DOJ Review Of Origins Of Russia Probe Expands 'Significantly,' CIA Officials Lawyer Up

According to a report from NBC News, the DOJ review of the origins of the Russia probe, led by John Durham, has expanded significantly, leading some CIA officials to lawyer up:

A review launched by Attorney General William Barr into the origins of the Russia investigation has expanded significantly amid concerns about whether the probe has any legal or factual basis, multiple current and former officials told NBC News.

The prosecutor conducting the review, Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham, has expressed his intent to interview a number of current and former intelligence officials involved in examining Russia’s effort to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, including former CIA Director John Brennan and former director of national intelligence James Clapper, Brennan told NBC News.

Durham has also requested to talk to CIA analysts involved in the intelligence assessment of Russia’s activities, prompting some of them to hire lawyers, according to three former CIA officials familiar with the matter. And there is tension between the CIA and the Justice Department over what classified documents Durham can examine, two people familiar with the matter said.

With Barr’s approval, Durham has expanded his staff and the timeframe under scrutiny, according to a law enforcement official directly familiar with the matter. And he is now looking into conduct past Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2017, a Trump administration official said.

Although the probe did not begin as a criminal investigation, Justice Department officials won’t comment on whether it has morphed into one.

U.S. Attorney John Durham has “requested to talk to CIA analysts involved in the intelligence assessment of Russia’s activities, prompting some of them to hire lawyers”https://t.co/5RgzyUVIMB

— Matt Wolking (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@MattWolking) October 21, 2019

This is good news, and it appears some in the intelligence community are running scared.

🚨BREAKING🚨

AG Barr’s special Russia investigator obtained BlackBerrys tied to launch of FBI Russia-Trump probe

– They were the potential phones used to stage a coup of the American presidency.https://t.co/MpV4Ff1Y75

— Benny (@bennyjohnson) October 17, 2019

Wonder what they have to hide and why they’re so quick to get lawyers? We’ll know soon enough.