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Social Spying on Trump confirmed: Operation Crossfire Hurricane ***UPDATE: Comey Admits, "I Was Wrong" ***
- Thread starter bobgeese
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I'm really not sure how that particular pic relates to my post, but it is brilliant.
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I am curious as to when something/anything happens to those that abused the FISA courts by using unverified information to obtain warrants. That is a massive abuse of power, when you realize that information was created by the political opponents of those that were spied upon.
No American should be alright with this happening.
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And yet, there are plenty of left-wingers throughout this country that will look the other way because of who was on the receiving end. They are short-sighted and have learned nothing from history probably because their school teachers didn't really teach it to them. Just wait until the shoe is on the other foot.
I am curious as to when something/anything happens to those that abused the FISA courts by using unverified information to obtain warrants. That is a massive abuse of power, when you realize that information was created by the political opponents of those that were spied upon.
No American should be alright with this happening.
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I am curious as to when something/anything happens to those that abused the FISA courts by using unverified information to obtain warrants. That is a massive abuse of power, when you realize that information was created by the political opponents of those that were spied upon.
No American should be alright with this happening.
^^^ absolute perfect demonstration of how the left doesn’t actually care about anything they feign outrage over.
They just like bitching.
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Sadly, I have to agree. This can go very wrong for Americans that are Democrat, Republican, Independent, or "other" if we let these types of abuses slide.
Weaponizing powerful departments like the DoJ, IRS, EPA against political opponents should never happen. Yet it has and no one has paid the price.
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You never saw Crossroads, that's what that cutting heads pic was from? Turns out Vai couldn't handle the karate kid.
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First of, this is a thread about spying on the trump campaign. Operation Crossfire Hurricane, the official investigation into the trump campaigns ties to Russia, was supposedly started, as I sourced, because of Downers conversation with GP. It is undeniable that this is false, as Halper was dispatched prior to that.
You can theorize all you like, but that is your theory, not the governments official position.
Until the government can prove a reason that justifies planting a spy in the campaign, contacting multiple members of the trump campaign (including Sam Clovis who I’d like to see you spin halpers interaction with) ,abuses of FISA warrants, etc...
Then the investigations into the question is absolutely warranted. And considering the governments official position is FALSE, Halper should be considered a spy. Especially considering his history of spying on presidential campaigns. And ESPECIALLY since he’s been questioned by the IG 3 times already.
I have no interest in your conspiracy theories about GP’s wife, or any other unsourced nonsense you’ve provided.
You can either address the fact that the official government position for the opening of crossfire hurricane is a lie, or fuck off.
As I have acknowledge several times now, the official position that Crossfire Hurricane started because of George P can be mutually exclusive of the FBI looking into Page, as they had been concerned about him for years before he joined Team Trump based on his interactions with Russian intelligence agents, and his trip to Russia in July of 2016 was not in his role as a member of Team Trump, as ordered by Corey L after Gordon tried to block him from going at all. That is not a conspiracy theory, and I provided you the sources you asked for to show that, you just are being too lazy to read it.
And again, as I showed, Barr did the old "did I really say that" when challenged about his spying comment, then he backed tracked and said "I am not saying that improper surveillance occurred.. I am saying I am concerned about it and looking into it, that’s all.” So again, at this point, there is nothing in the public (as Barr knows at least as much as you do, and I would expect considerably more given his access to non public information and his preparation for that hearing) that supports your position that the government's position is a "lie".
And you not being interested in something as absurd as George P's wife claiming to be Italian, come on, those two are shady as fuck!
As I have acknowledge several times now, the official position that Crossfire Hurricane started because of George P can be mutually exclusive of the FBI looking into Page, as they had been concerned about him for years before he joined Team Trump based on his interactions with Russian intelligence agents, and his trip to Russia in July of 2016 was not in his role as a member of Team Trump, as ordered by Corey L after Gordon tried to block him from going at all. That is not a conspiracy theory, and I provided you the sources you asked for to show that, you just are being too lazy to read it.
And again, as I showed, Barr did the old "did I really say that" when challenged about his spying comment, then he backed tracked and said "I am not saying that improper surveillance occurred.. I am saying I am concerned about it and looking into it, that’s all.” So again, at this point, there is nothing in the public (as Barr knows at least as much as you do, and I would expect considerably more given his access to non public information and his preparation for that hearing) that supports your position that the government's position is a "lie".
