Mark Meadows: FBI Knew Within 60 Days That Russia Probe Was Built On A Foundation Of Sand

11:38 AM 06/08/2019 | US

Chuck Ross | Investigative Reporter

North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows said Friday night that the FBI knew within 60 days of opening the Trump-Russia probe that the investigation was “built on a foundation of sand.”

“Within 60 days of them opening the investigation, prior to [Robert] Mueller coming on, the FBI and the [Department of Justice] knew that Christopher Steele was not credible, the dossier was not true, George Papadopoulos was innocent,” Meadows said on Fox Newss “Hannity.”

“When you look at that foundation, its all built on a foundation of sand. Thats going to start to show up soon,” the Republican said.

Meadows, a close ally of President Donald Trump, did not say why he believes the FBI knew within two months that the investigation was on shaky ground.

The bureau opened its investigation of the Trump campaign on July 31, 2016, after receiving a tip about Papadopoulos from the Australian government. Within those two months, the FBI team leading the investigation received information from Steeles dossier. The FBI also dispatched a longtime FBI informant, Stefan Halper, to meet with Papadopoulos.

The pair met in London in mid-September 2016 after Halper offered Papadopoulos $3,000 to write a policy paper. Halper, a former Cambridge professor, was accompanied by a woman he claimed was his assistant, Azra Turk. She is reportedly a government investigator.

Meadows in the past has suggested the FBI had exculpatory information on Papadopoulos that showed the Trump aide was not working with Russia.

WATCH:

The Justice Departments Office of the Inspector General is investigating the FBIs handling of information provided by Steele, a former British spy who investigated Trump on behalf of the Clinton campaign and Russian government. (RELATED: FBI Learned Information That Might Bear On Christopher Steeles Credibility After Obtaining Spy Warrant)

The bureau relied on Steeles dossier to obtain surveillance warrants against Carter Page, a former Trump campaign adviser. The first warrant was granted on Oct. 21, 2016, nearly three months after the Trump-Russia probe was opened.

Meadows says the FBI knew that Steeles dossier was not credible early on in its relationship with the former spy. His dossier has been all but debunked by the special counsels report, wRead More – Source