Here’s how the rule of law applied to a former FBI lawyer who pleaded guilty to forgery

Ever since news broke of the FBI raiding former President Donald Trump’s home in Mar-a-Lago, people have been talking about the rule of law, and how no one is above the law (except Hunter Biden, who’s clearly above the law). Coincidentally, this news broke right around the same time. Former senior FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith pleaded guilty to forgery in getting that FISA warrant against Carter Page so the FBI could spy on the Trump organization. Clinesmith faced a harsh penalty — his law license was suspended.

But that was then, and this is now. Clinesmith has been restored to “good standing” and has his license to practice law back. Plus he had to pay a fine.

Caroline Downey reports for National Review: The bar had a record of repeatedly accommodating Kevin Clinesmith, a now convicted felon who pleaded guilty in August 2020 to falsifying a document that was the basis for a surveillance warrant against former Trump campaign official Carter Page. After receiving a 12-months probation sentence, which he first agreed to, Clinesmith was expected to have his attorney designation stripped. However, the D.C. Bar did not pursue that course of action, despite long-standing precedent surrounding lawyers committing crimes in legal matters. The bar did not proactively pursue disciplinary action against him either, until five months had passed since he pleaded guilty and RealClearInvestigations had raised media awareness of the scandal. Following the public attention, the bar then conducted a review of Clinesmith’s case, temporarily suspending him in the meantime. The Michigan Bar, where Clinesmith is also licensed, suspended him for two years and imposed a $1,037 fine the day he pleaded guilty.

The penalty for an FBI agent CONICTED of planting evidence is:

$1000 fine.

12 months probation.

Will not be disbarred.

1 posted on 08/10/2022 1:25:08 PM PDT by NoLibZone

The penalty for an FBI agent CONVICTED of planting evidence is:
$1000 fine.

12 months probation.

Will not be disbarred.

2 posted on 08/10/2022 1:25:51 PM PDT by NoLibZone (Ruling class noticed our total lack of pushback for how the election & Covid was handled.)

Well worth repeating...

3 posted on 08/10/2022 1:37:19 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)

and Trump can’t sue him for all the time and money he wasted

4 posted on 08/10/2022 2:05:57 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)

This is why impeachments and REMOVALS must occur. Never again should criminals like this be allowed to infest our agencies.

5 posted on 08/10/2022 2:14:04 PM PDT by Bshaw (A nefarious deceit is upon us all!)

Caroline Downey reports for National Review:

NR doesn't know sh**.

Let's have an explicit, clear apology for all you did to support Clinesmith and the FIB liars, NR, then we may listen to you again. Until then...

6 posted on 08/10/2022 6:25:25 PM PDT by nicollo (arbitrary law is not rule of law)

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