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Posted on 08/23/2019 1:42:23 PM PDT by jazusamo
Federal Judge Orders FBI to Search for Steele Documents
We Expose Senator Whitehouse’s Unauthorized Practice of Law
When Officers of the Law Abdicate Their Duty to Protect
Federal Judge Orders FBI to Search for Steele Documents
We are grateful for judges unafraid to tell the Deep State and its powerful agencies to reveal their secrets, especially when bureaucrats are digging in their heels.
In the latest example, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the FBI to conduct a search within 60 days for records of communications with former British spy and dossier author Christopher Steele post-dating Steele’s service as an FBI confidential source.
In ordering the supplemental search, Judge Cooper held:
[T]he potential for illuminating the FBI’s activities is not too difficult to discern. Communications post-dating Steele’s time as an informant might reveal a great deal about why the FBI developed him as a CHS [confidential human source], his performance as a CHS, and why the FBI opted to terminate its relationship with him. Those records might either bolster or weaken Steele’s credibility as a source. That information, in turn, could provide a basis on which to evaluate the FBI’s performance of its law-enforcement duties, including its judgment in selecting and relying on confidential sources, especially in connection with such a politically sensitive subject. Of course, the records Judicial Watch speculates about might not even exist—and even if they do, they may not reveal anything significant about the FBI’s operations. But that they might do so makes them a matter of potential public interest.
The court ruling came in our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for records of communications and payments between the FBI, Christopher Steele and his private firm, Orbis Business Intelligence ( Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice ) (No. 1:17-cv-00916)).
The court initially ruled in favor of a DOJ “Glomar” response to our March 8, 2017, FOIA request stating that it could “neither confirm nor deny the existence of records responsive to [Judicial Watch’s] request.” On March 26, 2018, subsequent to the declassification of records revealing Steele’s role as an FBI informant and his firing by the FBI in November 2016, the court reopened the case at our request. The FBI, however, continued refusing to search for records post-dating Steele’s dismissal, contending that any records discovered would be exempt from disclosure on privacy grounds.
In his ruling, Judge Cooper held that, on balance, any privacy interests Steele may have in keeping the documents secret are outweighed by the public’s interest in disclosure:
Steele’s privacy interests are far different from those courts usually consider under Exemption 7(C), where disclosure would make public for the first time an individual’s affiliation with law enforcement, whether as agent, cooperator, or target … The balance therefore tilts in favor of disclosure. Accordingly, the Court will order the FBI to conduct a search for records post-dating Steele’s service as a confidential source.
The court was right to turn aside the FBI’s fake concerns for Clinton spy Christopher Steele’s privacy and order the agency to search for more records on its use of Steele and his dossier to target President Trump. That the FBI is still protecting Christopher Steele, and the existence of a Clinton spy ring at Fusion GPS should tell you there is much more corruption to be exposed in the coup efforts against President Trump.
Here is some background.
Documents previously produced in this lawsuit show that the FBI paid Steele at least 11 times during the 2016 presidential campaign and then fired him for leaking.
We also uncovered smoking gun documents showing that former Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce Ohr remained in regular contact with Steele after Steele was terminated by the FBI in November 2016 for revealing to the media his position as an FBI confidential informant.
Through another FOIA lawsuit , we obtained emails of Bruce Ohr discussing information obtained through his wife Nellie, which he passed on to the FBI. The information contained anti-Trump dossier materials, including a spreadsheet that tries to link President Trump to dozens of Russians. These Justice Department documents also contain Russia-related emails sent from Nellie Ohr to high-ranking DOJ official Lisa Holtyn during the period Ohr worked with anti-Trump firm Fusion GPS, which contracted with Steele to create the Trump Dossier. Holtyn at the time was a top aide to Bruce Ohr.
We later acquired FBI 302 interview forms of Bruce Ohr’s reporting information he received from Steele to his FBI handlers.
We additionally uncovered documents from the U.S. Department of State revealing that State Department “Special Coordinator for Libya” Jonathan Winer played a key role in facilitating Steele’s access to other top government officials and prominent international business executives.
To watch Judicial Watch Director of Research and Investigations Chris Farrell’s interview on this, click here.
Last week, I spoke on Lou Dobbs’ show regarding documents we uncovered containing Russia-related emails sent from Nellie Ohr to high-ranking DOJ official Lisa Holtyn. At the time, Nellie Ohr worked with the anti-Trump dossier firm Fusion GPS. Holtyn, at the time, was a top aide to Nellie’s husband, former Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce Ohr.
As you can see, we are at the forefront of exposing the Deep State coup attempt, and we are nowhere near finished.
We Expose Senator Whitehouse’s Unauthorized Practice of Law
They will say the docs don’t exist.
eh......they will just ignore the request. delay delay delay.......
If it was the courts demanding this of conservatives well of course we would comply.
Look under the couch.
I once lost a BUNCH of pages about spy related activities to take down the POTUS in between the cushions once.
Off the Wall Ping!
Contact to be added.
Inspector fox reporting for duty to investigate the hole in the chicken wire, sir.
Rose law firm billing records come to mind.
That’ll fix ‘er
My sister did this with my father’s will.
She was the executor of the estate and pretended it was lost forcing us other through probate.
All siblings should have a copy of the will.
No, it wasn’t filed with the probate office.
We had to pay to get our money.
Just saying. What happens if the FBI 1) fails to produce all the documents, and says they did 2) fails to produce all the documents, and says, opps, sorry, need more time?
I know! I know! Don’t tell me!
Either 1) nothing or 2) a stern letter followed by a second chance with more time allowed! Rinse and repeat until 2 years goes by.
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The docs will come out when Ginzy joins the heavenly choir.
Have they checked the nightstands at a particular house in Chappaqua?
Isn’t that where you keep your collection of rare, highly valuable coins?
So is it any criminal who can ask for his records be be hidden “on privacy grounds” or just certain people?
I hear you, what a pathetic joke.
I’m sure all people being investigated for a criminal act would love to have any and all records withheld.
Have I mentioned I hate at least half of our govt at this point.
If Wray had any intentions of cleaning up the mess in the FBI he would be doing everything he could to be transparent and facilitate the restoration of integrity in his agency. Instead, he obstructs, impedes and delays legitimate investigations and inquiries.
The documents might be in S. Burgler's socks...or down his pants.
Think for a moment...
It took a court order to attempt to gain access to this stuff.
Wray is a POS.
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