Summary
Special counsel John Durham's report of the FBI’s probe into the 2016 Donald Trump campaign was released to the public Monday. Durham was appointed by former Attorney General William Barr to look into what many on the right saw as a politically motivated witch hunt, but the report offered no significant new evidence to support those claims. For a transcript of this story, click here . News wrap alternative : Check out this recent segment from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching! You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.Five Facts
- Who is John Durham?
- When did Durham start his investigation and when did he complete it?
- What were Durham's conclusions regarding Crossfire Hurricane? How revelatory (what new things did we find out) was the Durham report, according to the Washington Post's reporter?
- How did Durham go about investigating? Who did he criticize in his report?
- What are Republicans, particularly those who support former President Donald Trump, and Trump himself, saying about the report's findings?
Focus Questions
What do you find most significant about the Durham report in regards to how the FBI conducted their investigation? Do you think the report will affect how the FBI conducts future investigations? News analysis : Did this story allow you to understand how the Durham report does or does not affect the outcome of the 2016 election? Was there anything that could have been added? Alternative : See, Think, Wonder : What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?For More
What students can do : Discuss with a family member or neighbor: What do they remember about the 2016 election in which Trump was elected? Do they remember news stories about the Trump campaign's alleged connections to Russia and allegations that officials there helped Trump get elected? What does the Durham report say about those allegations? What is your view of the FBI?- It is important to know that members of the FBI are generally viewed as being aligned with more traditional Republican values, which often includes not having a favorable stance towards the Russian government given the history of the Cold War.
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