The failure to include exculpatory and contradictory evidence in the FISA application, and (notably), its renewal, is appalling misbehaviour. The fact the evidentiary bar for obtaining a FISA warrant is set so low and the process so secret, makes it worse.
The sporadic fawning over the 'nobility' of the FBI and DOJ by politicians, media (and even the players themselves) whenever it suits their narrative is given the lie by this report. It's always a mistake to lionise law enforcement - because power corrupts, you need good controls.
The evidentiary burden required of FISA applicants is light, the bar is set mighty low, and it is shrouded in secrecy.
And yet, even then, they didn't bother to present a balanced, honest, or even complete, set of facts.
No-one notionally involved in trying to bring Trump unstuck needed to leave any direct evidence of their malfeasance and the circumstantial evidence speaks volumes.
The perpetrators didn't need to write a memo to achieve their ends saying '...and then we'll lie to get the FISA, which won't matter because it will be put down to our usual incompetence and habitual self-serving venality, har har har, they'll never catch us...'
Evidence usually exists and may be found by investigators because it naturally accumulates in the course of planning or committing a crime and has to be concealed.
No-one needed to create any evidence to commit a crime of this sort - you just push the boat out and away it floats on its own little tide of deliberately incomplete evidence, enabling you to do what you want to do.
