Did the FBI get permission to surveil the Trump campaign? At least in part they did, with the FISA court approval to eavesdrop on the electronic communications of Carter Page. They got approval and renewed it several times, using the infamous Clinton-funded anti-Trump dossier as 'evidence.' When they used the dossier they knew it was suspect but allowed the FISA court to believe it was gospel.
So yes, approval was received. It was received under false pretenses which were not, as far as we know, revealed to the FISA judge or judges who issued the approval.
So perhaps instead of "spying" Barr should have alleged perjury and intent to defraud. Do you suppose Democrats would have found that more palatable?
I find "spying" a darned fine synonym for surveillance done under false pretenses. In Barr's terminology, that is surveillance for which there was inadequate predicate.
Be clear, after a year's surveillance the target - Carter Page - has never been charged with anything criminal. If the first FISA approval was done "on spec," the follow-on renewals were done with a history of "nothing actionable found."
They constitute a clear fishing expedition, done by people who hoped to find something, anything, that would embarrass the Trump campaign. Doing so either is, or should be, indictable criminal behavior by people who knew better but never expected to be caught. Writing for RealClearPolitics, Charles Lipson opines:
The Obama administration politicized the Department of Justice, FBI, and intelligence agencies, and a serious investigation is very likely to find criminal wrong-doing.
