Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a Senior Member of the House Committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget, issued this statement following the release of a report by the Inspector General of the Department of Justice concerning the origins of Operation Crossfire Hurricane:

Earlier today, the Inspector general of the Department of Justice issued a report, on the origins of Operation Crossfire Hurricane. Tellingly, the Report found that while there were some errors with the manner in which the investigation proceeded, the report roundly debunked the President’s assertion that the investigation into the Trump Campaign’s involvement with Russia in the latter’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 began with improper political surveillance by the previous president. This cannot be overstated. For almost three years, the President has complained—feverishly—that he was the subject of unconstitutional surveillance. In the process he has maligned career government officials, whole institutions of government, and his predecessor—President Barack Obama. Today’s report lays bare this farce. Moreover, instead of taking steps to rectify his assault on the rule of law, the President is doubling down, by welcoming the help of a foreign government in order to help him cheat in the 2020 election. This is now the subject of impeachment hearings in the House of Representatives, before the Judiciary Committee of which I am a senior member. Rather than disparage our institutions of government and the dutiful public servants that ensure its functionality, the President should be taking steps to improve the structures of government, consistent with the recommendations of today’s Inspector General’s report.”