The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office confirmed the death toll from the wildfires ravaging the area has risen to 16. The total of confirmed fatalities stands at 16 victims, and the cases remain under investigation. Five of the deaths were attributed to the Palisades Fire, and 11 resulted from the Eaton Fire, the coroner's office said in a statement Saturday evening. The previous number of confirmed fatalities was 11, but officials said they expected that figure to rise as cadaver dogs search leveled neighborhoods and crews assess the devastation. Authorities have established a center where people can report the missing. Firefighters raced to cut off spreading wildfires before potentially strong winds return that could push the flames toward the world famous J. Paul Getty Museum and the University of California, Los Angeles, while new evacuation warnings left more homeowners on edge. A fierce battle against the flames was underway in Mandeville Canyon, home to Arnold Schwarzenegger and other celebrities not far from the Pacific coast, where swooping helicopters dumped water as the blaze charged downhill. Firefighters on the ground used hoses in an attempt to beat back leaping flames as thick smoke blanketed the chaparral-covered hillside. At a briefing, CalFire Operations Chief Christian Litz said a main focus Saturday would be the Palisades Fire burning in the canyon area, not far from the UCLA campus. “We need to be aggressive out there,” Litz said. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said the LA area "had another night of unimaginable terror and heartbreak, and even more Angelenos evacuated due to the northeast expansion of the Palisades Fire.” Light breezes were fanning the flames, but the National Weather Service warned that strong Santa Ana winds — the nemesis of firefighters — could soon return. Those winds have been largely blamed for turning the wildfires into infernos that leveled entire neighborhoods around to city where there has been no significant rainfall in more than eight months. Read: Californians race to save pets as LA wildfires advance The fire also was threatening to jump over Interstate 405 and into densely populated areas in the Hollywood Hills and San Fernando Valley. The hunt for bodies continues The grim work of sifting through the devastation continued Saturday, with teams conducting systematic grid searches with cadaver dogs, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. He said a family assistance center was being established in Pasadena, and he urged residents to abide by curfews. “We have people driving up and around trying to get in just to look. Stay away,” he said. The fires have consumed about 56 square miles (145 square kilometers), an area larger than San Francisco. Tens of thousands of people remained under evacuation orders and new evacuations were ordered Friday evening after a flare up on the eastern side of the Palisades Fire. Since the fires first began Tuesday just north of downtown LA, they have burned more than 12,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles. No cause has been determined for the largest fires, and early estimates indicate the wildfires could be the nation's costliest ever. A preliminary estimate by AccuWeather put the damage and economic losses so far between $135 billion and $150 billion. Rays of kindness amid the devastation So many volunteers showed up to help at donation centers Saturday that some were being turned away. That was the case at a YMCA in the Koreatown neighborhood. By late morning, cars with would-be helpers were also being turned back from the Santa Anita Park horse racing track, where donations of necessities were being accepted. At the race track Friday, people who lost their homes could be seen sifting through stacks of donated shirts, blankets and other household goods. Altadena resident Jose Luis Godinez said three homes occupied by more than a dozen of his family members were destroyed. “Everything is gone,” he said, speaking in Spanish. "All my family lived in those three houses and now we have nothing.” Officials warn against returning to burned homes Some residents have been venturing back to see what can be salvaged after wildfires destroyed their homes, sifting through rubble for keepsakes. But officials on Saturday urged them to stay away, warning that the ash can contain lead, arsenic, asbestos and other harmful materials. “If you’re kicking that stuff up, you’re breathing it in,” said Chris Thomas, a spokesman for the unified incident command at the Palisades Fire. “All of that stuff is toxic.” Read more: Disney pledges $15M to aid Los Angeles wildfire victims Residents will be allowed to return, with protective gear, after damage teams have evaluated their properties, Thomas said. City leadership accused of skimping on firefighting funds Allegations of leadership failures and political blame have begun and so have investigations. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday ordered state officials to determine why a 117 million-gallon (440 million-liter) reservoir was out of service and some hydrants had run dry. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said city leadership failed her department by not providing enough money for firefighting. She also criticized the lack of water. “When a firefighter comes up to a hydrant, we expect there’s going to be water,” she said. Progress made on fighting the Eaton fire Firefighters for the first time made progress Friday afternoon on the Eaton Fire north of Pasadena, which has burned more than 7,000 structures. Officials said most evacuation orders for the area had been lifted. LA Mayor Karen Bass, who faces a critical test of her leadership as her city endures its greatest crisis in decades, said several smaller fires also were stopped. The level of devastation is jarring even in a state that regularly confronts massive wildfires.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into its former commissioner, Jahurul Haque, over alleged irregularities in acquiring RAJUK plots, money laundering, and unlawfully amassing assets beyond his known income. ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain said on Wednesday that the commission has decided to probe the allegations against Jahurul Haque. A three-member committee has been formed to carry out the investigation, he added. The committee, led by ACC Director SMM Akhter Hamid Bhuiyan, also includes Assistant Director Minhaj Bin Islam and Deputy Assistant Director Md Zakir Hossain. ACC seeks info on dual citizenship of govt employees The ACC has directed the investigative committee to follow due process and submit its findings within the stipulated time frame. The commission has also instructed the committee to notify the relevant ACC office in writing if any of his bank accounts are frozen or properties seized during the course of the investigation. The complaint filed against Jahurul Haque accuses him of abusing his power to receive bribes from individuals involved in cases under investigation by the ACC. Additionally, Jahurul is alleged to have fraudulently obtained five plots from Rajuk (Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha) in the names of his wife and himself. Furthermore, he is accused of taking bribes of hundreds of crores of taka from major telecom companies during his tenure as chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), laundering the money abroad, and accumulating undeclared assets, including multiple properties overseas. Meanwhile, the home ministry has imposed a travel ban on him.

