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IG Horowitz: Trump DOJ Secretly Obtained Records of Lawmakers Schiff, Swalwell, 43 Staffers

Dec 10, 2024, 05:35 PM

The U.S. Department of Justice's Inspector General, Michael Horowitz, released a report criticizing the DOJ's handling of leak investigations during President Donald Trump's first term, specifically in 2017-2018. The report found that the DOJ secretly obtained phone and text message records of two members of Congress, including Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, and 43 staffers, including Kash Patel. The DOJ also accessed records from reporters without following its own policies or obtaining court review. The actions were part of leak investigations during the Russia collusion probe that were broader than previously known and spanned up to four years for some individuals. The report noted that the DOJ failed to take sufficient account of constitutional separation of powers, seizing communications records of staffers and lawmakers, and making them subjects of criminal investigations solely because they had lawful access to state secrets. Prosecutors' decisions risked a chilling effect on congressional oversight and media freedom, and these investigations did not result in any charges.