this is a long article. highly recommended

Former FBI agent has a diff view than many other bloggers. Sounds like he has a strong argument

His premise is Flynn was not unmasked. He thinks the FBI monitored the call and because Flynn was under counterintel investigation, his name was written out for all to see

worth a read

http://meaninginhistory.blogsp...unmasking-guide.html

wow. it just doesn't end

https://twitter.com/JohnWHuber.../1263157440234893313

Somebody faked that the Crossfire Hurricane team had a FISA on Paul Manafort & "leaked" this to CNN

And the culprits may have been the Special Counsel's Office, trying to influence D.C's Chief Judge into allowing the SCO to pierce Manafort's Attorney/Client privilege

Over two and a half years ago, on Sep 18, 2017, CNN ran this "bombshell” article alleging that the FBI team investigating Russian "Collusion" had a FISA warrant on Paul Manafort:

"Exclusive: US government wiretapped former Trump campaign chairman“

Before looking in detail at the extraordinary claims in CNN's article, let’s just clarify that the core of the story - that the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane team sought and obtained an FISA warrant on Manafort - isn’t just wrong, or false. It's totally fake. 100% made up.

Here is DOJ IG Horowitz emphatically stating in his report that not only did the FBI's Crossfire team not seek a FISA on Manafort, they never even “seriously considered” FISA surveillance of Manafort. (Horowitz repeated that no FISA existed at all under oath to Congress too)

CNN itself acknowledged this when the IG report was released, appending an "editors note” in Dec 9, 2019, saying it “contradicts” their Sep 18, 2017 story, without offering any explanation or trying to defend it

CNN “learned” the FISA also included a *physical* search “of a storage facility belonging to Manafort”

(Note: it is already known that the search of this storage facility was briefed to the Associated Press by the SCO's Andrew Weissmann):

The FISA "snooping” included a time when Manafort was “known to talk to President Donald Trump”, and "sparked” concern that “Manafort had encouraged the Russians” to help the Trump campaign, and that the SCO had copies of these "communications”

And CNN's "sources" also claimed there was a "gap" in the FISA due to it being stopped and restarted. When was the "gap"? Oh, in June 2016, during the Trump Tower meeting. Maybe that's when the Collusion must have happened, in this "crucial" period when nobody was listening…!

Unmentioned by CNN is that SCO already knew this public narrative on Trump Tower (leaked in July 2017, 3 months beforehand) was false, based on their own interview of the translator at the meeting. And that Manafort had done literally zero at the meeting

So whoever "leaked" this story to CNN is crafting this (fake) narrative:

—Manafort had a FISA (meaning there's probable cause he's an agent of a foreign power)

—There was a gap in the FISA, and maybe that's where the "Collusion" was really happening, maybe even with Trump

A recap of the Manafort case and two key court hearings may show motive for why someone would want to make up such an elaborate fake FISA story to bolster the Collusion narrative, and leak it to CNN, timed to land on Sep 18 2017

July 26, 2017: The SCO carried out a dawn raid on Manafort's house.

Aug 2, 2017: Rod Rosenstein writes his first "scope" memo, authorizing the SCO to investigate Manafort for potential "Collusion" with Russia, and for "payments he received from the Ukrainian government"

FYI - it's worth noting at this point that the "Collusion" allegations were based on the Steele dossier, leaked to the media. And the "payments" allegation was substantially based on the fake "black ledger" of "cash payments" to Manafort, also leaked

Aug 18, 2017: The SCO issued a subpoena to Manafort's lawyer to testify against him to the Grand Jury. Manafort's lawyer refused, and the Special Counsel filed a motion to compel the Attorney to testify as a witness.

The Chief Judge in D.C. overseeing the case (Beryl Howell) then held a hearing on Sep 19, 2017 (and two others on Sep 20 & 26).

IMPORTANT: Those Sep 19/20/26 hearings weren't reported anywhere at the time and only became "public" 6 weeks later in the court filing linked above (See 'Exhibit A'). You still can't find almost any stories on them at all, anywhere in the media. Google for yourself and see.

And these hearings were crucial to the SCO’s case: they needed Manafort’s own lawyer to testify against him, to ensure they could get the charges about FARA violations to stick.

Sep 18, 2017: one day before those court hearings, this CNN story exploded all over the media. The takeaway - Manafort was considered such a Russian "Collusion" threat, that the FBI even got a FISA warrant, and the SCO has copies of the communications obtained under the FISA!

Oct 2, 2017: Judge Howell ruled against Manafort (in a non-public sealed opinion), ultimately piercing Attorney/Client privilege and forcing his lawyer to testify against him about the preparation of those FARA filings. Big win for the SCO

The Grand Jury testimony of Manafort's lawyer sought by the SCO helped secure Manafort's indictment on Oct 27, which was made public on Oct 31, 2017 following his arrest

Now it's admittedly speculative that the CNN story influenced Judge Howell, but the introduction to her order justifying forcing the lawyers testimony looks ridiculous in retrospect drawn right from the CNN narrative: a case of "national importance" about Manafort's "Collusion”!

