ICYMI: Graham Questions Attorney General Bondi at DOJ Oversight Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today questioned U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on misconduct by the Biden and Obama Justice Departments.

FBI Director Kash Patel this week announced that several senators, including Graham, were spied on by the Biden Administration's FBI as part of Jack Smith's investigation into President Trump. During this probe, the FBI collected data related to phone calls made by Senator Graham from January 4-7, 2021, when he was serving as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

On the FBI Spying on Senators During the Jack Smith Investigation:

• GRAHAM : "Can you tell me why my phone records when I [was] the chairman of the [Senate] Judiciary Committee were sought by the Jack Smith agents? Why did they ask to know who I called and what I was doing from January 4th to the 7^th [2021]? Can you tell me that… Do you think that was an abuse of power?"
• BONDI : "Senator, I cannot discuss whether there is or is not an ongoing investigation. If I may add one thing, they also wasted $50 million on what you just described, trying to put President Trump in jail prior to the election." https://youtu.be/50nK6Hnj3OI?si=RHcyZMRjJmthVdGp&t=618

Last month, former FBI Director James Comey was indicted for one count of lying to Congress during a Crossfire Hurricane oversight hearing called by then-Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Graham and one count of obstructing a congressional proceeding. The evening after Comey testified, Graham said he didn't believe Comey's testimony.

On Former FBI Director Comey:

• GRAHAM : "[Some people are asking] why are we looking at Comey? Give me a break. Why are we looking at Comey? Because he ran an FBI and personally knew about exculpatory information and let it slide... How does that not get to the [FISA] court? https://youtu.be/50nK6Hnj3OI?si=CFdSygBsYctvmHbc&t=578

• GRAHAM : "…Are you aware of the fact that [in September 2016] the intelligence community sent a memo to the FBI director detailing intelligence that suggested Clinton's campaign was behind the idea that Trump [was] colluding or cooperating with the Russians?"
• BONDI : "Senator, I believe that has been reported."
• GRAHAM : "And that [memo] was addressed to the FBI director [James Comey] and [an FBI agent] Mr. Strzok. Are you aware that [Comey] told this committee, 'I don't recall that?'…What the hell would you recall? [Comey was] the sitting FBI director. There's a campaign for president going on. [The FBI has] opened up an investigation believing that the Republican candidate may be a Russian asset. And now all of a sudden, less than … two months later, you have two inquiries, two events to suggest it may be his political opponent [behind it]. https://youtu.be/50nK6Hnj3OI?si=e88T6BJMsbsuoyZz&t=433

• GRAHAM : "Did anybody in the FBI inform the FISA court or anyone else about this activity that you know of... Should they have? Is there a requirement by law enforcement to tell the court [regarding] their warrant is being sought or [to tell] a defendant that there's exculpatory information out there about you?"
• BONDI : "In general, of course, Senator."
• GRAHAM : "So to the country, the FBI director gets a memo from the intel community [that says the Russia hoax] may be all a political plot by his opponent. [And the FBI] didn't do a damn thing." https://youtu.be/50nK6Hnj3OI?si=xS4fhEnjN0-kUbhL&t=489

Click here to watch Graham's questions

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