FISA Abuse “Deep Dive” Begins: Lindsey Graham Conducting Closed-Door Depositions

While these current depositions are closed-door, Graham has stated that he plans to have open hearings with James Comey and Rod Rosenstein.

Former FBI and Justice Department officials are criticial to the investiation, because they approved the surveilance warrants under FISA.

However, the IG report found 17 "significant" omissions and errors, which has lead to concerns of FISA abuse.

The Hill has more on Graham's hearings in the capitol:

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Tuesday that he has started closed-door interviews as part of his deep dive into the surveillance courts and the FBI’s Russia probe.

Graham confirmed to reporters that he has started the depositions, then escaped into a Senate elevator.

Graham is using his gavel to probe the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) surveillance warrants involving Trump campaign associate Carter Page and the FBI’s handling of the investigation into Russia's election meddling and the Trump campaign.

He’s requested testimony from more than 20 current Justice Department and FBI officials.

He also wants to call former officials including former FBI Director James Comey, former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates.

Another concern is that James Comey himself stated that he was "wrong" in saying that the FISA protocol was followed.

See Comey's statements below:

We deserve accountability from leaders in our government.

Lindsey Graham's investigation will help reduce the possibility of the Deep State attempting to interfere in the 2020 election.

Graham has stated that his investigation proceedings could potentially last for a few weeks.

Fox News has some insight on the questions that Graham wants to ask during these depositions:

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., revealed key questions he has going into the Senate Judiciary Committee's investigation of the initiation of the Russia probe and the FBI's use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to conduct surveillance of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.

Graham's investigation comes after the Justice Department Inspector General released a report detailing significant inaccuracies and omissions on the part of the FBI in their FISA warrant applications, misleading the court in the process. A major aspect of the report exposed the degree to which the FBI had relied on the unverified dossier compiled by British ex-spy Christopher Steele as part of opposition research for Hillary Clinton's campaign.

"Now I want to know, what did McCabe and Comey know, when did they know that the dossier was unreliable?" Graham told "Sunday Morning Futures" host Maria Bartiromo, referring to former FBI Director James Comey and former Acting Director Andrew McCabe. Comey has insisted that he was not aware of what was going on at the time.

Graham mentioned that Steele's primary sub-source had told the FBI that the information in the dossier was not credible. The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman expressed doubt that this information did not reach the upper levels of the FBI.

“I find it hard to believe that that did not work its way up to Comey and McCabe," he said.

To get to the bottom of this, Graham said that he wants to begin his investigation by calling the four individuals who met with the sub-source to speak to the committee.

Graham said he also wanted to know who else was aware of the problems with the dossier, and when they found out, particularly acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

“Did Rosenstein know that the dossier had been debunked by the time he signed the warrant? How could he not know?” Graham asked.

We hope you find out, Lindsey!

The American people deserve the truth...

And it's about time they got it!

Graham's office has not officially revealed the long-term deposition schedule.

This story is developing.