Despite Judge Howell's solemn tone about "national importance" and "Collusion" involving Manafort, in reality, Manafort eventually stood trial for crimes like tax evasion, bank fraud and false FARA filings, committed long before he was ever associated with the Trump campaign

And prior to Manafort's trial, the SCO even admitted in response to Brady motions to his trial lawyers that the US government had *no surveillance intercepts* of Manafort AT ALL. Zip
(CNN didn’t report this, or update/retract their original story either)

Then the SCO asserted that "Collusion" wouldn't even be mentioned at Manafort's trial. Instead, we got stories about his expensive Ostrich jacket. Clearly a matter of grave "national importance”

But there is a bigger picture about why someone would go to the elaborate lengths of faking a FISA story in the national media, helping force Manafort's lawyer to flip on him. Because this wasn't the real aim...

...it was to set a tone or "rep" to get to
@realDonaldTrump
himself

Just a couple of months after Manafort's lawyer was turned against him,
@GenFlynn
own attorneys Covington & Burling would cite this aggressive "Manafort treatment" in their own interviews with the SCO, likely fearing they'd get the same if they didn't get Flynn to plead guilty

Wed Nov 1, 2017 (1/2)

C&B: “Would you be willing to give us the [FD]302?”

SCO: “We’re not currently in a posture where we’re providing that”

Covington and Burling no doubt feared being dragged in front of Grand Jury, leaked about in the media, and asked to explain their FARA filing preparations as Manafort’s attorney had been, especially as legal assistance with FARA is a big part of their business. So they caved.

In addition, something not known at the time of the CNN leaks, is that Trump's own personal attorney Michael Cohen was also under investigation by the SCO. So that’s Manafort’s attorney, Flynn's attorneys and Trump’s attorney all in the SCO’s crosshairs

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

fucking Mueller

so much in the Dec 2019 Horowtiz report, but it is so big that it is very challenging to read.

This bit just highlighted:

The FBI met w Christopher Steele in early Oct 2016. Location was a foreign city (Rome ?).

The FBI was willing to pay Steele "significantly" for info on Michael Flynn or Carter Page "facilitating the Trump campaign - Russian relationship"

The FBI apparently dropped Steele as a CHS before paying him.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Our FBI offering a "for hire" foreign political fanatic our tax dollars to dirty up a 3 star general

Oh, and none of the FBI agents interviewing Steele can remember asking if Steele knew of the Yahoo news article about to be described to the FISA court on 21 Oct 2016. The one where the FBI lied and said the article was independent of Steele, but "corroborated" Steele's work


https://townhall.com/tipsheet/...chael-flynn-n2569203

Just more proof that the FBI's management considered themselves to be agents acting in the best interest for their political masters, instead of the American people. The whole "Russian Collusion" narrative was pure DNC/Hillary Campaign fiction and they knew it. Not only knew it, but committed perjury, treason, and used tax dollars to fund efforts to remove the President from his elected office without cause. These conspirators have to be held to account in the criminal courts. If they aren't, it sets an example for future executives on the public payroll to do the same. This also shows why Hillary Clinton's use of a private server to conceal information that (by law) is mandated to provide government transparency are so grievous.

#BREAKING D.C. Circuit has ordered Judge Sullivan to respond to #FLYNN Petition for Writ of Mandamus by June 1.
Judges Henderson, Wilkins, and Rao.



https://twitter.com/SidneyPowe.../1263549234558705664

I LOVE IT!!! I don't think that Judge Sullivan does though.

quote:

Originally posted by GT-40DOC:
I LOVE IT!!! I don't think that Judge Sullivan does though.

He might. To him this drama may not have anything to do with the case and whether he wins or loses, but becoming a recognized name to a future leftist anti-Trump Administration.

More smoke and blustery talk.I hope Wray is canned soon.


FBI Director Christopher Wray orders internal review of Michael Flynn investigation

https://www.washingtonexaminer...-flynn-investigation

BI Director Christopher Wray ordered an internal review of the handling of the bureau's investigation of former Trump campaign adviser Michael Flynn.

The "after-action" investigation, announced Friday, will focus on two areas: rooting out any misconduct by current FBI employees and evaluating the need to change bureau policies.

A statement noted that the FBI will evaluate whether disciplinary measures will be necessary for any current employees, although the bureau lacks the prosecutorial authority to bring a criminal case. The statement also said the FBI lacks the ability to take any disciplinary action against former employees.

why give the bastard 10 days? he should have had 10 minutes

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

quote:

Originally posted by GT-40DOC:
I LOVE IT!!! I don't think that Judge Sullivan does though.

He might. To him this drama may not have anything to do with the case and whether he wins or loses, but becoming a recognized name to a future leftist anti-Trump Administration.

Maybe, but most Judges don't like to get their "pee-pee" slapped for all to see!!! Sidney Powell is a bulldog that is intelligent to boot.

quote:

Sidney Powell is a bulldog that is intelligent to boot.

If Barr decides to retire sometime in Trumps next term she would make a great replacement.

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:
More smoke and blustery talk.I hope Wray is canned soon.


FBI Director Christopher Wray orders internal review of Michael Flynn investigation

https://www.washingtonexaminer...-flynn-investigation

BI Director Christopher Wray ordered an internal review of the handling of the bureau's investigation of former Trump campaign adviser Michael Flynn.

The "after-action" investigation, announced Friday, will focus on two areas: rooting out any misconduct by current FBI employees and evaluating the need to change bureau policies.

A statement noted that the FBI will evaluate whether disciplinary measures will be necessary for any current employees, although the bureau lacks the prosecutorial authority to bring a criminal case. The statement also said the FBI lacks the ability to take any disciplinary action against former employees.

Translation: "FBI Director Christopher Wray orders internal review to cover the asses of everyone in the organization because that is what Federal employess do, no matter how bad it is, because that's his real job, to protect, maintain, and fund the bearacracy at all costs."
What crock of stinky shit.

I think the good guys are on the move. finally

https://theconservativetreehou...product/#more-192472

DNI Ric Grenell Declassifying Flynn-Kislyak Transcripts: “The IC doesn’t have all the transcripts/summaries….it wasn’t our product”

Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard “Ric” Grenell announced today he is in the process of declassifying the transcripts of the calls between Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

Within a twitter response by Grenell, part of the riddle behind the transcripts gets a little more clarity: “The IC doesn’t have all the transcripts/summaries…. it wasn’t our product.”

The implication here is the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) did not generate one of the transcripts; that evolved into an FBI equity, and was later used in their case against Lt. General Michael Flynn. The December 29, 2016, intercept was not exclusive to the U.S. intelligence apparatus, and the call summary became proprietary to the FBI; the agency exploiting the underlying content.

This makes sense and explains how the FBI was able to manipulate the framework of the call and keep the remaining U.S. intelligence system away from their internal plan.
There was more than one phone call and conversation between Flynn and Kislyak. Some immediately after the election and in/around mid-December 2016. Reports of those contacts and communications WERE in the U.S. IC network and those reports led to unmasking requests. However, the specific December 29th communication was not an exclusive intercept of the U.S. intelligence community and therefore easier for the FBI to shape.

When Susan Rice, and now all of the downstream politicians, are requesting the release of the Flynn-Kislyak transcripts, those specific demands do not encompass the Dec.29th call; and it appears from the political narrative being assembled, the democrats do not necessarily expect DNI Grenell to be able to release the transcript of that specific call.

DNI Ric Grenell is signaling that he intends to release all the call transcripts not just the ones obtained by U.S. intelligence intercepts.





hmmmmm the one that was leaked was only held by the FBI. ???

Dir Wray - there is a clue there. honest.

quote:

Dir Wray - there is a clue there. honest.

For all of his past platitudes I wonder if Barr is starting to pressure Wray. Kind of a "You clean it up or I will" type thing.

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:
More smoke and blustery talk.I hope Wray is canned soon.

I hope that I am wrong, but I wouldn't expect anything to happen with Wray until after the election. I'd certainly hope that he is kicked to the curb as quickly and abruptly as possible.

https://www.washingtonpost.com...1fcc9b35f_story.html

Federal judge hires high-powered D.C. attorney to defend his actions in Flynn case

In a rare step that adds to this criminal case’s already unusual path, U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan has retained Beth Wilkinson to represent him in defending his decision to a federal appeals court in Washington, according to a person familiar with the hire who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is now examining the judge’s actions and the larger case against Flynn after lawyers for President Trump’s former national security adviser asked the court to force Sullivan to toss Flynn’s guilty plea.

Wilkinson, known for her top-notch legal skills and get-results style, is expected to file a notice with the court in the coming week about representing the judge. She declined to comment when reached Friday evening. Sullivan also declined to comment through his office.

A federal judge doesn’t typically hire private counsel to respond to an appeals court, and yet so much about Flynn’s case has been a departure from the norm

xxxxxxxxx


Wilkinson defended Brett Kavanaugh and earlier Clinton's lawyer Cheryl Mills.

Beth Wilkinson. Out of the blue...

Wilkinson represented four of Hillary Clinton’s closest aides: Cheryl Mills, Heather Samuelson, Jake Sullivan, and Philippe Reines. She married David Gregory, the former moderator of NBC News' Meet the Press in June 2000. She is a close personal friend of Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland who was never given a hearing by the Senate.

It appears to me that this guy knows he may in deep shit with the higher court if he thinks he needs an attorney. It's also very telling that she has ties to that witch Hilary.

quote:

Originally posted by sdy:
Federal judge hires high-powered D.C. attorney to defend his actions in Flynn case

Bizarre