Conclusions Concerning All Four FISA Applications:

Quotes From The Report compiled by Jeff Carlson

1) Conclusions Concerning All Four FISA Applications:

"We concluded that the failures described above and in this report represent serious performance failures by the supervisory and non-supervisory agents with responsibility over the FISA applications."

Damning statement.

2) "These failures prevented OI from fully performing its gatekeeper function and deprived the decision makers the opportunity to make fully informed decisions."

3) "We believe that all of them ["factual misstatements and omissions"] taken together resulted in FISA applications that made it appear that the information supporting probable cause was stronger than was actually the case."

4) Significant quote:

"We identified at least 17 significant errors or omissions in the Carter Page FISA applications, and many additional errors in the Woods Procedures."

5) "While we did not find documentary or testimonial evidence of intentional misconduct on the part of the case agents who assisted OI in preparing the applications, or the agents and supervisors who performed the Woods Procedures..."

6) "...we also did not receive satisfactory explanations for the errors or problems we identified."

7) Another damning statement:

"We believe that case agents may have improperly substituted their own judgments in place of the judgment of OI, or in place of the [FISA] court, to weigh the probative value of the information."

8) "Failure to update OI on all significant case developments relevant to the FISA applications led us to conclude that the agents and supervisors did not give appropriate attention or treatment to the facts that cut against probable cause."

9) "The agents and SSAs also did not follow, or appear to even know, the requirements in the Woods Procedures to re-verify the factual assertions from previous applications that are repeated in renewal applications...

10) "...and verify source characterization statements with the CHS handling agent and document the verification in the Woods File."

11) "That so many basic and fundamental errors were made by three separate, hand-picked teams on one of the most sensitive FBI investigations that was briefed to the highest levels within the FBI..."

12) "...and that FBI officials expected would eventually be subjected to close scrutiny, raised significant questions regarding the FBI chain of command's management and supervision of the FISA process."

13) "We concluded that the information that was known to the managers, supervisors, and senior officials should have resulted in questions being raised regarding the reliability of the Steele reporting and the probable cause supporting the FISA applications, but did not."

14) "we recommend that the FBI review the performance of the employees who had responsibility for the preparation, Woods review, or approval of the FISA applications..."

15) "...as well as the managers and supervisors in the chain of command of the Carter Page investigation, including senior officials, and take any action deemed appropriate."

16) "We believe that additional OIG oversight work is required to assess the FBI's compliance with Department and FBI FISA-related policies that seek to protect the civil liberties of U.S. persons."

17) "We have today initiated an OIG audit that will further examine the FBI's compliance with the Woods Procedures in FISA applications that target U.S. persons in both counterintelligence and counterterrorism investigations."