We learned a lot about the inspector general’s report as its author testified Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. For example, we learned that not even Michael Horowitz could say the FISA warrant against Carter Page and its three renewals actually turned up important information, and yet it just kept getting renewed.

Of course, most of the attention is being directed toward the infamous Steele dossier and what role that bit of opposition research played in securing that FISA warrant, but the Wall Street Journal’s Kimberley Strassel has found one line buried in the document dealing with the timeline, and she says it brings up a question that must be answered: who knew what in the spring of 2016.

1) Buried in the IG report is a line that poses an enormous question, one that is central to everything, and really must be answered.

Remember: According to all relevant players, prior to July of 2016, nobody had a Trump-Russia collusion narrative on their minds. …(cont) — Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) December 12, 2019

2)Indeed, the FBI says it was only the Downer tip-off at end-July that spurred the investigation. Downer for his part says it was public revelation in July of the DNC hack that caused him to finally wonder about collusion and connect his spring conversation with Papadopoulos. — Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) December 12, 2019

3)Fusion GPS's Glenn Simpson, meanwhile, in Senate testimony, "stress[ed]" he hired Steele in May to look at Trump's "business activities" in Russia….By Simpson's telling (under penalty of perjury), Steele just sort of stumbled on this much "broader" "political conspiracy." — Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) December 12, 2019

4) But here is what Steele told the IG: That in May 2016, Simpson approached Steele to "assist in determining Russia's actions related to the 2016 election"; "whether Russia was trying to achieve a particular election outcome"; and… — Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) December 12, 2019

5)"whether there were any ties between the Russian government and Trump and his campaign." (Page 93) Seems Simpson had a pretty good bead on the "narrative" long before the govt. claims to have had it and before even his own source had reported it to him. Huh. — Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) December 12, 2019

6) Let's hope Attorney John Durham provides some answers on who exactly knew what in the spring of 2016. — Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) December 12, 2019

Great reporting. Thank you! — The Honorable Judge Smails (@JudgeElihuSmail) December 12, 2019

This is investigative journalism. Well done — Jerrod Dozier (@DozierAu) December 12, 2019

Kim Strassel connects the dots again. Listen to her!! — I ❤️ America (@RightTraq) December 12, 2019

Good find !! — Jane Hodnett ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@HodnettJane) December 12, 2019

Not to mention the fact they were spying on @GeorgePapa19 before he joined the Trump campaign (while with Carson). Was Trump the only campaign they were spying on? — Todd Donnelly (@FunkyLowNotes) December 12, 2019

What also poses a question is in the IG report is the FBI was interested in both Page & Papadopoulos BEFORE they were even hired to the Trump campaign. Why is that? We know Papadopoulos was working for Dr. Carson's campaign. Were they spying on all the campaigns? — Elsie for Trump! (@ElsieforTrump) December 12, 2019

If there was a conspiracy ("collusion") involving the Russians and Trump, U.S. Intel would've picked up on it… There's no CIA assets in Russia? Not one double agent in Russia that wouldn't have shared info? America's intelligence apparatus has to rely on a twerp like Steele? — John Sitkiewicz (@Jrock41S) December 12, 2019

So Glenn Simpson created and led a criminal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election and then overturn the results afterward? I’m no attorney, but that sounds pretty seditious. — (((JimfromIowa))) (@The_Pendulum) December 12, 2019

@dbongino has been talking about this for a very long time. He calls it the movie script. — Demand Adam Schiffs Phone Records!!! (@MrsBuck3) December 12, 2019

@KimStrassel @dbongino has your answer. Sorry I don't have the link handy. But there is a movie script written by Simpson that is being re-used to go after @realDonaldTrump . He should be able to provide the link. — Richard Luke Hohn (@hohn44) December 12, 2019

Simpson wrote this novel in 2007 in your paper. — Rory O'Connor (@roryocon1) December 12, 2019

Simpson was looking for a way to weave his 2007 movie script into the Trump campaign https://t.co/wolT65I9A3 — Craig Smith (@CJ2etc) December 12, 2019

Read Simpson’s article it is the dossier, they just needed Steele’s bonafides to get it in FBI handshttps://t.co/F9k9Q15ZGq — RetiredAirForce (@roxtowner) December 12, 2019

Now, Barr's and Durham's comments make sense. — Chris (@Rimer_Chris) December 12, 2019

Always remember, none of this would have seen the light of day if Hillary had won. — Just one of the Super Elite (@BeanK511) December 12, 2019

Related: