department of justice building REUTERS / Jonathan Ernst

The Justice Department’s internal watchdog found evidence that an FBI staffer altered a document in connection with the Russia investigation, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

The staffer, a former FBI lawyer, is now under criminal investigation, according to CNN.

The document, uncovered by the Justice Department’s inspector general, Michael Horowitz, is reportedly associated with the court-approved surveillance of a former Trump campaign adviser, Carter Page.

It is unclear which document was thought to be altered by the FBI lawyer, nor what changes were made or whether it had any impact on the Russia investigation.

The inspector general’s report on the Russia investigation is set to be released December 9.

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A former FBI lawyer is being criminally investigated over an altered document related to the 2016 Russia investigation, CNN reported Thursday, citing people briefed on the matter.

The allegations are reportedly being levied by the Justice Department’s inspector general, Michael Horowitz, who is expected to release a report on December 9 reviewing the FBI’s actions during the Russia investigation.

The document in question is associated with the court-approved surveillance of a former Trump campaign adviser, Carter Page, sources told The Washington Post.

The news of the allegation comes amid the public impeachment hearings into President Donald Trump.

It is unclear which document was thought to be altered by the FBI lawyer, nor what changes were made or whether the document had any impact on the Russia investigation.

The allegation against the ex-FBI employee is included in Horowitz’s hotly anticipated report, which will „examine whether the FBI violated surveillance laws or policies by obtaining a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant“ to investigate Page, according to Politico.

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a loyal ally to Trump, said Horowitz was expected to appear before lawmakers to testify on December 11, The Post reported.

„I look forward to reviewing the report and hearing Mr. Horowitz’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he will deliver a detailed account of what he found regarding his investigation, along with recommendations as to how to make our judicial and investigative systems better,“ Graham said in a statement to Politico.

A representative from the Justice Department and the FBI declined to comment.