Tag: FBI

Ocasio-Cortez bans the press so the people will feel “safe”

It wasn’t Trump who banned the media from a recent townhall.  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez banned the media from a recent press conference claiming that it was a “non-story” and that she did it so that her potential constituents could “feel safe discussing sensitive issues in a threatening political time.”  So far no one in the media has thought to ask her if she thinks the press are the “enemy of the people”.  But many media members weren’t buying her reasons.

Ocasio-Cortez bans the press so the people can feel safe

James Clapper, Leon Panetta, and several other former CIA directors and Obama administration big wigs joined 70 former CIA leaders in ridiculing Trump for taking away John Brennan’s security clearance.  Apparently their argument is that former intelligence officials should be able to use their unclassified information to hit the President with partisan attacks.  However, security clearance is usually maintained for those who “need to know” so that their successors can go to them for help and information.  But it is doubtful that anyone from the Trump administration is going to be going to hostile John Brennan for help.

Former intel agents upset about Brennan’s clearance being revoked

The jury in the Manafort trial is home for the weekend, but Judge Ellis is not revealing any information about their identities.  Apparently the jury had expressed to him that they feared their identities being released.  That’s probably a good move.  The media and public opinion has already condemned Manafort, and any verdict that sets him free is sure to cause riots.  As it is, the Manafort trial has been a disappointment for many on the Left.  He is in trouble for tax and bank fraud, but the massive Russian collusion has once again failed to materialize.

Manafort jury fears the press

Drain the Swamp: Brennan loses security clearance

Former CIA director turned far left political commentator John Brennan saw his security clearance finally revoked on Wednesday.  Brennan was cited for “lying” and conduct unbecoming for someone who has access to the nation’s secrets.  But Brennan isn’t the only one on the list being considered.

Politico also names FBI Director James Comey, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former National Security Agency Director Michael Hayden, former national security adviser Susan Rice, former FBI attorney Lisa Page, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, former FBI counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, and Bruce Ohr.  McCabe and Strzok were fired from the FBI for misconduct.

Bruce Ohr has been demoted from assistant deputy attorney general and may not have a job much longer.  He was a crucial part of the Russian investigation, even though his wife worked for Fusion GPS.  In addition to Bruce Ohr’s connections to Fusion GPS, Russian attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya was also a client of Fusion GPS when she set up her meeting with Donald Trump, Jr. in Trump tower.  Nothing happened at the meeting, but it has been cited by liberals as Russian collusion.  Some speculate that entire meeting was a Fusion GPS setup.

It’s possible these late moves are more than just cleaning house.  Many of these individuals have a very suspect past when it comes to the botched Clinton investigation and the unnecessary Trump investigation.  We have seen plenty of evidence from Strzok’s texts of collusion with the Obama administration to stop Trump.  And when you add in the Fusion GPS connections, everyone seems to be in bed with everyone else.  In some cases, literally.

The Inspector General’s office continues it’s investigation into these individuals, but Horowitz’s conclusions have thus far been suspect.  His decision that Strzok’s texts didn’t show bias gives me little hope for the future of that investigation.

Breaking: Almost two years later, Peter Strzok is fired

The FBI agent who was an integral part of the Clinton and Trump investigations has finally been fired.  Peter Strzok, who became infamous for his anti-Trump and election meddling texts, was originally only to be demoted and suspended.  However, FBI Deputy Director David Bodwich overruled the disciplinary office and fired Strzok.

Strzok’s private texts were a goldmine for Trump supporters as the Trump Russia collusion investigation fell apart.  Strzok was having an affair with FBI attorney Lisa Page and texted her about his progress in investigating Trump.  Strzok texted her that Hillary should win, even though he was still investigating Hillary for her illegal email server.  Strzok went on to text that they would “stop Trump”, and went as far as colluding with her to spark the Russian investigation.

Strzok texted with Page about Andrew McCabe’s idea of the Russian investigation being an “insurance policy” in case Trump was elected.  They also texted about Strzok’s relationship with FISA Court judge Contreras in the context of how to spy on the Trump campaign.

In testimony before Congress, Strzok appeared angry, confident, and incredulous that he would be questioned over his texts.  He attempted to explain them away as simply personal political activism that didn’t affect his job, however even Lisa Page admitted that everyone understood his activism in the context of his job at the FBI.

Strzok’s friend and boss, Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, was fired earlier this year for leaking to the media.  McCabe was in charge of the Clinton and Trump investigations, and responsible for using Hillary’s bought and paid for Russian dossier propaganda to get FISA warrants to spy on Trump.  McCabe refused to recuse himself, even though his wife was running for office in Virginia as a Democrat.

