Des Moines Sun

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, appeared on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom” to discuss his efforts leading to the declassification and release of the previously classified appendix—known as the Durham annex—to John Durham’s 2023 Special Counsel report.

The released annex details a reported plan by Hillary Clinton’s campaign to falsely connect President Donald Trump to Russia. It also addresses the FBI’s lack of investigation into intelligence that suggested the Clinton campaign may have fabricated claims about Russian collusion.

Grassley said, “[The Durham annex] gives us information that the FBI had eight to 10 years ago that they never followed up on. It actually brings attention to the fact that there was either a Clinton conspiracy to make this happen, or Russia disinformation. Either way, it was an attempt to stop Trump, and it proves that the FBI had a hand in it.

“And now, after these eight years, three years of mine trying to get the document, we know that the Steele dossier [was] paid for by the Democrats and the Clinton campaign. That it was all an effort of total distraction and to make it look like Russia was playing a very major role in helping Trump be elected. Now we know none of that was true, and now with this Durham report annex out, it finally proved that the FBI was covering up.”

Grassley further commented on how parts of the classified Durham annex were found inside burn bags at the FBI: “I think it's evidence of the great depth that the deep state will go to cover up weaponization that was going on in the FBI and the executive branch of government, generally, under the Obama administration.

“I want to thank Kash Patel of the FBI and Pam Bondi, our Attorney General, for releasing these documents. Because, after eight years – and it took us three years to get this information – but after eight years, I think we need maximum transparency on all the schemes that were going on 10 years ago to either stop Trump from being elected or, after he's elected, to ruin his presidency. And that's what this Durham report is all about.”

Addressing actions by former intelligence officials related to these events, Grassley stated: “I think that they have been in the news so often recently, along with [former FBI Director James] Comey, [for being] in the center of this conspiracy. They’re trying to cover their hind end.”