Woodward book: CIA director haspel told Barr that Durham probe would be nightmare for cia

quote:

---

CIA Director Gina Haspel lamented how the Justice Department's review of the Russia investigation would be a "nightmare" for her agency, according to veteran journalist Bob Woodward's new book.

Haspel and then-Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats made an appointment with Attorney General William Barr after he announced the investigation in May 2019, which would look, in part, into alleged spying into President Trump's 2016 campaign, possibly by law enforcement and intelligence agency officials.

Special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, Woodward wrote in Rage, "had already torn inconclusively through the intelligence agencies, they said. Why did this need to be done? It will be very disruptive to the agencies." Barr told the pair there was more out there that had not been investigated in the review that was being taken up by U.S. Attorney John Durham.

Haspel said such an investigation would have a negative effect on morale at the CIA, and some of her people were wondering if they needed to get an attorney, Woodward wrote.

"I hope you can do this in a way that it's not going to cause a lot of problems," Haspel said, according to the book. "And can we stay informed in terms of what you plan to do and make sure we know what's happening?"

Barr told them not to worry and that he would keep them apprised of any developments. "Your people won't need to be concerned," he said.

"Don't worry, don't worry," Barr added. "This is not a witch hunt. There's more out there and we just need to know what it is."

---