With McCabe and Strzok fired in disgrace and admissions from Comey and Mueller that Trump was never a target of the Russia investigation, the only thing left for Mueller is the possibility of a perjury rap if he can get Trump under oath.  This isn’t likely at this point unless Mueller subpoenas Trump.

Who colluded with Russia?

It’s time to play spot the criminal.  Who colluded with Russia?  See if you can figure it out.

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Hillary Clinton is the only person in the story who actually colluded with the Russians to try to meddle with the election.  She used her contacts in the Obama administration to get the phony information to the friendly FBI agents who were out to stop Trump.  The Trump Russia dossier bought and paid for by Clinton, and created by a British spy working with Russian agents was deemed “salacious and unverified” by none other than former FBI director James Comey.  If we are going to accuse anyone of Russian collusion, it has to be Hillary Clinton.

Impeachment!

Representatives Meadows and Jordan in the House of Representatives have just introduced a resolution to impeach Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein for high crimes and misdemeanors. There are five articles written against Rosenstein.

Article I deals with Rosenstein’s refusal to recuse himself from the Russia investigation or appoint a second special counsel to investigate the conflict of interest and misconduct by the FBI.  Rosenstein was in charge of the FISA application to spy on Carter Page that was based in part on paid opposition research from the Clinton campaign.

Article II covers Rosenstein’s obstruction of justice in refusing to turn over subpoena’d documents and refusal to notify witnesses that Congress was seeking their testimony.  Interestingly, this article also hits Mueller for instructing material witnesses to refuse to provide testimony to Congress.  Congress has oversight over the Justice Department and refusing to comply with their requests amounts to obstruction of justice.

Article III accuses Rosenstein of obstruction of justice by using redaction to hide material evidence from Congress.  These redactions include hiding potentially embarrassing information about the cost of Andrew McCabe’s $70,000 conference table, hiding the relationship between Peter Strzok and FISC Judge Rudolph Contreras, hiding the names of high ranking FBI and Obama administration officials, and other redactions used to hide information from Congress.  Rosenstein’s decision to redact the relationship between Strzok and Contreras is especially important given Strzok’s promise to “stop Trump” and the FISC’s decision to issue a secret warrant based on Clinton’s paid opposition research.

Article IV suggests that Rosenstein used an improper basis to appoint Robert Mueller as special counsel and hid the basis through improper use of redaction.  Rosenstein still refuses to provide Congress with a less redacted version of his scope memo for Robert Mueller.

Article V deals more directly with Rosenstein’s supervisory role in the authorization of FISA searches.  Rosenstein is accused of failing to vet Christopher Steele’s phony dossier and failing to fully notify the FISC of the circumstances surrounding the creation of the dossier.  Article V also hits Rosenstein again for his refusal to appoint a second independent Special Counsel to review wrong doing by the Obama Justice Department and FBI in these matters.

A couple important things to note in the impeachment articles: Robert Mueller is mentioned for compelling witnesses not to testify to Congress.  This could be an issue for the Mueller investigation in the near future.  Strzok’s relationship with Judge Rudolph Contreras could lead to a call for an investigation into the secretive workings of the FISC itself.

You can read the articles of impeachment here.

 

Need to Know 7/23/18 Evening Edition

As first reported yesterday, Trump is likely going to pull security clearances from several former Obama administration appointees.  The appointees, including Andrew McCabe, James Clapper, John Brennan, Susan Rice, and others have been controversial figures.  Clapper and Brennan have accused the President of treason in editorial capacities.  McCabe was fired from the FBI for improper interactions with the press.  Others on the list, like James Comey, have claimed that their security privileges are already revoked.

Trump to revoke security clearance for former intel officials

Indicted Russian operative Maria Butina was part of private meetings with Obama officials in 2015.  Butina met with Federal Reserve vice chairman Stanley Fischer, Treasury Undersecretary Nathan Sheets, and Russian Central Bank deputy governor Alexander Torshin.  Butina has been indicted as a Russian spy who sought to influence US politics and elections.

Alleged Russian agent met with Obama officials

In New York they are literally letting the criminally insane out to vote for Governor Cuomo.  Cuomo has handed out pardons to thousands of former prisoners in time for the election, including 77 sexual predators who had been committed to psychiatric hospitals after serving their prison time.  The pardon gives them the right to vote, according to the New York Daily News.

Cuomo pardons sexual predators so they can vote

The deadest horse in political history, the Trump Russia collusion story, continues to be mercilessly beaten by Democrats.  But it’s over.  Trey Gowdy gave the best summation of the death of the Trump Russia investigation on Sunday, telling Fox host Bret Baier that if there was actually any evidence found against Trump in this two year investigation, Rep. Adam Schiff would have leaked it by now.  The Democrats can pray for an obstruction charge, but the Bill Clinton precedent suggests that’s not going anywhere.  Also, anyone who Trump might have tried to obstruct, such as Comey, McCabe, or Rosenstein, has already proven themselves to be extremely biased and unreliable as a witness.  Stick a fork in this one.  Yup, another fork.