And you not being interested in something as absurd as George P's wife claiming to be Italian, come on, those two are shady as fuck!
First off, his wife could get it if she claims to be from Mars.
The governments official position for the opening of crossfire hurricane was a lie.
There is no difference between unauthorized surveillance, spying, or whatever the hell the left decides to call it today in a pathetic attempt to cover for these pieces of shit who abused the power of various intelligence and law enforcement agencies for political reasons.
......
Now cake, it’s been a long day, I really don’t feel like politics today (especially since I’m going to shit all over you gullible bastards tomorrow after Barr’s press conference). However, if you’re going to respond, start by answering this question.
Don’t you find it suspicious that Downer requested the meeting with GP? A literal nobody. The same nobody that Halper requested a meeting with?
FFS, if you invested an ounce of intellectual reflection on the circumstances surrounding this entire debacle, you’d realize in 3 seconds that what they’re telling is a pack of lies, and that the intelligence agencies are playing CYA.
They just better hope there isn’t a paper trail.
....
PS, I was worried about you. I didn’t know if you’d survive the bludgeoning I gave you.
“But you know Bob respects cakes ability to not Internet for a day”
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First off, his wife could get it if she claims to be from Mars.
The governments official position for the opening of crossfire hurricane was a lie.
There is no difference between unauthorized surveillance, spying, or whatever the hell the left decides to call it today in a pathetic attempt to cover for these pieces of shit who abused the power of various intelligence and law enforcement agencies for political reasons.
......
Now cake, it’s been a long day, I really don’t feel like politics today (especially since I’m going to shit all over you gullible bastards tomorrow after Barr’s press conference). However, if you’re going to respond, start by answering this question.
Don’t you find it suspicious that Downer requested the meeting with GP? A literal nobody. The same nobody that Halper requested a meeting with?
FFS, if you invested an ounce of intellectual reflection on the circumstances surrounding this entire debacle, you’d realize in 3 seconds that what they’re telling is a pack of lies, and that the intelligence agencies are playing CYA.
They just better hope there isn’t a paper trail.
....
PS, I was worried about you. I didn’t know if you’d survive the bludgeoning I gave you.
“But you know Bob respects cakes ability to not Internet for a day”
Remember that tattoo we got you to help you grasp the problem with your Uranium One conspiracy that read: "Hillary didn't have to power to make that deal, and there is no evidence that any uranium ended up in Russia"?
We need to get you another one for this conspiracy to put right next to it reading "The investigation into Carter Page started long before his time with the Trump Campaign."
And yeah, not much spare time to fuck around on here the past few days, it's turned into one of those weeks
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haha how absurdly bad.
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I am curious as to when something/anything happens to those that abused the FISA courts by using unverified information to obtain warrants. That is a massive abuse of power, when you realize that information was created by the political opponents of those that were spied upon.
No American should be alright with this happening.
Not this shit again
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It is truth. Obama could illegally obtain a FISA warrant to spy on a political opponent (as an example), and his fans would still inhale those farts.
Remember that tattoo we got you to help you grasp the problem with your Uranium One conspiracy that read: "Hillary didn't have to power to make that deal, and there is no evidence that any uranium ended up in Russia"?
We need to get you another one for this conspiracy to put right next to it reading "The investigation into Carter Page started long before his time with the Trump Campaign."
And yeah, not much spare time to fuck around on here the past few days, it's turned into one of those weeks
My god, Al Bundy is a legend.
Peggy could definitely get it too.
18+ Kelly...
I’d give her the best 45 seconds of her life... wait, my life? Whatever... Either way, I really think her around Anchorman might be my favorite Hollywood starlet. Hot take, don’t care.
Ps, but.... but... Hillary
My how far the left have fallen. Sorry you have a problem with NYT tracing the money, and I’m sure you thought all those folks with ties to UO just donated to the sham Clinton charity out of the kindness of their hearts...
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For the record,
CNN just said, the Russia investigation started because of GP talking to Downer.
FTR
Thurs 1018 am blond chick, pretty doable.
PS @Cake4Breakfast
CNN just said, the Russia investigation started because of GP talking to Downer.
FTR
Thurs 1018 am blond chick, pretty doable.
PS @Cake4Breakfast
You folks didn’t think this was going away, did you?
https://mobile.twitter.com/kilmeade/status/1119221694714060801?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1119221694714060801&ref_url=https://www.citizenfreepress.com/breaking/breaking-papadopoulos-just-dropped-two-new-names-in-spygate-says-mueller-got-it-wrong/
Special counsel Robert Mueller alleges in his report on the Russia investigation that Mifsud lied to the FBI about the timeline of his contacts with George Papadopoulos, Also on Thursday, an Italian newspaper revealed that after Mifsud was first linked to Papadopoulos, he allegedly went into hiding for months, living at a Rome apartment owned by Link International. The company controls Link Campus, a university in Rome that partners closely with Western intelligence agencies.
Mifsud and Papadopoulos first met March 14, 2016, at Link Campus, days after Papadopoulos found out he would be joining the Trump team.
“An FBI asset named Joseph Mifsud dropped unsolicited info in my lap about ‘Russians having Clinton’s emails,'” Papadopoulos wrote on Twitter, referring to a fateful meeting he had with Mifsud in April 2016.
Papadopoulos and Mifsud became fast friends after the initial meeting. They began corresponding online, and met in London on March 24, 2016. Mifsud introduced Papadopoulos to a woman he claimed to be the niece of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mifsud introduced the woman as Olga Vinagradova, though it was later determined that her real name is Olga Polonskaya and that she is not related to Putin.
Mueller’s report contains new details about Mifsud and Polonskaya, including that they might have been in a relationship at the time they were in contact with Papadopoulos. Mueller also revealed Mifsud was drafting and editing some of Polonskaya’s messages to Papadopoulos.
“For example, within a week of her initial March 24 meeting with him, Polonskaya attempted to send Papadopoulos a text message which email exchanges show to have been drafted or edited by Mifsud,” the report said.
....
Cliffs,
GP is approached, unsolicited, by Mifsud (who at very least has ties to western intelligence), Mifsud just totally happens to drop this “russia has Hillary dirt” in his lap.
Just a short time later, he is then approached, again, unsolicited, by Downer, who totally just happens to bring up this “dirt”.... odd...
Again, just a short time later, known spy Stefan Halper (who had already been dispatched to spy on members of the trump campaign) also contacts him, flys him in under false pretenses, and again, just happens to grill him about the same “dirt”.
Again, let’s recap.
Days after GP learns he’ll join Trump campaign, he’s baited by an fbi asset (unsolicited), and fed information.
Just a short time later, he is again (unsolicited) approached by a foreign government official, who just happens to bring up this information, and just happens to report the info back to the fbi, who just happen to open an investigation into the trump campaign.
Shortly after, he’s then approached by a known spy, Halper, and grilled again about the information.
But, GP totally wasn’t set up by the intelligence agencies of various countries all tying back to the obama administration.
<{cruzshake}>
https://mobile.twitter.com/kilmeade/status/1119221694714060801?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1119221694714060801&ref_url=https://www.citizenfreepress.com/breaking/breaking-papadopoulos-just-dropped-two-new-names-in-spygate-says-mueller-got-it-wrong/
Special counsel Robert Mueller alleges in his report on the Russia investigation that Mifsud lied to the FBI about the timeline of his contacts with George Papadopoulos, Also on Thursday, an Italian newspaper revealed that after Mifsud was first linked to Papadopoulos, he allegedly went into hiding for months, living at a Rome apartment owned by Link International. The company controls Link Campus, a university in Rome that partners closely with Western intelligence agencies.
Mifsud and Papadopoulos first met March 14, 2016, at Link Campus, days after Papadopoulos found out he would be joining the Trump team.
“An FBI asset named Joseph Mifsud dropped unsolicited info in my lap about ‘Russians having Clinton’s emails,'” Papadopoulos wrote on Twitter, referring to a fateful meeting he had with Mifsud in April 2016.
Papadopoulos and Mifsud became fast friends after the initial meeting. They began corresponding online, and met in London on March 24, 2016. Mifsud introduced Papadopoulos to a woman he claimed to be the niece of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mifsud introduced the woman as Olga Vinagradova, though it was later determined that her real name is Olga Polonskaya and that she is not related to Putin.
