Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has responded to President Donald Trump's request for a probe into whether the FBI placed an informant in his 2016 presidential campaign for "political purposes."
Trump made the request public on Sunday when he tweeted to his more than 50 million followers that he would submit a formal request for the investigation on Monday.
According to Fox News, the Justice Department asked its internal watchdog, led by inspector general Michael Horowitz, to determine if there has been "impropriety or political motivation" during the course of the FBI's counterintelligence investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
DOJ spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said in a statement that the request was made to extend an ongoing internal investigation looking into the FISA warrant application process.
"The Department has asked the Inspector General to expand the ongoing review of the (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) application process to include determining whether there was any impropriety or political motivation in how the FBI conducted its counterintelligence investigation of persons suspected of involvement with the Russian agents who interfered in the 2016 presidential election," Flores said.
"As always, the Inspector General will consult with the appropriate U.S. Attorney if there is any evidence of potential criminal conduct," she added.
Flores also released a statement from Rosenstein, which read: "If anyone did infiltrate or surveil participants in a presidential campaign for inappropriate purposes, we need to know about it and take appropriate action."
Rosenstein is the DOJ's top supervisor over the Russia investigation, as Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from it over potential appearances of impropriety.
Trump's demand came after it was revealed that the FBI or CIA placed an informant in the Trump campaign after the government became aware that some staffers had contact with Russians.
Specifically, it is known that Trump aides Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, and Michael Flynn — who was Trump's national security adviser — were targeted by the government's informant.
Fortunately for the president, it appears the end of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation may finally be on the horizon. Lead Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said over the weekend that Mueller plans to conclude his investigation, or at least the probes into Trump and Trump's campaign, by Sept. 1.