The investigation committee, formed by the government, has said that the devastating fire at the Bangladesh Secretariat on December 25 was caused by an electrical loose connection, ruling out any evidence of sabotage. The preliminary report was disclosed during a press briefing on Tuesday evening at the State Guest House Jamuna. The fire engulfed four floors of Building No 7, housing offices of five ministries. It began just before 2:00 am and took the Fire Service six hours to bring under control, with total extinguishment requiring nearly 10 hours. Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani said the committee found no indication of individual involvement in the fire, and attributed the incident to faulty electrical wiring, mentioning the absence of any foul play. Dr Maksud Helali, a professor from BUET and a member of the investigation committee, revealed that the preliminary findings have been submitted to the Chief Adviser. "Though the fire appeared to originate from multiple spots, it was actually interconnected through internal pathways," Dr Helali explained. The inability to extinguish the fire on the sixth floor before addressing the blaze on the seventh floor exacerbated the situation, he added. Brigadier General Mahbubur Rasel, an explosives expert with the Bangladesh Army, said that tests, including those conducted by a dog squad, found no traces of explosive substances. Director General of Fire Service Brigadier General Muhammad Zahed Kamal pointed out that the presence of combustible interior design materials had caused the fire to spread rapidly. Read: Secretariat fire probe committee now to submit report Tuesday He also mentioned inadequacies in the building's fire suppression systems, highlighting the need for improvements. The fire, which caused extensive damage, broke out in the early hours of Wednesday. It required the efforts of multiple fire service units to contain. The blaze not only destroyed infrastructure but also severely impacted crucial government offices. In response to the incident, the Cabinet Division formed an eight-member high-level investigation committee to examine the cause and implications of the fire. The findings of the investigation underline the importance of stringent electrical maintenance and robust fire safety measures in government buildings. Authorities have been urged to implement comprehensive upgrades to prevent such incidents in the future. Read more: Fire-ravaged secretariat building can be repaired: Public Works Official The Secretariat fire serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in essential infrastructure, calling for immediate and sustained action to safeguard critical facilities.

Family members of the seven people  killed onboard a fertiliser-laden vessel on the Meghna River near Eshanbala Char in Chandpur's Haimchar Upazila on Tuesday claimed the killings as planned and demanded justice. They identified the bodies at Chandpur General Hospital morgue and those were handed over to them after postmortem this noon. On Monday afternoon Coast Guard and River Police recovered five bodies and rescued three injured victims from the vessel. Later, two of the injured succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. No case has been filed yet but preparations for filing a case are underway, said Chandpur’s Haimchar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mahiyuddin Suman The deceased were identified as Golam Kibria ,55, captain of the vessel hailed from Faridpur, his nephew Sheikh Sabuj,35, a sailor, Aminul Munshi, 40, helmsman from Narail district, Majedul,16, asailor from Magura Sajibul Islam ,26, sailor from Magura, Salahuddin,40, an engineer from Narail and Kazi Rana 24, its cook from Munshiganj. Sheikh Sabuj’s younger brother Sadikur Rahman said, “My brother recently spoke to me; he was a laskar (sailor) brought in by Captain Golam Kibria who is also our maternal uncle. This horrific incident must be thoroughly investigated, and justice must be ensured.” Read: Ministry of Industries shocked, forms probe body over MV Al Bakera incident in Chandpur Golam Kibria’s brother Awal Hossain broke down while describing his family’s anguish. “My brother was set to retire in January, but fate had other plans. He left behind two daughters and a son, with his elder daughter’s wedding planned for next month,” he lamented. Chandpur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Mohsin Uddin said each victim’s family received Tk 25,000 in financial assistance. He assured that a case would be filed by the families.