Mueller’s report contains new details about Mifsud and Polonskaya, including that they might have been in a relationship at the time they were in contact with Papadopoulos. Mueller also revealed Mifsud was drafting and editing some of Polonskaya’s messages to Papadopoulos.
“For example, within a week of her initial March 24 meeting with him, Polonskaya attempted to send Papadopoulos a text message which email exchanges show to have been drafted or edited by Mifsud,” the report said.
....
Cliffs,
GP is approached, unsolicited, by Mifsud (who at very least has ties to western intelligence), Mifsud just totally happens to drop this “russia has Hillary dirt” in his lap.
Just a short time later, he is then approached, again, unsolicited, by Downer, who totally just happens to bring up this “dirt”.... odd...
Again, just a short time later, known spy Stefan Halper (who had already been dispatched to spy on members of the trump campaign) also contacts him, flys him in under false pretenses, and again, just happens to grill him about the same “dirt”.
Again, let’s recap.
Days after GP learns he’ll join Trump campaign, he’s baited by an fbi asset (unsolicited), and fed information.
Just a short time later, he is again (unsolicited) approached by a foreign government official, who just happens to bring up this information, and just happens to report the info back to the fbi, who just happen to open an investigation into the trump campaign.
Shortly after, he’s then approached by a known spy, Halper, and grilled again about the information.
But, GP totally wasn’t set up by the intelligence agencies of various countries all tying back to the obama administration.
<{cruzshake}>
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Letter from Grassley to Barr, easier to read in link
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/sit...J (Surveillance of Trump Transition Team).pdf
The Honorable William P. Barr Attorney General
U.S. Department ofJustice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530
Dear Attorney General Barr,
During your April 10, 2019, testimony before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, you stated that you are looking into the "genesis and conduct of intelligence activities directed at the Trump campaign during 2016."1 You further stated that "spying did occur," and that you believe it is your obligation to look into the question of whether surveillance activities by the Federal Bureau oflnvestigation (FBI) or other intelligence agencies were adequately predicated.
We share your concerns about these activities, and are troubled by the apparent unauthorized disclosures of surveillance efforts and other classified information during the same time period. We bring to your attention information that may assist your review.
First, in the course of our oversight work we have reviewed certain text messages that may show potential attempts by the FBI to conduct surveillance of President-elect Trump's transition team. In text messages exchanged between former FBI Special Agent Peter Strzok and former FBI Attorney Lisa Page, the two discussed the possibility ofdeveloping "potential relationships" at a November 2016 FBI briefing for presidential transition team staff.
Specifically, it appears they discussed sending "the CI guy" to assess an unnamed person(s) "demeanor" but were concerned because it might be unusual for him to attend. A few weeks after the presidential election, Mr. Strzok and Ms. Page discussed the logistics for the briefing. Mr. Strzok and Ms. Page said the following:
Strzok: Talking with Bill3. Do we want Joe4 to go with Evanina5 instead of Charlie6 for a variety of reasons?
Page: Hmm. Not sure. Would it be unusual to have [sic] show up again? Maybe another agent from the team?
1 Gregg Re and Brooke Singman, Dems rage against Barrfor backing claims ofTrump campaign 'spying' by FBl FoxNews (April 10, 2019). Available at https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dems-rage-against-barr-for-backing-claims-of-trump- campaign-spying-by-fbi; Nicholas Fandos and Adam Goldman, Barr Asserts Intelligence Agencies Spied on the Trump Campaign,
The New York Times (April 10, 2019). Available at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/10/us/politics/barr-trump- campaign-spying.html; Philip Ewing, Citing 'Spying' On Trump, Barr Says He Is Looking Into Origins OfRussia Inquiry, NPR (April 10, 2019). Available at https://www.npr.org/2019/04/10/711852861 /citing-spying-on-trump-barr-says-he-s-looking-into- origins-of-russia-inquiry.
2 Id.
3 "Bill" most likely refers to E.W. Priestap, former Assistant Director of the FBI's counterintelligence division.
4 "Joe" most likely refers to Joe Pientka III, FBI Special Agent.
5 "Evanina" most likely refers to William R. Evanina, Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center. 6 At this time it is unknown who "Charlie" is.
2
Attorney General Barr April 25, 2019 Page 2 of3
Strzok: Or, he's "the CI guy." Same.might [sic] make sense. He can assess if thete [sic] are any news [sic] Qs, or different demeanor. IfKatie's husband is there, he can see if there are people we can develop for potential relationships
Page: Should I ask Andy7 about it? Or Bill8 want to reach out for andy9? Strzok: ItoldhimI'msurewecouldaskyoutomaketheswapifwethoughtit
10
The nature of these communications, and the precise purpose of any attempts to "develop relationships"withTrumporPencetransitionteamstaffarenotimmediatelyclear. Werethese efforts done to gain better communication between the respective parties, or were the briefings used as intelligence gathering operations? Further, did any such surveillance activities continue beyond the inauguration, and in the event they did, were those activities subject to proper predication? Any improper FBI surveillance activities that were conducted before or after the 2016 election must be brought to light and properly addressed.
Additionally, we note that a number of news outlets have reported sensitive information related to the investigation into alleged Russian collusion with the Trump campaign. Those reports have revealed sensitive information focusing on the FBI sending informants to meet with Trump advisors; a warrant to surveil Carter Page; and the United Kingdom signal intelligence agency briefing former CIA Director John Brennan on alleged communications between Trump's campaign and Russian officials, among other things. 11 Notably, the Justice Department Inspector General's review ofthe Clinton investigation found "profound concerns about the volume and extent ofunauthorized media contacts by FBI personnel..."12 It appears the same happened during the Russia investigation. Leaks to the media about ongoing investigations undermine the ability ofinvestigators to properly investigate. Moreover, sensitive leaks to the media while members of congress performing constitutionally mandated oversight are kept in the dark is unacceptable.13
Accordingly, please contact our staffto schedule a briefing and answer the following no later than May 9, 2019:
7 "Andy" most likely refers to Andrew McCabe, former Deputy Director of the FBI.
8 "Bill" most likely refers to E.W. Priestap, former Assistant Director ofthe FBI's counterintelligence division.
9 "Andy" most likely refers to Andrew McCabe, former Deputy Director ofthe FBI.
10 November 17, 2016, Strzok-Page Texts Part 2, p. 159, DOJ-PROD-0000325. Emphasis added.
11 Eli Lake, Focus on the Leaking, Not Just the Spying, Bloomberg Opinion (April 11, 2019). Available at
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-04-l l/spying-did-occur-but-barr-should-also-focus-on-the-leaking.
12 A Review ofVarious Actions by the Federal Bureau oflnvestigation and Department ofJustice in Advance ofthe 2016
Election at 429 (June 14, 2018). Available at https://www.justice.gov/file/l 071991/download.
13
For example, former Deputy Director McCabe was fired for making unauthorized disclosures to the media regarding the FBI's investigation into the Clinton Foundation and then lying about it. In addition, transcripts of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's phone calls with Russian Ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak, were leaked. On February 15, 2017, the Judiciary Committee requested information from the Justice Department and FBI relating to that leaked information. On March 15, 2017, the FBI provided a briefing about the FBI's Russia investigation which answered a few ofthe questions posed by the Committee, but most were not.
was smart. It's not until Mon so Bill can always discuss with him tomorrow.
Attorney General Barr April 25, 2019 Page 3 of3
1. Please describe the nature and extent o f your review o f FBI surveillance o f the Trump Campaign, President-elect Trump's transition staff, Vice President- elect Pence's transition staff, President Trump's staff, and Vice President Pence's staff, including your efforts to determine whether that surveillance was adequately predicated.
2. How many counter-intelligence briefings were provided to the Trump and Pence transition staffs prior to Inauguration Day? Please list the dates, all agencies involved, and each official that represented those agencies at the briefings.
3. Many of the FBI employees involved in these activities are no longer employed by the federal government. How will your review obtain information needed from these individuals?
4. Will you commit to providing the results of your review once completed?
5. What steps have you taken to investigate whether DOJ or FBI officials had
unauthorized contacts with the media during the Russia investigation?
We anticipate that your written reply and most responsive documents will be unclassified. Please send all unclassified material directly to each Committee. In keeping with the requirements of Executive Order 13526, if any of the responsive documents do contain classified information, please segregate all unclassified material within the classified documents, provide all unclassified information directly to each Committee, and provide a classified addendum to the Office of Senate Security. Although our Committees comply with all laws and regulations governing the handling of classified information, they are not bound, absent prior agreement, by any handling restrictions.
