White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre appeared to be angered after a reporter asked her about the Durham report.
This comes after Special Counsel John Durham released his bombshell report on his investigation into former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s “Russia Collusion” allegations against former President Donald Trump.
According to Durham’s final report on the matter, then-President Barack Obama and then-Vice President Joe Biden were briefed on Clinton’s plan to link Trump’s campaign to Russia.
Durham then blasted the former Democratic presidential nominee for her “plan to stir up a scandal against US Presidential candidate Donald Trump by tying him to Putin and the Russians’ hacking of the Democratic National Committee.”
During Tuesday’s White House press briefing, a reporter asked Jean-Pierre about Biden’s reaction to the report.
Reporter: "Any reaction to the Durham Report?"
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) May 16, 2023
Jean-Pierre: "I would leave it to the DOJ"
Reporter: "Biden always talks about how he wants the DOJ to remain independent but this report reflects the opposite."
Jean-Pierre: "That is with the DOJ. That's not something I'm going… pic.twitter.com/UVlLm2fVyL
“What is the White House reaction to Special Counsel Durham’s report on how the FBI handled the Trump-Russia probe?” the reporter asked.
“I would leave it to the Department of Justice to speak to,” the press secretary responded.
“So the President talks often about how he wants the DOJ and FBI to remain independent and, you know, above the fray. That report seems to reflect the opposite. Is — does he agree with Special Counsel Durham that there needs to be wholesale changes at the FBI?” the reporter pressed.
The catty back-and-forth continued until Jean-Pierre shut him down and abruptly stomped off the podium.
“Again, that is with the Department of Justice. That’s not something that I’m going to speak from the podium … As you just stated in your question, we believe in an independent Department of Justice. That’s what the President said when he was running. And that is what he — the President has said the last two years,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, Trump responded to the Durham report on Truth Social, expressing his vindication after being accused of colluding with Russia during the 2016 presidential election.
“WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe! In other words, the American Public was scammed, just as it is being scammed right now by those who don’t want to see GREATNESS for AMERICA!” the former president wrote.
