DURHAM: You're all aware now that the Durham report has finally been released.   It is more than 600 pages long, and, obviously, even knowledgeable lawyers will take some time to absorb it all, ask the right questions, and come to the right conclusions.

Special Counsel John Durham was tasked, in general terms, with investigating the circumstances surrounding the federal government's probes into whether candidate Donald Trump, and then President Donald Trump, was involved in improper dealings with Russia, the implication being that Trump was being used by the Russian government.

Durham's basic finding was that there was no actual, factual basis for the government to investigate Trump, and that the Department of Justice and FBI "failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law" when it launched the Trump-Russia investigation.

That is a devastating finding.  In effect, Durham charges, and supports his charges with evidence, that a probe that tormented Mr. Trump for at least three years had no real basis, and that the Justice Department and its subsidiary, the FBI, were responsible for what amounted to a hoax that helped political enemies of Trump, including Hillary Clinton.

Although Durham's task did not include a probe of the press coverage, any of us can think back at the manner in which some major news organizations, starting with CNN, tormented President Trump and grabbed at any half-baked charge against him.  I don't recall any other president being treated that way by so-called journalists.  And so it was interesting today to see the way the media handled the Durham report.  Some played it reasonably straight, but it was clear that others worked hard to minimize the impact of the report and make it into a one-day story.  I'd put CNN in that category, and even the Associated Press.  ABC would have to be included.  I would add that Jake Tapper of CNN had the courage to go against his network's institutional bias and bluntly stated how significant the Durham report is.

A few cautionary notes:  Some have made much of the fact that the Durham report doesn't recommend any further prosecutions.  I personally don't care.  The standard that "it isn't against the law" is the lowest possible standard in government.  An act can be legal and yet be severely damaging to the country.  And that can include a campaign commercial or a politically slanted government action.

Second, beware of claims that "mistakes were made but all has been corrected."  Real journalists will insist on knowing whether the offending government agencies have been fixed, semi-fixed, or ignored.  I want assurance that the FBI, one of the most powerful government agencies in the world, and staffed by some of the bravest special agents, is pure in its top ranks.

May 15, 2023