Ex-FBI lawyer to plead guilty in first criminal case arising from review, sources say

[JANFU]

What would motivate such a person to work solo? So no, I don't. I pray he spills his guts for the good of the republic.

3 Nov will result in an electoral cleansing.

Much like a laxative with the end results on the Republican party

For you and others it will be **** armagedon

 

[post]

.....
Consciousness of guilt displayed as if on a stadium scoreboard, including Trump's tireless obstruction of all investigation, leaving one to admit Trump's obstruction has always seemed to reward him, but that will reverse when Presidential Historians....

What alternative does a reasonable reader take? Certainly not one attempting to advance the assumption Trump is a victim of a "deep state" conspiracy or is "draining the swamp"!

Example, consider the past performance at North Carolina DHHS of the person Trump has designated to "serve" as U.S. Ambassador to Canada.
Aldona Wos - Wikipedia

She happens to be the spouse of the man Trump has assigned to hobble the USPS, Louis Dejoy.

Senate committee sought investigation of Bannon, raised concerns about Trump family testimony - Los Angeles Times
Senate committee sought investigation of Bannon, raised concerns about Trump family testimony

Aug. 14, 2020 7:44 PM UPDATED8 PM WASHINGTON —

The Senate Intelligence Committee has sent a bipartisan letter to the Justice Department asking federal prosecutors to investigate Stephen K. Bannon, a former Trump confidant, for potentially lying to lawmakers during its investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The letter, a copy of which was reviewed by The Times, was signed by the panel’s then-chairman, Republican Sen. Richard M. Burr, and its ranking Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner.

For the record:
...It also raised concerns about testimony provided by family members and confidants of President Trump that appeared to contradict information provided by a former deputy campaign chairman to Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Those it identified as providing such conflicting testimony were the president’s son Donald Trump Jr.,.. Jared Kushner, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and.. Hope Hicks...

...The letter then names Bannon,., and two other men — Erik Prince, a private security contractor, and Sam Clovis, ..

Criminal referrals from Capitol Hill have been somewhat common since Trump took office in 2017. But this one is rare because it involves the bipartisan leaders of a Senate panel that conducted its own probe without devolving into the partisan bickering that consumed its counterpart in the House of Representatives.....

...According to the letter, the committee believed Bannon may have lied about his interactions with Erik Prince, a private security contractor; Rick Gerson, a hedge fund manager; and Kirill Dmitriev, the head of a Russian sovereign fund.

All were involved in closely scrutinized meetings in the Seychelles before Trump’s inauguration.

The committee also believed Prince, best known as the founder of the former mercenary company Blackwater and the brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, may have lied about his interactions with Dmitriev. ...

..Prince said he returned to the United States and updated Bannon about his conversations; Bannon said that never happened, according to the special counsel’s office....

....In the two page-letter, the committee raised concerns that testimony given to it by the president’s family and advisors contradicted what Rick Gates, the former deputy campaign chairman, told the Special Counsel about when people within the Trump campaign knew about a June 9 meeting at Trump tower with a Russian lawyer.

When the meeting became public, Trump Jr. initially claimed it was about Russian adoptions, but emails written by Trump Jr. that were later made public showed he had agreed to the meeting, but because he had been assured that the Russian lawyer had “official documents and information” that would “incriminate” Clinton, ..

..Rob Goldstone, told Trump Jr. that the damaging information on Clinton was “part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr. Trump.” Trump Jr. replied: “If it’s what you say, I love it.”

Gates, a longtime deputy to Manafort, was one of the highest-ranking Trump campaign advisors to “flip” on the president, and he was a foundational witness during the Mueller investigation.

Gates told the special prosecutor that in the days before the June 9, 2016, meeting, Trump Jr. announced at a “regular morning meeting of senior campaign staff and Trump family members that he had a lead on negative information about the Clinton Foundation,” according to the report of the investigation’s findings.

Trump Jr., Kushner, Hicks and Manafort denied prior knowledge of the meeting in interviews with the committee, according to the committee’s letter, which offered transcripts as proof....

“We are fully confident in the testimony and information provided by Donald J. Trump, Jr.,” said Alan Futerfas, a lawyer for the president’s son.

Lying to Congress is a felony, and two Trump allies — .....

 

[Athanasius68]

A dozen GRU officers have been charged ...... Mueller indicts 12 Russian intelligence officers for email hacking-related charges - Vox ....Seth Rich's name is not among theirs.

And nobody of them were alleged to have conspired with the Trump campaign.
Nor were there any Trump folks indicted for their role in a conspiracy.
All that happened here is that a bunch of Russians who were engaged in a operation against the USA were caught.
It has nothing to do with Trump.
BTW-- the charges have been dropped.

Consider that your certainty rewards people close to Trump, and certainly Trump himself, have earned your trust, despite their lies.
You, and others Trump has affected with his defense (obstruction) encourage Trump to continue to marginalize the investigators and their agencies.

Well, as above, the investigators have never charged anyone in the Trump campaign for their role in the conspiracy.
One would suspect that if there was such evidence, there would be no reason for this FBI lawyer to manufacture it.
So, you've confirmed to Trump that he can repetitively recite false scenarios and you'll thank him.

Consciousness of guilt displayed as if on a stadium scoreboard, including Trump's tireless obstruction of all investigation, leaving one to admit Trump's obstruction has always seemed to reward him, but that will reverse when Presidential Historians write about Trump.

This whole sordid tale will definitely be kicking around for years-- it will be like people arguing the origins of WW 1.

KT Macfarland revised her 302, three times .... a lot of detail related to Flynn, as well.:

If the argument here is that Flynn went rogue, ok.
All that means is that it makes it more difficult to argue that Flynn was involved in a conspiracy with the Trump campaign and Russia.
And it gives less justification to interview Flynn.

 

[Athanasius68]

What alternative does a reasonable reader take? Certainly not one attempting to advance the assumption Trump is a victim of a "deep state" conspiracy or is "draining the swamp"!

Example, consider the past performance at North Carolina DHHS of the person Trump has designated to "serve" as U.S. Ambassador to Canada.
Aldona Wos - Wikipedia

She happens to be the spouse of the man Trump has assigned to hobble the USPS, Louis Dejoy.

As the article indicates, people were approaching the Trump campaign, alleging they had information on Clinton.
As we have known about Steele for 4 years, people were approaching the Clinton campaign, alleging they had info on Trump.

 

[Hatuey]

You were our only hope.

All is truly lost...

That is because I've studied your position, and found nothing but weakness.

Who was that made this desk jokey part of the conspiracy?




------------------------

Thought had by person at the White House: If you can remember, man, woman, car, camera, TV, you are fit to lead a country and no one has anything to worry about

 

[Deuce]

As the article indicates, people were approaching the Trump campaign, alleging they had information on Clinton.
As we have known about Steele for 4 years, people were approaching the Clinton campaign, alleging they had info on Trump.

Ok, and?

 

[Athanasius68]

Ok, and?

The story was that Trump had conspired with Russia, whereas the evidence doesn't support that allegation, whereas it more accurately reflects Russia tried to screw with both campaigns.

 

[post]

The story was that Trump had conspired with Russia, whereas the evidence doesn't support that allegation, whereas it more accurately reflects Russia tried to screw with both campaigns.

Your posts continue to support that your support of Trump is involuntary, reflexive. There is no other reasonable explanation.
Unless you just find living in a "potemkin village", inspirational,

The lying and obsessive obstruction,
There's Lots of Reason to Think Steve Bannon Lied; But He May Also Have Told the Truth, Once | emptywheel
the reflexive defense of Putin, and the relegating of the American public to even learning of calls between Trump and Putin, and not even a bare readout of the calls, except from the Kremlin, is outrageous, but not as absurd as Trump taking Putin's word over his own expert appointees', and recently the seven months delay in briefing congressional intelligence oversight on annual threat assessment, so as to avoid the wrath of the self-professed, victim-in-chief!

Summer, 2018 :

How Republican Lawmakers Responded to Trump's Russian ...
How Republican Lawmakers Responded to Trump’s Russian Meddling Denial - The New York Times
Jul 16, 2018 President Trump appeared on Monday with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia at a news conference in Helsinki, Finland. Mr. Trump was widely criticized for his performance, and especially for ...

January, 2019 :
https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...5b74c6-23b7-11e9-90cd-dedb0c92dc17_story.html
In latest attack on intelligence agencies, Trump ignores where they actually agree

January, 2020

Intelligence officials ask Congress not to hold threats hearings after angering Trump last year - CNNPolitics
Intelligence officials ask Congress not to hold threats hearings after angering Trump last year
By Zachary Cohen, CNN

Updated 4:44 PM ET, Thu January 16, 2020
Intel officials ask lawmakers not to hold public threat hearings...

Finally, seven months late, the unqualified, self-promoted "prosecutor of many (zero) terrorists", DNI Ratcliffe:

John Ratcliffe: US spy chief offers to deliver limited public threat assessment to Congress - CNNPolitics
US spy chief offers to deliver limited public threat ...
Jul 21, 2020 Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe sent a letter to the top lawmakers on the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday offering to appear publicly before the panel and discuss the annual ...

 

[Athanasius68]

The lying and obsessive obstruction,
There's Lots of Reason to Think Steve Bannon Lied; But He May Also Have Told the Truth, Once | emptywheel
the reflexive defense of Putin, and the relegating of the American public to even learning of calls between Trump and Putin, and not even a bare readout of the calls, except from the Kremlin, is outrageous, but not as absurd as Trump taking Putin's word over his own expert appointees', and recently the seven months delay in briefing congressional intelligence oversight on annual threat assessment, so as to avoid the wrath of the self-professed, victim-in-chief!

January, 2019 :
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-claims-great-progress-on-isis-north-korea-after-intelligence-officials-present-less-optimistic-view/2019/01/30/e95b74c6-23b7-11e9-90cd-dedb0c92dc17_story.html

At this point we know that Mr. Trump himself was being investigated for conspiring with Russia.
I would suspect he doesn't trust the intelligence guys.
More damaging fallout from the false Trump/Russia conspiracy theory.

 

[TomFitz]

That isn't entirely accurate as his sources were third and fourth hand of whom he did not know their identity.
The FBI was able to identify his main source, and that person basically said it was all just bar talk.



There is NO evidence that the Trump campaign coordinated their activities with Russian intelligence.
Even Mueller concedes this in his Stone indictment.

That’s right. Campaign attorneys hired an oppo research firm who subbed part of the work to Steele.

Whether it was “bar talk” or not, a lot of it turned out to be true. And the notion that the Trump campaign was in regular contact with agents of the Russian government (something that would have been inconceivable before this criminal cabal), was presented. And, as we were to learn over the course of the next two and half years, the contacts were extensive, and would be very very well documented.

But Mitch McConnell made sure Trump would always have a get out of jail free card. Which is why he just blatantly disregards the rule of law entirely now. He got away with it, and he’ll dare anyone to stand up to him. At this point, he’s openly hinting at a police state.

 

[trouble13]

Durham probe: Ex-FBI lawyer to plead guilty in first criminal case arising from review, sources say | Fox News



For those who haven't been paying attention, Carter Page was a source for the CIA prior to his being an advisor on the Trump campaign. Clinesmith falsified a document which said that Page was a CIA source to say that Page WAS NOT a CIA source. This is a huge deal because it shows deliberate attempt to commit fraud on the court.

Does anyone really believe that he did this on his own and was not acting on behalf of others? I don't.

Even if he had done it on its own, he could not of been the only person who knew page was a cia operative. They had an obligation to correct it and they did not.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Jack Hays]

Even if he had done it on its own, he could not of been the only person who knew page was a cia operative. They had an obligation to correct it and they did not.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Not an operative, a source. There's a difference.

 

[trouble13]

Not an operative, a source. There's a difference.

Whatever he was, that lawyer was not the only one who knew he was working for our side. I find it difficult that 1 lawyer could fill out a form wrong and nobody knew about the mistake.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[danielpalos]

Is it Any wonder some at the FBI counter-intelligence desk wanted this guy under surveillance.

In 1998, Page joined the Eurasia Group, a strategy consulting firm, but left three months later. In 2017, Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer recalled on his Twitter feed that Page's strong pro-Russian stance was "not a good fit" for the firm and that Page was its "most wackadoodle" alumnus.[26] Stephen Sestanovich later described Page's foreign-policy views as having "an edgy Putinist resentment" and a sympathy to Russian leader Vladimir Putin's criticisms of the United States.[2] Over time, Page became increasingly critical of United States foreign policy toward Russia, and more supportive of Putin, with a United States official describing Page as "a brazen apologist for anything Moscow did".[4] Page is frequently quoted by Russian state television, where he is presented as a "famous American economist".[3]--https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Page

 

[TomFitz]

Is it Any wonder some at the FBI counter-intelligence desk wanted this guy under surveillance.

That and the fact that they already knew that the Russians had tried to recruit Page.

And, by this time, they were getting warnings from intelligence agencies around the world that these reckless TRump guys were running around playing footsie with the FSB.

In Trump world there is a near maniacal obsession with protecting Carter Page.

I have never understood it. And I think the reason is one of the few really important aspects of the Trump-Russia gambit that has not been adequately explained.

They really need to protect this guy.

A lot of it, out there in the noise machine, is hypocritical self righteousness about Page having his rights violated. (He has not been charged with a crime).

Coming from Trump, a guy who ordered a riot against his own citizens, that’s rich!

 

[Jack Fabulous]

That is because I've studied your position, and found nothing but weakness.

Who was that made this desk jokey part of the conspiracy?




------------------------

Thought had by person at the White House: If you can remember, man, woman, car, camera, TV, you are fit to lead a country and no one has anything to worry about

You've studied my position?

You don't even know what my position is.

 

[Athanasius68]

Is it Any wonder some at the FBI counter-intelligence desk wanted this guy under surveillance.

Under the law, in order to place an American under surveillance, one must have probable cause that the person has broken the law, or is about to break the law, or is planning to break the law while knowingly working for a foreign government.
All you have done is decribe a guy whom thought USA policy toward Russia had been too harsh (which would have made him comfortable in the Obama Admin State Dept).

 

[danielpalos]

Under the law, in order to place an American under surveillance, one must have probable cause that the person has broken the law, or is about to break the law, or is planning to break the law while knowingly working for a foreign government.
All you have done is decribe a guy whom thought USA policy toward Russia had been too harsh (which would have made him comfortable in the Obama Admin State Dept).

Sure, if it were Only that one isolated incident. Almost the whole current administration seems to be collaborating with the Russians. Or, why ask the Russians for intimate help with emails?

 

[Logophile]

Sure, if it were Only that one isolated incident. Almost the whole current administration seems to be collaborating with the Russians. Or, why ask the Russians for intimate help with emails?

Pure speculation, Daniel. The Trump administration has not been all that nice to Russia. In fact, the Kremlin has more reason to work against the Trump administration than for it. Thanks!!

 

[Hypothetical]

Keep the cell bunk warm Kevin, Peter will be there to join you shortly.

he needs to go to jail just for that stupid look when answering a question... that has got to be some form of contempt LOL

 

[danielpalos]

Pure speculation, Daniel. The Trump administration has not been all that nice to Russia. In fact, the Kremlin has more reason to work against the Trump administration than for it. Thanks!!

Is that why Sessions had to recuse himself?

 

[Logophile]

Is that why Sessions had to recuse himself?

There is a big difference between accusing an entire administration of consorting with Russia "for nefarious reasons" and an individual who had enough contact with that country to deem himself a liability. Still, that's a far cry from collusion. Thanks!!

 

[danielpalos]

There is a big difference between accusing an entire administration of consorting with Russia "for nefarious reasons" and an individual who had enough contact with that country to deem himself a liability. Still, that's a far cry from collusion. Thanks!!

The Attorney General of your guy's administration had to recuse himself (and paid the price); how unlike the current cronyism in that office now.

 

[mrdeltoid]

I hope you are being obtuse...

Chillng? What is chilling is the methodology that results in your outrage, which, unfortunately for you, seems genuine.



Pursue a POV adjustment. You have no idea of the abuse republican lead DOJ and FBI have heaped on hundreds of subjects of interest, and you are pontificating well beyond the limits of your knowledgr, which appeaes to be right off the script the White House writes for Hannity and other Murdoch entertainers shows.



Trump campaign folk vehemently maintained that Carter Page was not part of the campaign, but now, he is a martyr to be drowned in Trump-Cult, crocodile tears?

Is Judge Sullivan stupid, or duped by an imaginary "deep state"?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...9ae816-f4dd-11e9-a285-882a8e386a96_story.html
Michael Flynn’s sentencing set for Jan. 28 after judge rejects his attacks on FBI, Justice Department

View attachment 67291502

View attachment 67291503

I read all your links. Clinesmith has plead guilty already. I didn't see anything refuting Clinesmith's guilty plea for altering a document. From Reuters (not Fox):: "According to a criminal information filed in Federal court in Washington D.C. on Friday, Clinesmith altered an email from another unnamed government agency, believed to be the CIA, to say that an unnamed individual, believed to be Page, “was not a source,” even though an email from the other government agency did not say that."
Former FBI lawyer to plead guilty as part of Russia probe: defendant's lawyer - Reuters

BTW, next time you call a source into question, you shouldn't use a blogger for your own source. The Obama administration has used government agencies against conservative groups long before Trump came along. Being uneasy with the FBI faking documents, leaking classified info, and targeting conservatives for IRS audits is an appropriate reaction.

 

[post]

I read all your links. Clinesmith has plead guilty already. I didn't see anything refuting Clinesmith's guilty plea for altering a document. From Reuters (not Fox):: "According to a criminal information filed in Federal court in Washington D.C. on Friday, Clinesmith altered an email from another unnamed government agency, believed to be the CIA, to say that an unnamed individual, believed to be Page, “was not a source,” even though an email from the other government agency did not say that."
Former FBI lawyer to plead guilty as part of Russia probe: defendant's lawyer - Reuters

BTW, next time you call a source into question, you shouldn't use a blogger for your own source. The Obama administration has used government agencies against conservative groups long before Trump came along. Being uneasy with the FBI faking documents, leaking classified info, and targeting conservatives for IRS audits is an appropriate reaction.

Ordinarily, I would agree with, "you shouldn't use a blogger for your own source." In this situation, Marcy Wheeler is a unique, rich, reliable resource and as close to impartial and without conflicts of interest as I have found. I've been reading her research and analysis since 2005.
Don't confuse mastery of the subject matter with partisan bias. I invite you to present your most reliable and competent source.

Examples -
[h=1]The Yahoo Scan: On Facilities and FISA [/h]October 6, 2016/5 Comments/in FISA /by emptywheelThere are now two competing explanations for what Yahoo was asked by the government to do last year.
[h=4]Individual FISA order or 702 directive?[/h] NYT (including Charlie Savage, who FOIAed all the FISC opinions and then wrote a book about them) explains Yahoo got an individual FISA order to search for a “signature” that the FBI had convinced the FISA Court was associated with a state-sponsored terrorist group....

[h=1]While It Is Reauthorizing FISA Amendments Act, Congress Should Reform Section 704 [/h]May 13, 2016/6 Comments/in EO 12333, FISA /by emptywheelOn Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee had a public hearing on FISA Amendments Act reauthorization, which will take place in the next year. The hearing was treated as solely the reauthorization of Section 702 of FAA. But in fact, all of Title VII needs to be reauthorized. Which is why I think Congress should reform Section 704 — or at the very least, as a whole lot more question about how it (and by association EO 12333) is used against Americans.
As a reminder, here are the parts of Title VII authorizing collection (there are also some...

https://www.emptywheel.net/portfolio-item/warrantless-wiretap-memos-timeline/
[h=1]Warrantless Wiretap Memos[/h]September 20, 2001: NSA GC writes Alberto Gonzales to find out if amendments to FISA proposed by HPSCI have merit, got no response.
September 25, 2001: OLC provides memo to David Kris on “a purpose” language for FISA.
October 3, 2001: 15-day exception in FISA after declaration of war expires.
December 13, 2006: Application to move content collection to FISA.
July 10, 2008: FISA Amendments Act.
December 1, 2009: Semiannual report; December 28 & 29, 2009: Semiannual reports for entire year on physical and electronic FISA

Exigent Letters

February 2006: Procedures to verify factual accuracy of FISA applications