The High Court (HC) has issued an order directing the authorities to conclude the long-pending investigation into the murders of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi within six months. An HC bench, led by Justice Farah Mahbub, passed the order after releasing a full-fledged verdict on the formation of a six member high-powered task force to probe the double murders. On September 30, the HC ordered the formation of the task force to probe the case that remained unsolved for 12 years. The court also directed the Home Ministry to execute the decision after removing the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from the investigation as the elite force had repeatedly been failing to submit the probe report. Earlier, the submission date of the probe report on the double murders has been deferred for the 114th time till October 15. On October 1 this year, Runi’s brother Nowsher filed a petition with a trial court seeking permission for appointment of nine lawyers to assist the state in the case. Later, the court appointed nine lawyers, including Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Monir. On October 10, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Moinul Islam said police started reinvestigating the case. Read: Sagar-Runi murder: Court approves appointing 9 lawyers to assist public prosecutor On the night of February 11, 2012, Sagar Sarowar, news editor at Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were brutally murdered in their rented apartment in West Rajabazar, Dhaka. Their only son, Mahir Sarowar Megh (then 5 years old), was present in the house at the time of the killings. Runi's brother, Nowsher, filed a murder case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. Initially, the case was assigned to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station for investigation. Three days later, it was handed over to the Detective Branch (DB) of police. After DB failed to make progress, the case was transferred to RAB on April 18, 2012. Police arrested Tanvir Rahman in connection with the murder case on October 1, 2012. Later, he secured bail in 2014. Read more: Sagar-Runi murder: HC orders removal of RAB from probe, formation of task force The seven other suspects are Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Abu Syed, Mintu alias Baggira Mintu alias Masum Mintu, Quamrul Hasan alias Arun, security guard Enam Ahmed alias Humayun Kabir and Palash Rudra Pal. Out of the eight people arrested in connection with the case, two were granted bail, while the others are in jail. RAB Additional SP Khandaker Md Shafiqul Alam was appointed as the seventh investigation officer in the case on July 7, 2019.

Adviser for Shipping, Jute and Textile ministries Brigadier General (retd) Sakhawat Hossain expressed concerns regarding two recent fire incidents involving Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) vessels in Chattogram and urged to refrain from speculation until the investigation concludes. “I do not want to speculate on whether anything suspicious happened or what happened exactly. Please wait for the investigation,” he said during a briefing at the BSC office on Sunday. The adviser noted that following the fire aboard the Banglar Sourav ship, BSC’s managing director immediately chartered another ship for lightering operations. “Let me mention that before the incident, the MD had already said this would be Banglar Sourav's last trip or service. Unfortunately, the incident occurred. I was worried that an oil blast could have shut down the channel,” he added. Another BSC ship catches fire in Ctg; one dies He credited swift response teams, including the Navy, Coast Guard, and Port Authority, for controlling the fire and preventing further damage. “The Naval Chief called at 5 am and confirmed full cooperation. By 4:30 pm, I was informed that everyone had been rescued,” he said, adding that the rescue operation was handled professionally, with one individual taken to the hospital. He emphasized the importance of safety measures moving forward and said crude oil from Banglar Sourav would soon be transferred. He also recommended increasing the capacity of the terminal. In response to a question about BSC’s fleet, Hossain said five BSC vessels are generating substantial profits abroad, including in Jamaica. “None of them are in Bangladesh. We plan to expand BSC’s fleet as soon as possible, Inshallah,” he said. He also touched on efforts to reduce corruption within the ministry. “As long as we are here, we can at least reduce corruption,” he said. Regarding the acquisition of four new ships from China, Hossain revealed that a team is working to negotiate lower prices. “We are trying to reduce costs. If money has already been taken, how will we recover it? The dollar was at BDT 90. An investigation will be conducted,” he said. Two buses set on fire in Gazipur to protest RMG worker's death He expressed frustration over delays in several ministry projects, saying that halting them now would waste significant public funds. He vowed to send relevant documents to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for further investigation. “A former prime minister once joked that her peon had TK 400 crore. Have you ever, even in dreams, seen Tk 400 crore? I certainly haven’t,” he said.

Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun announced a thorough investigation into the shooting incident where a police constable killed his colleague in the Baridhara diplomatic zone. The probe will rely on CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts, he said. The police chief addressed the media late last night at the scene, in front of the Palestine Embassy, where the tragic event unfolded. Eyewitnesses reported a heated argument between police constables Monirul Islam and Kawsar Ali after 11 pm. During the altercation, Kawsar began firing indiscriminately, hitting Monirul in the chest and killing him instantly. Sajjad Sheikh, a driver for the Japan Embassy who was nearby, was also injured in the shooting. Policeman gunned down by fellow cop in Baridhara; pedestrian injured The incident caused widespread panic, leading to road closures in the surrounding area. It took special police forces, including SWAT and the Detective Branch, about half an hour to disarm and apprehend Kawsar. Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, along with senior police officials, quickly arrived at the scene to manage the situation. A security guard, speaking on condition of anonymity, recounted that after shooting Monirul, Kawsar stood at the main gate of the Palestine Embassy. When questioned about Monirul’s lifeless body, Kawsar reportedly claimed he was "pretending." Kawsar then moved to the road opposite the embassy gate, where security personnel finally apprehended him. Witnesses reported hearing five to six rounds of gunfire during the incident. Slovakian prime minister in life-threatening condition after being shot Sajjad Sheikh, the injured driver, was admitted to United Hospital, according to his family.

Bangladesh authorities must immediately and impartially investigate the assaults on at least 27 journalists covering recent political rallies and hold the perpetrators accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has said. On October 28, at least 27 journalists covering rallies in Dhaka were attacked. CPJ spoke to journalists who accused BNP supporters of attacking the journalists. Md Rafsan Jani, a crime reporter for the daily Kalbela newspaper, told CPJ that he was filming BNP supporters assaulting police officers when two demonstrators approached him and took his phone and identification card. A group of BNP supporters then surrounded Jani and beat him with iron rods, sticks, and pipes as he repeatedly identified himself as a journalist, he said, adding that he managed to escape after around 20 minutes. CPJ, rights groups call for stopping ‘harassment’ of journalist Rozina As of November 1, his items had not been returned. The CPJ also took note of The Daily Star report that claimed Awami League demonstrators beat the daily Kalbela reporter Abu Saleh Musa while covering their rally. “The attacks on at least 27 Bangladeshi journalists covering recent political rallies in Dhaka must see swift and transparent accountability,” said CPJ Program Director Carlos Martínez de la Serna. “The leadership and supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Awami League, as well as police, must respect the rights of journalists to freely and safely report on the lead-up to the upcoming election scheduled for January,” he said. SA Masum, a photographer for the daily Inqilab newspaper, told CPJ that he was taking photos of a confrontation between Awami League and BNP supporters when his head was repeatedly struck from behind with what he suspected to be a bamboo stick, knocking him unconscious while the attackers, whom he did not identify, continued to beat him. Bystanders at the scene rescued Masum and took him to the hospital, where he was treated for a concussion and severe bruising and open lesions throughout his body, according to the journalist, who shared photos of his injuries with CPJ. Md Sirajum Salekin, a crime reporter for the Dhaka Times, told CPJ that he was on his motorcycle on the way to cover clashes at the chief justice’s residence when a vehicle hit his motorcycle from behind, causing him to fall and break two bones in his right leg. Record number of journalists jailed worldwide in 2020: CPJ  Salekin said he believed he was targeted because he was wearing his press badge and his motorcycle was marked with a sticker of the Dhaka Times. Mohammad Ali Mazed, a video reporter for the French news agency Agence France-Presse, told CPJ that he was covering a clash between police and BNP demonstrators while holding a camera and press identification when five to six demonstrators surrounded him. The demonstrators damaged Mazed’s camera and other news equipment and beat him on his head, back, and right shoulder with bamboo sticks for around three minutes until the journalist fled the scene with the assistance of bystanders, he said. CPJ names Shahidul Alam among four for Int’l Press Freedom Awards 2020 Sazzad Hossain, a freelance photographer working with Bangla Tribune and international outlets, including the British newspaper The Guardian and photo agency SOPA Images, told CPJ that BNP protesters threw broken bricks at him and trampled him while he was covering a clash with police. Salahuddin Ahmed Shamim, a freelance photographer reporting for the news agency Fair News Service, told CPJ that he was covering BNP protesters assaulting police officers when seven to eight of the party’s supporters surrounded him, beat him in the back with bamboo sticks, and kicked him for around 15 minutes. Two journalists who spoke to CPJ — Sheikh Hasan