Doc Maddow reported this evening that according to the NYT (pay walled) Republican US Attorney Don Durham has opened a criminal inquiry in his investigation of the origins of the Russian Hacking Investigation.
Criminal inquiry opened into Trump-Russia probe's origins: NYT
Katie Benner, Justice Department reporter for the New York Times, talks with Rachel Maddow about breaking news that the investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation is now a criminal investigation, giving new powers to U.S. Attorney John Durham...
If you follow Fox Spews, One American Nut Network and Right wing radio (I don’t) there is a conspiracy theory among the supporters of Don the Con that actual hacking of the elections of 2016 was the work of the Ukrainians and not Russia, aided by the Democratic Party, a Cyber Security Company hired by the DNC to investigate the hacking of their server, the Deep State and maybe even the Tal Shiar, the Obsidian Order and Section 31. This is total BS as the Republican led Senate Committee issued a report a report a few days ago showing that yes, the Russians did it and it was to help the POS Conman get elected.
The last 3 years has have shown the Conman to be a vindictive narcissist who uses escalation dominance against his perceived enemies. The Ukrainian affair also shows he will not hesitate to break the law if it benefits him personally. And the refusal of AG Barr to even investigate any criminal referrals made against DtC indicates the Conman has found his “Roy Cohn”. So it is not surprising that after yesterday’s devastating testimony by Ambassador Taylor the Conman and his minions were desperate to find a new shiny object to distract the media from the impeachment hearings and even discredit them.
The DOJ Guidlines are very specific when an investigation is opened:
(1) A general crimes investigation may be initiated by the FBI when facts or circumstances reasonably indicate that a federal crime has been, is being, or will be committed. The investigation may be conducted to prevent, solve, and prosecute such criminal activity.
Durham’s record as an employee at DOJ is mixed but he does not seem to have the baggage that set of alarms about "Coverup-General Barr". If he is an honest broker whose investigation focus on the facts and the law then it is is hard to imagine what “crimes” that the people who were investigating Don the Con are guilty of, unless investigating Trump himself now constitutes a crime (his lawyers argued this in Court yesterday). If he is a hack in the mold of AG Barr then it would seem that he is misusing the power of the DOJ and possibly breaking the law in order to keep DtC’s assteroids out of prison.
But we know from yesterdays Brooks Brothers Riot 2.0 (h/t Emptywheel) that Republicans have no problem breaking the law