If there was evidence, Schiff would have leaked it

Newsflash 7/23/18

Rand Paul is expected to ask Trump to revoke former CIA chief John Brennan’s security clearance.  Since leaving the CIA, Brennan has joined up with MSNBC as a political commentator, often hostile to Trump.  Brennan recently accused Trump of treason and said he should be impeached over his press conference with Putin in Helsinki.  Paul suggested that Brennan was using his security clearance to enrich himself by passing state secrets to MSNBC.  Republicans have expressed concern over the extreme partisanship shown by the former CIA director and former FBI director James Comey.

Rand Paul to ask for Brennan’s security clearance to be revoked

Need to know 7/23/18

Iran, in trouble with their people and staring down the barrel of new US sanctions, began a tweet war with Trump over the “mother of all wars”.  Trump responded in all caps that Iran’s leaders would suffer consequences few others have.  In the end it’s likely all blowing smoke.  Iran doesn’t have nuclear capabilities and the US isn’t about to go invade another Middle Eastern country.  But the developments continue to show that despite the rhetoric and narrative, Trump has been tougher on Russia allies than Obama was.

Rouhani warns Trump about mother of all wars

Speaking of rhetoric on Russia, Trey Gowdy had a warning for Trump administration officials that they should steer Trump to take Russia more seriously or consider leaving their posts.  Gowdy has consistently chided the Trump administration for not being tough enough on Russia’s election interference, however he has also acknowledged the extreme prejudice shown by Obama’s intel apparatus. In addition to noting that James Comey, James Clapper, and John Brennan continue to show their anti-Trump bias in editorials, Gowdy recently took Inspector General Michael Horowitz to task over his failure to call out anti-Trump bias deeply rooted in the FBI.  Texts from Peter Strzok reveled that the Russia/Trump collusion investigation was an “insurance policy” to “stop Trump”.  But so far, nothing has actually tied Trump to Russia or proven collusion.

Anti-Trump bias in the FBI can’t be put aside

Speaking of bias, the FISA court warrant to spy on Carter Page and the Trump campaign has been released through a Freedom of Information Act request.  This extraordinary release marks the first time a secretive FISA warrant has been released.  It proves two things.  The first is that Hillary Clinton’s paid for political propaganda dossier played a major role in getting the warrant.  Second, that the secret warrant to spy on a US citizen during the Obama administration was obtained simply because there was suspicion that Russia was trying to recruit him.  It’s also important to know that the warrant was issued after Page was no longer with the Trump campaign. Spying on a US Citizen because there is a belief that a foreign power might try to recruit them is likely a violation of the 4th Amendment.

For some good reading, here is Andy McCarthy’s argument why suspicion that someone is being recruited by a foreign government is not good enough to secretly spy on a US Citizen.

If you want to read through the FISA Warrant, you can do that here.

What do Sacha Baron Cohen and James O’Keefe have in common?  Both used hidden cameras to expose the other side.  It’s interesting to see how many lend credence to what Cohen exposes compared to those who dismissed O’Keefe’s videos out of hand  because they felt he was using trickery or deceptive editing.  O’Keefe’s undercover operations exposed massive Democrat voter fraud and routine illegal activities being carried out by Planned Parenthood.  Cohen got a racist Georgia politician to drop his pants and shout the N word.  I wonder if the Left will dismiss Cohen so quickly.

Sacha Baron Cohen gets former GOP lawmaker to make racist jokes 

 

Need to know 7/22/18

“The administration has implemented an ‘Insider Threat Program’ in all government departments to urge federal employees to monitor their colleagues for possible unauthorized information disclosures. Administration employees suspected of leaking classified information are given lie-detector tests and subject to reviews of their telephone and e-mail records”

No, this isn’t Trump era policy.  This is a flashback to a 2013 USA Today article about an Obama crackdown on the press.  “This (The Obama administration) is the most closed, control freak administration I’ve ever covered,” – David E. Sanger, chief Washington correspondent of The New York Times.

Flashback: Obama often blocks Press access to information

Even as Democrats publicly say that #walkaway is simply a ploy by Russian bots to weaken their party, the split between moderates and socialists is deepening.  Centrists are definitely showing concerns over the rise of Ocasio-Cortez, who seems to be the perfect representative for the politically ignorant millennial generation.

Centrist Dems arguing against far leftists 

Want some fun? The Russia/Trump connection was an “insurance policy” to “stop Trump” according to operatives in the FBI.  Their own tweets give this away.  But the Media Research council has highlighted this even better by putting together a compilation of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama talking quite differently about Russia before the election.

“This election will not be rigged.”  “We want Russia to be strong.”