US Politics Mega-thread - Page 9827

On February 02 2018 23:20 Plansix wrote:
That is to high risk, high reward for my blood. I don’t like it when people like him get that close to power. But it does end any delusion what that state’s republican party is if he does win.

Edit: I forgot that Nunes was on the transition team. I don’t know why he is able to still be involved with this investigation considering he could be called as a witness by the FBI.

On February 03 2018 01:25 ShoCkeyy wrote:


He also reclused himself from the investigation, but somehow is still part of it? This guy is on. Whole other level. I don’t know how California can vote this guy in.

On February 03 2018 01:19 xDaunt wrote:
I like how we are supposed to be agreeing with all of these people who have no idea what’s even in the memo. I believe a philosopher once said something about opinions being like assholes....

On February 03 2018 01:29 Plansix wrote:
The house has seen the memo and it’s widely known what the topic is. It’s the 80-400 page application for the FISA warrant renewal on Carter Page boiled down to 4 pages.

And there is the fundamental problem that the memo attacks the FBI and Justice department for misuse of surveillance powers when the Justice department and FBI are prohibited from responding. There is already an investigation into this matter with the inspector general, which is the correct venue to bring these concerns.

The Republicans in the House know this, but are still pushing to release the memo attacking the FBI’s use of the FISA warrant. Normally this memo would come out with a second memo drafted by the opposition and a memo from the agency in question all at the same time. It’s a hit job where they know there will be no counter punch and the American people are not familiar with that standard process.

The House Intelligence Committee has released its controversial memo outlining alleged abuses of secret surveillance by the FBI and Justice Department in the Trump-Russia investigation. Here are some key points:

* The Steele dossier formed an essential part of the intial and all three renewal FISA applications against Carter Page.

* Andrew McCabe confirmed that no FISA warrant would have been sought from the FISA Court without the Steele dossier information.

* The political origins of the Steele dossier were known to senior DOJ and FBI officials, but excluded from the FISA applications.

* DOJ official Bruce Ohr met with Steele beginning in the summer of 2016 and relayed to DOJ information about Steele's bias. Steele told Ohr that he, Steele, was desperate that Donald Trump not get elected president and was passionate about him not becoming president.

The FBI and Justice Department mounted a months-long effort to keep the information outlined in the memo out of the House Intelligence Committee's hands. Only the threat of contempt charges and other forms of pressure forced the FBI and Justice to give up the material.

Once Intelligence Committee leaders and staff compiled some of that information into the memo, the FBI and Justice Department, supported by Capitol Hill Democrats, mounted a ferocious campaign of opposition, saying release of the memo would endanger national security and the rule of law.

But Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes never wavered in his determination to make the information available to the public. President Trump agreed, and, as required by House rules, gave his approval for release.

Finally, the memo released today does not represent the sum total of what House investigators have learned in their review of the FBI and Justice Department Trump-Russia investigation. That means the fight over the memo could be replayed in the future when the Intelligence Committee decides to release more information.

On February 03 2018 01:52 xDaunt wrote:

I basically agree with this. However, I'd add a couple things. First, the apoplexy with which opponents are reacting to the memo's release should not be ignored. Whatever is in there is clearly very bad for the FBI, and potentially for others. What seems to be coming is the allegation that the FISA application(s) was based upon unverified political opposition research. Given that the memo is likely largely based upon what's in the FISA application(s), it's going to have an element of truth to it which should not be ignored. The real question is what else is in the FISA application(s).

On February 03 2018 01:55 xDaunt wrote:
And here it is:


Source.

On February 03 2018 01:55 xDaunt wrote:
And here it is:



Source.

On February 03 2018 01:55 xDaunt wrote:
And here it is:



Source.

On February 03 2018 02:07 Mohdoo wrote:

This idea of bias is silly. If my research pointed to Trump being compromised, I would also be desperate for him to not be president.

The FBI and Justice Department mounted a months-long effort to keep the information outlined in the memo out of the House Intelligence Committee's hands. Only the threat of contempt charges and other forms of pressure forced the FBI and Justice to give up the material.

On February 03 2018 02:26 MrUniverse wrote:
So, the Clinton campaign/DNC worked with a foreign spy to develop a salacious and phony dossier on Donald Trump, gave the dossier to the FBI and they used it to open an investigation and obtain a FISA warrant to spy on Trump campaign members. Unreal.