U.S. Department Of Justice's Russian Probe Review Is Now A Criminal Inquiry

NBC: Justice Department review of Russia probe turns into criminal investigation

Attorney General William Barr's administrative review of what would become the Mueller investigation is now a criminal probe.

A probe by Attorney General William Barr into the origins of the Russia investigation has changed from an administrative review into a criminal investigation, a person familiar with the review confirmed to NBC News.

The review is being conducted by Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham. The New York Times first reported Thursday that the administrative review has turned into a criminal investigation.

It’s not clear when the change occurred, but the probe began in May as an administrative review.

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WNU Editor: Some in the mainstream media are calling this a "so-called investigation" (see above CNN video), and some like Rachel Maddow are dismissing it .... Criminal inquiry opened into Trump-Russia probe's origins: NYT (MSNBC). But this is a serious story. U.S. Attorney John Durham now has the power to call witnesses under oath, obtain documents, call a grand jury, and to levy indictments. The allegations and claims that President Trump colluded with Russia need to be investigated. These allegations resulted in the creation of the Mueller Special Counsel that financially impacted many who had to hire attorneys when subpoenaed, while severely disrupted President Trump's agenda and priorities. Bottom line. We do need to know if senior government officials used their positions to undermine an incoming new administration, and if they did, to be held accountable. My gut is telling me that a number of people are going to face criminal charges, and that the true origins of the Russian collusion allegations are going to be known.

Update: Senior US Democrats are now condemning this criminal investigation. I cannot say that I am surprised. This criminal investigation has the potential to expose and reveal political interference in President Trump's election campaign and transition by senior officials from the former Obama administration. For someone who has been following this story for a long time, this is a pivotal moment. I always believed that the Russian collusion narrative was a hoax. The Mueller report also came to this conclusion when it stated that there is no evidence to support these allegations. And now (after all of this time) we are going to learn how these allegations came about, and the officials responsible for it. My guess is that in the coming weeks and months former senior intel and justice department officials are going to be testifying under oath and/or facing criminal charges. And here is an easy prediction. For the next few days this is going to be the main stream media's top story, and they are going to condemn it as a witch hunt or worse. 

More News On The US Justice Department's Russian Probe Now Becoming A Criminal Investigation

AP source: DOJ review of Russia probe now a criminal inquiry -- AP
U.S. Justice Dept. review of origins of Russia probe now a criminal investigation: source -- Reuters
Barr's investigation into origins of Trump-Russia probe is now a criminal investigation -- CNN
Justice Department upgrades Russia review to criminal investigation -- CBS
Durham's investigation into possible FBI misconduct is now criminal probe, sources say -- FOX News
Justice Dept. Is Said to Open Criminal Inquiry Into Its Own Russia Investigation -- New York Times
DOJ inquiry into origins of Russia investigation has shifted to criminal probe -- USA Today
Justice Dept. to launch criminal investigation into its own Russia probe: report -- The Hill