Should you have any questions, please contact Joshua Flynn-BrowrI of Chairman Grassley's Finance Committee staff at (202) 224-4515 or Brian Dowriey of Chairman Johnson's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee staff at (202) 224-4751.
~Ji_~
Charles E. Grassley Chairman
Senate Finance Committee
ommittee on Homeland and Governmental Affairs
Sincerely,
...........
Just out today.
History will not reflect kindly on the Obama administration.
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/sit...J (Surveillance of Trump Transition Team).pdf
The Honorable William P. Barr Attorney General
U.S. Department ofJustice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530
Dear Attorney General Barr,
During your April 10, 2019, testimony before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, you stated that you are looking into the "genesis and conduct of intelligence activities directed at the Trump campaign during 2016."1 You further stated that "spying did occur," and that you believe it is your obligation to look into the question of whether surveillance activities by the Federal Bureau oflnvestigation (FBI) or other intelligence agencies were adequately predicated.
We share your concerns about these activities, and are troubled by the apparent unauthorized disclosures of surveillance efforts and other classified information during the same time period. We bring to your attention information that may assist your review.
First, in the course of our oversight work we have reviewed certain text messages that may show potential attempts by the FBI to conduct surveillance of President-elect Trump's transition team. In text messages exchanged between former FBI Special Agent Peter Strzok and former FBI Attorney Lisa Page, the two discussed the possibility ofdeveloping "potential relationships" at a November 2016 FBI briefing for presidential transition team staff.
Specifically, it appears they discussed sending "the CI guy" to assess an unnamed person(s) "demeanor" but were concerned because it might be unusual for him to attend. A few weeks after the presidential election, Mr. Strzok and Ms. Page discussed the logistics for the briefing. Mr. Strzok and Ms. Page said the following:
Strzok: Talking with Bill3. Do we want Joe4 to go with Evanina5 instead of Charlie6 for a variety of reasons?
Page: Hmm. Not sure. Would it be unusual to have [sic] show up again? Maybe another agent from the team?
1 Gregg Re and Brooke Singman, Dems rage against Barrfor backing claims ofTrump campaign 'spying' by FBl FoxNews (April 10, 2019). Available at https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dems-rage-against-barr-for-backing-claims-of-trump- campaign-spying-by-fbi; Nicholas Fandos and Adam Goldman, Barr Asserts Intelligence Agencies Spied on the Trump Campaign,
The New York Times (April 10, 2019). Available at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/10/us/politics/barr-trump- campaign-spying.html; Philip Ewing, Citing 'Spying' On Trump, Barr Says He Is Looking Into Origins OfRussia Inquiry, NPR (April 10, 2019). Available at https://www.npr.org/2019/04/10/711852861 /citing-spying-on-trump-barr-says-he-s-looking-into- origins-of-russia-inquiry.
2 Id.
3 "Bill" most likely refers to E.W. Priestap, former Assistant Director of the FBI's counterintelligence division.
4 "Joe" most likely refers to Joe Pientka III, FBI Special Agent.
5 "Evanina" most likely refers to William R. Evanina, Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center. 6 At this time it is unknown who "Charlie" is.
2
Attorney General Barr April 25, 2019 Page 2 of3
Strzok: Or, he's "the CI guy." Same.might [sic] make sense. He can assess if thete [sic] are any news [sic] Qs, or different demeanor. IfKatie's husband is there, he can see if there are people we can develop for potential relationships
Page: Should I ask Andy7 about it? Or Bill8 want to reach out for andy9? Strzok: ItoldhimI'msurewecouldaskyoutomaketheswapifwethoughtit
10
The nature of these communications, and the precise purpose of any attempts to "develop relationships"withTrumporPencetransitionteamstaffarenotimmediatelyclear. Werethese efforts done to gain better communication between the respective parties, or were the briefings used as intelligence gathering operations? Further, did any such surveillance activities continue beyond the inauguration, and in the event they did, were those activities subject to proper predication? Any improper FBI surveillance activities that were conducted before or after the 2016 election must be brought to light and properly addressed.