Ali, chief photojournalist for Kaler Kantho newspaper, and Ahammad Foyez, senior correspondent for New Age newspaper — said they were struck with rubber bullets when police attempted to disperse BNP protesters, leaving them with minor injuries. Ali told CPJ that an unidentified man hit the Kaler Kantho photographer Lutfor Rahman with a bamboo stick on his right shoulder while covering the same clashes. Md Hanif Rahman, a photographer for Ekushey TV, told CPJ that he and Ekushey TV reporter Touhidur Rahman were covering an arson attack on a police checkpoint when they were surrounded by a group of 10 to 12 men who beat him with pipes and sticks and pushed Touhidur. Rabiul Islam Rubel, a reporter for the daily Kalbela, told CPJ that he was among a crowd of BNP supporters while covering the clashes at the chief justice’s residence when 15 to 20 men threw bricks at him while shouting that journalists are “government brokers.” Jony Rayhan, a reporter for the daily Kalbela, told CPJ that BNP supporters beat him while covering their rally. Rayhan was also injured by a sound grenade that landed in front of him while police were trying to disperse the demonstrators, he said. Salman Tareque Sakil, chief reporter for Bangla Tribune, told CPJ that he sustained a leg fracture after a brick was thrown at him while covering the BNP rally. Jubair Ahmed, a Bangla Tribune reporter, told CPJ that while police were dispersing BNP demonstrators, a tear gas shell landed in front of him, blurring his vision before the protesters trampled him while fleeing the scene. Tahir Zaman, a reporter for the news website The Report, was also injured by a rubber bullet while covering clashes at the BNP rally, CPJ said. Read more: Day 3 of blockade: 4 vehicles burnt in Dhaka, Narayanganj so far

The High Court today (October 15, 2023) expressed dissatisfaction over the probe report submitted by the high-level investigation committee on the death of Union land office employee Sultana Jasmine in RAB custody in Naogaon. "The report is unclear," the High Court said. “It did not include anything regarding the process of detaining Sultana Jasmine. The report also failed to say whether her relatives were informed after her (Jasmine) detention. Therefore, the court is not satisfied with the report.” Also read: HC grants 2 more months for probe into Jasmine’s death in RAB Custody The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub-ul-Islam made the remarks on Sunday. Later, the High Court bench directed the preparation of the rule for the upcoming hearing on this matter. The court scheduled the hearing for the rule for November 29.      Advocate Manoj Kumar Bhowmick appeared for the writ petitioner in the court. Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas, Assistant Attorney General Abul Kalam Khan Dawood and Assistant Attorney General Taufiq Sajwar Partha were present on behalf of the state. Also read: Death in Custody: RAB quizzes Jasmine's son and brother-in-law Advocate Manoj Kumar Bhowmick said the High Court was dissatisfied over the probe report as some key information was missing from the report. Earlier on May 22, the Cabinet Division formed a high-level investigation committee to investigate the death of land office employee Sultana Jasmine in RAB custody in Naogaon based on the High Court’s directive. The High Court ordered the committee to complete the investigation and submit its report within 60 days. On August 14, the committee submitted a 302-page report to the High Court. Also read: Sultana Jasmine died from brain hemorrhage: postmortem report Union land office employee Sultana was detained by RAB from Muktirmor area of Naogaon city on March 22. She was admitted to Naogaon hospital the same day after she fell ill and later died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on March 24. According to the postmortem report submitted by the Forensic Department of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Sultana Jasmine died from brain haemorrhage. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said Jasmine was arrested for interrogation as there was an accusation of fraudulence against her. Also read: Calls grow for judicial investigation of Jasmine's death in custody

An investigation into the origins of the FBI's probe into ties between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign has finally been concluded, with the prosecutor leading the inquiry submitting a much-awaited report that found major flaws. The report, the culmination of a four-year investigation into possible misconduct by U.S. government officials, contained withering criticism of the FBI but few significant revelations. Nonetheless, it will give fodder to Trump supporters who have long denounced the Russia investigation, as well as Trump opponents who say the Durham team's meager court record shows their probe was a politically motivated farce. Also Read: Jury finds Trump liable for sexual abuse, awards accuser $5M A look at the investigation and the report: WHO IS JOHN DURHAM? Durham has spent decades as a Justice Department prosecutor, with past assignments including investigations into the FBI's cozy relationship with mobsters in Boston and the CIA's destruction of videotapes of its harsh interrogations of terrorism subjects. He was appointed in 2019 to investigate potential misconduct by U.S. government officials as they examined Russian election interference in 2016 and whether there was any illegal coordination between the Kremlin and Trump's presidential campaign. Despite skimpy results — one guilty