Lindsey Graham To Bill Barr: Declassify Russia Investigation Files!

After sending in the letter to the DOJ to urge for the Russia investigation documents to be declassified, Lindsey Graham made an appearance on Fox News where he discussed why he is calling for the declassification.

Watch what Sen. Graham said here:

CNBChas more to say about Lindsey Graham's call for declassification and transparency in the Russia investigation:

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a key ally of President Donald Trump, urged Attorney General William Barr to declassify materials related to the investigation by the Department of Justice’s inspector general into alleged abuses during the Russia probe.

Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s probe of the Justice Department and FBI’s conduct during the FISA warrant process is  “nearing completion,” according to a letter Graham sent Barr.

Graham, R-S.C., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is concerned the FBI and Justice Department misled the FISA court in late 2016 and 2017 to investigate former Trump campaign advisor Carter Page, in their reliance on an anti-Trump dossier compiled by British ex-spy Christopher Steele.

 “In order for the Inspector General to be able to present the most complete results of his investigation to Congress and the American people, certain documents will need to be declassified and released to the public,” Graham wrote in the letter.  “I write to urge you to declassify all documents the Inspector General identifies as appropriate for declassification as much as possible, without harming national security.”

The Hill added:

     Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) last week wrote to Attorney General William Barr asking him to declassify documents relating to the Justice Department inspector general's investigation into the handling of the Russia probe. 

Inspector General Michael Horowitz has been looking into the conduct of the FBI and Justice Department in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant process, although, according to Graham's letter, the review is "nearing completion." 

"In order for the Inspector General to be able to present the most complete results of his investigation to Congress and the American people, certain documents will need to be declassified and released to the public," Graham wrote.  He specifically asked for the declassification of nine documents, including the FISA warrants for former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page and other members of the Trump campaign. He also requested that documents relating to former British spy Christopher Steele and his dossier be released.

The Washington Examiner also commented:

Sen. Lindsey Graham is asking the Justice Department to declassify material related to Inspector General Michael Horowitz's investigation into alleged abuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

          

The South Carolina Republican's letter sent to Attorney General William Barr was discussed during an interview Monday on Fox News.

          

Asked what he wants to know, Graham said, "As much declassification as possible. I want the public to see the process in real time. I want the FISA warrant applications to be revealed to the public as much as possible."

More than 400 pages of redacted FISA documents related to one-time Trump campaign adviser Carter Page were released on July 21, 2018.

          

Graham, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is concerned the FBI and Justice Department misled the FISA Court in late 2016 and 2017, relying on an unverified anti-Trump dossier compiled by British ex-spy Christopher Steele to wiretap Page.