Cambridge professor Stefan Halper has been outed as the informant who spied on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign for the FBI. He targeted Trump campaign workers Carter Page, George Papadopoulos and Sam Clovis. He wanted information from them about possible Russian collusion with the campaign.

Both The Daily Caller and The Wall Street Journal named him. The first says he was probably outed through leaks from the DOJ or FBI. Some suspect his motives because he supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.

Democrats deny there was an informant. When pressed, they say Halper wasn’t “spying.” But if he wasn’t spying, what was he doing? It sounds like semantics, to get around laws against illegal spying. They also assert that even if the campaign was spied on, nothing bad happened as a result. Regardless, there are federal laws against spying. Americans are protected by the Fourth Amendment.

The problem may be even worse. Former Trump advisor Michael Caputo says a second informant spied on him.

‘Crossfire Hurricane’

The FBI began looking into Papadopolous, Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn as part of an operation called “Crossfire Hurricane.” They justified it based on hearing that Papadopoulos was told that Moscow had compromising emails about Hillary Clinton. This was before Wikileaks released the DNC emails. The three as well as Page confirmed that Halper had exchanges with them.

The FBI and DOJ relied on the Steele dossier to get a warrant to spy on Page from the FISA court. Halper stopped talking to Page about the time the warrant expired. He sent an email to Carter last July expressing his skepticism about Russian collusion.

Halper met Page at an election-themed symposium held at Cambridge on July 11 and 12, 2016. They met several times after that and exchanged emails. Halper invited him to his home. Page told TheDCNF he thought Halper was merely trying to be friends. Halper told Page he was skeptical that Page was colluding with Russia.

Clovis and Halper met for coffee on Aug. 31 or Sept. 1, 2016. Clovis did not find anything alarming. He said they discussed foreign policy. Halper offered to help the campaign with foreign policy issues.

Halper paid Papadopoulos $3,000 to write a 1,500-word academic paper. He asked him if he was involved with Russia hacking the DNC emails. Papadopolous said no. He suspected Halper was recording him. Papadopoulos has since pled guilty to lying to the FBI about the timing of his conversations with Russians.

Trump’s Furious Reaction

In a tweet, Trump demanded that the DOJ look into the spying. The DOJ responded and asked the FBI to investigate. Trump has continued angrily tweeting about it.

Reports are there was indeed at least one FBI representative implanted, for political purposes, into my campaign for president. It took place very early on, and long before the phony Russia Hoax became a “hot” Fake News story. If true – all time biggest political scandal!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2018

I hereby demand, and will do so officially tomorrow, that the Department of Justice look into whether or not the FBI/DOJ infiltrated or surveilled the Trump Campaign for Political Purposes – and if any such demands or requests were made by people within the Obama Administration!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2018

The Democrats are now alluding to the the concept that having an Informant placed in an opposing party’s campaign is different than having a Spy, as illegal as that may be. But what about an “Informant” who is paid a fortune and who “sets up” way earlier than the Russian Hoax?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2018

Can anyone even imagine having Spies placed in a competing campaign, by the people and party in absolute power, for the sole purpose of political advantage and gain? And to think that the party in question, even with the expenditure of far more money, LOST!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2018

“Everyone knows there was a Spy, and in fact the people who were involved in the Spying are admitting that there was a Spy…Widespread Spying involving multiple people.” Mollie Hemingway, The Federalist Senior Editor But the corrupt Mainstream Media hates this monster story!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2018

Former CIA Director under Barack Obama, John Brennan, responded over Twitter to Trump, warning Congressional leaders not to help.

Senator McConnell & Speaker Ryan: If Mr. Trump continues along this disastrous path, you will bear major responsibility for the harm done to our democracy. You do a great disservice to our Nation & the Republican Party if you continue to enable Mr. Trump’s self-serving actions. https://t.co/uAhgL6wfIC

— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) May 20, 2018

Members of Congress have asked the DOJ for documents about the informant. So far the DOJ has refused to turn them over. They cite concern for the safety of the informant. This is odd since he’s already been outed.

Americans became rightly concerned about spying when the NSA was found surveilling their phone calls and emails. There is plenty of evidence there were partisan Hillary Clinton supporters within the DOJ and FBI during the presidential campaign. There has been no evidence of Russian collusion. It is very plausible that the spying was not warranted, and was a politically motivated attempt to dig up dirt on Trump and his associates. If so, this should terrify Americans.

Follow Rachel on Twitter at Rach_IC.