Additionally, we note that a number of news outlets have reported sensitive information related to the investigation into alleged Russian collusion with the Trump campaign. Those reports have revealed sensitive information focusing on the FBI sending informants to meet with Trump advisors; a warrant to surveil Carter Page; and the United Kingdom signal intelligence agency briefing former CIA Director John Brennan on alleged communications between Trump's campaign and Russian officials, among other things. 11 Notably, the Justice Department Inspector General's review ofthe Clinton investigation found "profound concerns about the volume and extent ofunauthorized media contacts by FBI personnel..."12 It appears the same happened during the Russia investigation. Leaks to the media about ongoing investigations undermine the ability ofinvestigators to properly investigate. Moreover, sensitive leaks to the media while members of congress performing constitutionally mandated oversight are kept in the dark is unacceptable.13
Accordingly, please contact our staffto schedule a briefing and answer the following no later than May 9, 2019:
7 "Andy" most likely refers to Andrew McCabe, former Deputy Director of the FBI.
8 "Bill" most likely refers to E.W. Priestap, former Assistant Director ofthe FBI's counterintelligence division.
9 "Andy" most likely refers to Andrew McCabe, former Deputy Director ofthe FBI.
10 November 17, 2016, Strzok-Page Texts Part 2, p. 159, DOJ-PROD-0000325. Emphasis added.
11 Eli Lake, Focus on the Leaking, Not Just the Spying, Bloomberg Opinion (April 11, 2019). Available at
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-04-l l/spying-did-occur-but-barr-should-also-focus-on-the-leaking.
12 A Review ofVarious Actions by the Federal Bureau oflnvestigation and Department ofJustice in Advance ofthe 2016
Election at 429 (June 14, 2018). Available at https://www.justice.gov/file/l 071991/download.
13
For example, former Deputy Director McCabe was fired for making unauthorized disclosures to the media regarding the FBI's investigation into the Clinton Foundation and then lying about it. In addition, transcripts of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's phone calls with Russian Ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak, were leaked. On February 15, 2017, the Judiciary Committee requested information from the Justice Department and FBI relating to that leaked information. On March 15, 2017, the FBI provided a briefing about the FBI's Russia investigation which answered a few ofthe questions posed by the Committee, but most were not.
was smart. It's not until Mon so Bill can always discuss with him tomorrow.
Attorney General Barr April 25, 2019 Page 3 of3
1. Please describe the nature and extent o f your review o f FBI surveillance o f the Trump Campaign, President-elect Trump's transition staff, Vice President- elect Pence's transition staff, President Trump's staff, and Vice President Pence's staff, including your efforts to determine whether that surveillance was adequately predicated.
2. How many counter-intelligence briefings were provided to the Trump and Pence transition staffs prior to Inauguration Day? Please list the dates, all agencies involved, and each official that represented those agencies at the briefings.
3. Many of the FBI employees involved in these activities are no longer employed by the federal government. How will your review obtain information needed from these individuals?
4. Will you commit to providing the results of your review once completed?
5. What steps have you taken to investigate whether DOJ or FBI officials had
unauthorized contacts with the media during the Russia investigation?
We anticipate that your written reply and most responsive documents will be unclassified. Please send all unclassified material directly to each Committee. In keeping with the requirements of Executive Order 13526, if any of the responsive documents do contain classified information, please segregate all unclassified material within the classified documents, provide all unclassified information directly to each Committee, and provide a classified addendum to the Office of Senate Security. Although our Committees comply with all laws and regulations governing the handling of classified information, they are not bound, absent prior agreement, by any handling restrictions.
Should you have any questions, please contact Joshua Flynn-BrowrI of Chairman Grassley's Finance Committee staff at (202) 224-4515 or Brian Dowriey of Chairman Johnson's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee staff at (202) 224-4751.
~Ji_~
Charles E. Grassley Chairman
Senate Finance Committee
ommittee on Homeland and Governmental Affairs
Sincerely,
...........
Just out today.
History will not reflect kindly on the Obama administration.
- Joined
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This really is it
- Joined
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From the Mueller report and media analysis it sounds a lot like the Obama administration knew full well that Russian agents were attempting to influence the 2016 election but chose not to warn the Trump campaign or inform the American people. Instead, they attempted to use the information to their advantage politically by setting traps to entangle the Trump campaign in crimes and bring him down, sabotage his Presidency and so on.