plea and two acquittals — that failed to live up to Trump's expectations, Durham was able to continue his work well into the Biden administration, thanks in part to William Barr appointing Durham as a Justice Department special counsel shortly before Barr's 2020 resignation as attorney general. WHY DID THE TRUMP JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THINK SUCH AN APPOINTMENT WAS NECESSARY? The appointment came weeks after a different special counsel, Robert Mueller, wrapped up his investigation of possible connections between Russia and the Trump campaign. That probe produced more than two dozen criminal cases, including against a half-dozen Trump associates. Though it did not charge any Trump aide with working with Russia to tip the election, it did find that Russia interfered on Trump's behalf and that the campaign welcomed, rather than discouraged, the help. From the start, Barr was deeply skeptical of the investigation's foundation, telling Congress that “spying did occur” on the campaign. He enlisted an outside prosecutor to hunt for potential misconduct at the government agencies who were involved in collecting intelligence and conducting the investigation, even flying with Durham to Italy to meet with officials there as part of the probe. WERE THERE PROBLEMS WITH THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION? Yes, and a Justice Department inspector general inquiry already identified many. The watchdog report found that FBI applications for warrants to eavesdrop on a former Trump campaign aide, Carter Page, contained significant errors and omitted information that would likely have weakened or undermined the premise of the application. The cumulative effect of those errors, the report said, was to make it “appear that the information supporting probable cause was stronger than was actually the case.” Still, the inspector general did not find evidence that investigators acted with political bias and said there was a legitimate basis to open a full investigation into potential collusion, though Durham has disagreed. WHAT CRIMINAL CASES DID HE BRING AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME? Durham brought three prosecution during his tenure, but only one resulted in a conviction — and that was for a case referred to him by the Justice Department inspector general. None of the three undid core findings by Mueller that Russia had interfered with the 2016 election in sweeping fashion. A former FBI lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, pleaded guilty in 2020 to altering an email related to the surveillance of ex-Trump campaign aide. He was given probation. But two other cases, both involving alleged false statements to the FBI, resulted in acquittals by jury. Michael Sussmann, a lawyer for the Hillary Clinton campaign, was found not guilty of lying to the FBI during a meeting in which he presented computer data information that he wanted the FBI to investigate. A different jury acquitted Igor Danchenko, a Russian-American analyst, of charges that he lied to the FBI about his role in the creation of a discredited dossier about Trump. WHAT SPECIFICALLY DID DURHAM FIND? Durham found that the FBI acted too hastily and relied on raw and unconfirmed intelligence when it opened the Trump-Russia investigation. He said at the time the probe was opened, the FBI had no information about any actual contact between Trump associates and Russian intelligence officials. He also claimed that FBI investigators fell prone to “confirmation bias,” repeatedly ignoring or rationalizing away information that could have undercut the premise of their investigation, and he noted that the FBI failed to corroborate a single substantive allegation from a dossier of research that it relied on during the course of the probe. “An objective and honest assessment of these strands of information should have caused the FBI to question not only the predication for Crossfire Hurricane, but also to reflect on whether the FBI was being manipulated for political or other purposes,” the report said, using the FBI's code name for the Trump-Russia probe. “Unfortunately, it did not.” HOW DID THE FBI RESPOND? The FBI pointed out that it had long ago made dozens of corrective actions. Had those measures been in place in 2016, it says, the errors at the center of the report could have been prevented. It also took pains to note that the conduct in the report took place before the current director, Christopher Wray, took the job in fall 2017. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? It didn't take long for Republicans in Congress to react. Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said he had invited Durham to testify on Capitol Hill next week. Trump, too, sought to seize on the report, claiming anew in a post on his Truth Social platform that the Durham report had found “the crime of the century” and calling the Russia investigation the “Democrat Hoax.” Though the FBI says it's already taken some steps to address the problems cited in the report, Durham did say it's possible more reform could be needed. One idea, he said, would be to provide additional scrutiny of politically sensitive investigations by identifying an official who would be responsible for challenging the steps taken in a probe. He said his team had considered but did not ultimately recommend steps that would curtail the FBI's investigative authorities, including its use of tools under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to eavesdrop on suspected spies or terrorists.