Lindsey Graham downplays reports of split between AG Barr, IG Horowitz over ‘Spygate’ conclusions

Sen. Lindsey Graham on Tuesday warned that reports about a disagreement between Attorney General William Barr and Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz over the latter’s upcoming report on the origins of the “Spygate” investigation are overblown.

“Be wary of the Washington Post and the New York Times reporting on what is coming up with [Inspector General] Horowitz,” he wrote on Twitter. “They have been trying overtime to spin this thing to diminish its effect, to downplay it.”

Be wary of the Washington Post and the New York Times reporting on what is coming up with [Inspector General] Horowitz.

They have been trying overtime to spin this thing to diminish its effect, to downplay it.

— Lindsey Graham

“I can tell you without any hesitation Attorney General Barr has every confidence in the world in Mr. Horowitz,” the South Carolina Republican added.

He believes that he has done a good job, a professional job, and he appreciates the work and the effort he has put into disclosing abuse at the Department of Justice.”

I can tell you without any hesitation Attorney General Barr has every confidence in the world in Mr. Horowitz.

He believes that he has done a good job, a professional job, and he appreciates the work and the effort he has put into disclosing abuse at the Department of Justice.

— Lindsey Graham

Graham, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, also downplayed a Washington Post story which claimed that Barr disagreed with Horowitz’s reported conclusion that the FBI was justified to launch its probe of the 2016 Trump campaign.

The Post’s report used an anonymous source. Other media have yet to confirm corroborate the report.

In a statement on Monday night around the publication of the Washington Post article, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec complimented Horowitz’s work and urged people to wait for the report.

“The Inspector General’s investigation is a credit to the Department of Justice. His excellent work has uncovered significant information that the American people will soon be able to read for themselves,” she said.

“Rather than speculating, people should read the report for themselves next week, watch the Inspector General’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and draw their own conclusions about these important matters,” she added.

Graham was the first to note that Horowitz would be releasing his long-awaited report on Dec. 9.

He also told Fox News’ Sean Hannity last month that Horowitz would be appearing before his committee after the release date.