's Office conducted over 480 interviews, reviewed over six million pages, served over 190 subpoenas, executed seven search warrants, obtained five orders for communications, and made one request to a foreign government as part of its report.

Durham's report is an indictment of the FBI's flawed investigation, offering much-needed clarity and serving as a wake-up call on the need for reform and accountability.

Our Response: Holding the FBI Accountable

In light of these revelations, the FBI’s misconduct during the 2016 investigation was not just a breach of trust, but a failure to uphold the integrity of our democracy.

House Republicans must consider:
 

• Referring those involved in Crossfire Hurricane to federal attorneys for prosecution
• Subpoenaing Democrat leaders who either knew about or facilitated the spread of the Trump-Russia collusion narrative, and
• Work to fundamentally restructure the FBI into a non-partisan law enforcement entity.

In the FBI's leadership, partisan biases wore a badge – and the target was Donald Trump.

Congressman Lance Gooden represents Texas’ 5th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 5th District stretches from Dallas County to Henderson, Kaufman, Van Zandt, Wood & Upshur Counties. Prior to joining the U.S. House, Gooden served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives.