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Posted on 05/10/2018 9:17:48 AM PDT by jazusamo
Full title: Judicial Watch: Emails Show FBI Advised Comey to Consult with Mueller’s Office Prior to June 2017 Testimony
(Washington, DC) — Judicial Watch today released new emails from the Department of Justice (DOJ) showing that former FBI Director James Comey was advised by FBI officials in May 2017 to consult with Special Counsel Robert Mueller prior to testifying before any congressional committees regarding Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and his firing as FBI director.
According to numerous news reports , Comey met directly with Mueller previous to his June 8, 2017, testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Sources said that Comey’s opening statement and subsequent testimony were coordinated with Mueller.
At the hearing, Comey revealed that he had intentionally leaked material from a memo allegedly documenting a meeting with President Trump in order to help assure the appointment of a special counsel.
I asked a friend of mine to share the content of the memo with a reporter. Didn’t do it myself, for a variety of reasons. But I asked him to, because I thought that might prompt the appointment of a special counsel.
The DOJ and FBI have stated that Comey’s leaks were unauthorized and compared the disclosures to Wikileaks.
The documents obtained by Judicial Watch are the first to reveal that high-ranking FBI officials helped Comey coordinate his testimony with Mueller.
Judicial Watch obtained the documents in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the DOJ on January 31, 2018 ( Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:18-cv-00220)). The lawsuit was filed after the DOJ failed to respond to an August 14, 2017 FOIA request seeking:
On May 17, 2017, Comey received notices to appear before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence the Senate Judiciary Committee , and the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee.
An email chain dated May 18 and 19, 2017, with the subject line “ Future testimony ” shows then-FBI Chief of Staff James Rybicki, then-Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe and Assistant Director Gregory Brower, Comey and others discussing Comey’s upcoming testimony:
In this chain, on May 18 at 6:30 pm, Comey wrote to Rybicki to confirm that he had accepted the invitation to testify before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) but declined the invitations from the Senate Judiciary Committee and House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee.
Comey also writes: “Last, would you please tell OGC [Office of the General Counsel] that I would like to be able to review any documents authored by me or on which I am copied that will be produced to SSCI in connection with my testimony and would like the opportunity for that review before I testify?”
An email from a redacted sender, apparently Comey, to Rybicki dated May 19 at 11:49 am reads:
Jim
I just got off a call with Senators Burr and Warner. They would like to have a hearing next Wednesday at which I testify, first in open session and then in closed, if necessary. I asked them not to announce it until I check with FBI/DOJ to see if you want to discuss anything before they do that. I told them I had asked for guidance on any institutional prerogatives and for the opportunity to review any documents FBI has produced that relate to me. I told them I would communicate with them by the end of the day to either ask them to hold announcing the Wednesday hearing or go ahead.
Many thanks.
Jim
On May 19 at 2:10 pm, Rybicki writes back:
Director: We just met to discuss the requests outlined in the two emails below. Before responding the General Counsel has asked me to confirm that you have discussed with the attorneys representing you, and that you are comfortable discussing these issues with us rather than communicating through your counsel.
On May 19 at 3:02 pm, a redacted sender, likely Comey, responds to Rybicki: “Yes and yes.”
Also in this chain, on May 19 at 4:11 pm, Rybicki writes to McCabe, FBI Deputy Director David L. Bowdich, former FBI General Counsel James A. Baker, Brower, Elizabeth Beers and other redacted names:
Please see a DRAFT response to Director Comey (below). I will hold pending further direction….
Director:
In response to your emails below we have consulted with executive management here, including the General Counsel, and recommend the following:
“These documents show that James Comey, who was fired by the president, nevertheless had easy, friendly access to the FBI as he prepped his infamous anti-Trump testimony to the Senate,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “This collusion led to Comey’s attacking President Trump and misusing FBI records as part of a vendetta against the president.”
This should convince POTUS to not answer any questions from Mueller because this on top of everything else, proves just how much bad faith is going on!
Off the Wall Ping!
Contact to be added.
bttt
Bump!
Conspiracy to commit perjury. Comey did perjure himself in his testimony.
If only Hillary had been elected...if only...if only!
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These articles are great, but when do we start seeing the corrupt in prison orange clothing?
Tom Fitton .... hands down .... before anyone else .... tomorrow .... and for the rest of the Trump Presidency .... without a shadow of a doubt .... should be ....
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL of the United States of America
I wonder what would happen if, the President after learning of this, just says: F*ck It, Sessions you’re fired. I’m appointing Tom Fitton as Interim AG. Would there be mass suicides among members of Congress and high level government bureaucrats, planes taking off to every non-extradition country on the planet, all sorts of Fed types stampeding to the DOJ to hand over documents, thumb drives and hard drives with every piece of incriminating evidence so they don’t get steam rolled by him.
It would be glorious to see.
I hear you, not soon enough for me.
Good info; nice work, JW!
No doubt that Tom Fitton would shake up the DOJ like maybe an 8 on the Richter scale.
Hear hear!
Comey was fired on May 9th. As of that date he was a civilian, so why were Comey and top officials of the FBI even communicating with each other? There should have been an unbiased/independent liaison assigned to do the communicating between Comey and FBI officials. This is just another example of the unethical behavior of the top officials at the FBI.
Ditto what you said. Tommy Two Guns for AG!
Hell, he already is doing the real stuff.
The whole thing is a sick twisted circus. Do these people know how stupid they look?
Tom Fitton is not an attorney. He is president of JW, but it’s the Constitutional lawyers he hires that do the grunt work
It was well-known and stories published that Comey planned to meet with Mueller before testifying before Congress. It is also well-known that Comey talked to Mueller when Comey was flying back to D.C. after he was fired. Now that is conspiracy.
There is no requirement that the US AG be a member of a bar association.
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