In testimony before a House committee, a high-ranking FBI officer revealed that she had not seen U.S. special counsel John Durham’s report outlining criticisms against the agency.
Last week, a study by attorney John D. Durham stated that tips from Trump’s political opponents improperly fueled the FBI’s investigation into Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and that the FBI lacked “actual evidence” to examine the campaign.
On Tuesday, when testifying before a House Homeland Security panel, Representative August Pfluger, R-Tennessee, questioned FBI Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence Jill Murphy if she knew the story.
“I have not read that report, sir,” Jill Murphy remarked.
As though taken aback, Pfluger, the Homeland Security Subcommittee chair on counterterrorism, law enforcement, and intelligence, repeated the question.
“I have not yet read the Durham report,” she said again.
Pfluger was silent for a while before he said, “I’m honestly speechless at this point.”
He said as someone who has spent their whole working life in counterintelligence; he didn’t know how to feel about this.
The legislator then summarized the report’s conclusions, stating that the FBI had relied on insufficient evidence in its investigation.
Pfluger inquired, “Does this concern you?” to Murphy.
I haven’t read the Durham report, sir,” she said. So I’m not sure, you know, I don’t know anything about…” her answer trailed off.
Murphy said she hadn’t read the report because she was too busy.
She then revealed to Republican North Carolina State Representative Dan Bishop that she had not even been informed about the Durham study.
“Why wouldn’t you want to know the special counsel’s opinion on the counterintelligence division’s performance immediately?” Bishop enquired.
“Sir,” Murphy responded, “I’m happy to take back your request for a brief on the Durham report from the counterintelligence division if that’s what you’d like.”
Bishop responded, “Wow, that sounds almost contemptuous,” before asking Murphy whether she planned to read the study.
Murphy affirmed her intent to read the report.
