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John Durham’s Potential Final Case Goes To The Jury

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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.


Special Counsel John Durham’s team added a new member as another high-profile trial is underway. Durham potentially has an “October surprise” as another main figure could be charged for his role with the discredited dossier, which played a role in the Trump-Russia investigation.

Adam Small was added to the team after Andrew DeFilippis, an assistant special counsel, withdrew from the team ahead of the trial of Russian national Igor Danchenko. Small’s official LinkedIn page says he is a “Trial Attorney with experience prosecuting Espionage Act, trade secret/economic espionage, sanctions/export control, FARA, wire fraud, money laundering, cyber, and RICO offenses.”

Before his removal, DeFilippis had played a prominent role in the Danchenko case since the November indictment, including during appearances in court, virtual hearings, and legal filings. Danchenko was charged last year with five counts of making false statements to the FBI. Durham says the comments were about the information Danchenko provided for the dossier.

The Department of Justice’s watchdog concluded that Danchenko eventually undermined Steele’s unfounded claims of a “well-developed conspiracy” between former President Donald Trump and Russia.

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The Week reported:

Durham charged Russian foreign policy researcher Igor Danchenko with five counts of lying to the FBI tied to his role as a sub-source for former British spy Christopher Steele’s salacious, largely discredited Trump-Russia dossier.

Durham spent much of his closing argument attacking the FBI and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, as he had during the trial. At times, Politico’s Josh Gerstein noted last week, “Durham seemed to be training his fire on the FBI, even at the expense of his case against Danchenko.” During Monday’s closing arguments, as Durham defended his work and went after the FBI and Mueller investigation, The New York Times reports, Judge Trenga — a George W. Bush appointee — told him, “You should finish up.”

After Durham and Danchenko’s lawyers concluded their closing arguments in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, the jury deliberated for four hours Monday before being excused for the night.

Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson revealed that Durham’s investigation has “hindered Congress as lawmakers seek to root out FBI misconduct and examine the shady business dealings of Hunter Biden.”

“Blame was cast during a recent interview on Newsmax in which Johnson vented about a dearth of successful prosecutions in Durham’s endeavor, which appears to be wrapping up as the prosecutor takes the alleged main source for a now-infamous dossier alleging ties between former President Donald Trump and Russia to court this month. The senator said he was unsatisfied, noting the lack of a conviction against lawyer Michael Sussmann, who was acquitted in May,” the Washington Examiner reported.

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“Our efforts in terms of investigating Hunter Biden, and corruption within the FBI was certainly hampered because we had an active criminal investigation under John Durham,” Johnson said.

“The Newsmax interview with Johnson began with hosts Sean Spicer, Trump’s first White House press secretary, and Lyndsay Keith, discussing dozens of FBI whistleblowers that Republican lawmakers say have come forward to them in recent months to raise allegations of politicization in the bureau. One of those lawmakers is Johnson, who has also investigated Hunter Biden, the adult son of President Joe Biden, and raised concerns about influence peddling,” the report added.

“Although Johnson suggested Durham’s investigation, which is looking for misconduct in the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation and has secured one conviction so far, poses a roadblock for congressional oversight, Republicans are gearing up for a wider investigation into the allegations of FBI malfeasance if they win control of at least one chamber in the November midterm elections,” the report continued.

Johnson said that he hopes whatever report Durham and his team submit by the end of his investigation to Attorney General Merrick Garland is made public.

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“The American public deserves to know the truth of the corruption that was occurring within the Department of Justice and the FBI,” Johnson said.

It is unclear when Durham’s investigation will end or when his final report is expected to be submitted to the Department of Justice.

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