Attorney General William Barr dropped a bombshell in front of a Senate panel Wednesday saying he believes the Trump campaign was spied upon during the 2016 presidential election.

Readers of Gray’s Economy are probably saying it’s about time, since I have written this story a number of times.

“I think spying did occur.” Barr testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, adding that “Spying on a political campaign is a big deal.”

On Tuesday before a House panel Barr hinted at the spying accusation. He stated he set up a team to investigate the origins of the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation into the Trump campaign.

On Wednesday, Barr walked back his remarks about setting up a team for an investigation of the FBI and appeared to be looking only at the ex-Director James Comey’s office and his staff.

“This is not launching an investigation of the FBI,” he stressed. “Frankly, to the extent there were issues at the FBI, I do not view it as a problem of the FBI. I think it was probably a failure of the group of leaders — the upper echelons of the FBI. I think the FBI is an outstanding organization and I am very pleased Director Chris Wray is there.”

Barr’s testimony on spying is a prelude to the release of Justice Department watchdog Michael Horowitz’s report on FISA court abuses coming in a few weeks.

However a word search on New York Times web site at 7am Thursday morning shows no  Barr story on the homepage detailing his testimony. I find that very interesting news judgement.

The Attorney General — under oath in front of the Senate committee — states that a presidential campaign was spied upon by the outgoing administration and there is no mention of it on the nytimes.com homepage.