Two Possibilities in Trump Wiretapping, and Neither Is Good

The American Thinker ^ | 27 December 2019 | Frank Watt

[lowbuck]

The report of the I.G.'s findings on the use of FISA in the FBI Crossfire Hurricane investigation is an outrage. As a 22 year FBI Agent, I have personally conducted multiple investigations using both Title III "wiretaps" and FISA authorized intercepts. From this perspective, I can only see two possible interpretations of the actions of the FBI and DOJ. Either scenario should anger and frighten every fair minded citizen who takes the time to read the report and understand its implications. . . snip

If the heinous abuses documented in the I.G.s report result in a weakening or loss of FISA, we will all be the worse for it. If those responsible are not held to account, this will happen again. There is no happy face to put on this episode.

[Susquehanna Patriot]

“And the FISA court is corrupt, as well.”

Yepp. The court is supposed to be the independent, protect the rights of the citizens. Where is big mouth “nonpolitical” John Roberts? How is the judiciary to be held accountable since the judges involved do not appear to be concerned about criminal contempt in the courtroom.

These alleged FISA abuses are huge, if justice is not served, our country’s constitutional foundations will be further damaged, perhaps irreparably.

[Karma_Sherab]

there is no question but that this was total corruption.

I wouldn't say "incompetence", more like sloppy corruption since they never thought any of this would come out.

[nathanbedford]

I think you correctly note the distinction between malfeasance and misfeasance but I think I did so as well. I chose misfeasance because Horowitz himself does not always charge that there was a violation of law, because there is always a question of mens rea, and because I am not at all clear that all of the 51 actions identified in the footnote constituted an illegal act.

I wholeheartedly agree with you, however, that this whole business is rotten and illegal and perhaps I am being too fastidious in alluding to it as I have.

[Diogenesis]

john roberts IMPOSED a tax himself to keep
his two “children” given to him (taken from others?))))

roberts and the DNC are corrupt,
and must be removed/impeached/indicted/...

[USS Alaska]

Take your pick. . . total incompetence or total corruption.

I'll take 'B' Alex, and then, 'A' and then both.

The FISC should be shut down, all current judges, including John Roberts removed for either A or B or both, and then all cases of American citizens being spied upon within the last ten years should be reviewed.

The abuses indicate that spying on an American citizen should NEVER happen without a warrant and his rights must be represented, and not by the prosecutors.

If the FISC wants to spy on non-citizens, have at it, but we have the 4,5,6th Amendments for our protection, and no court can take them away.

If the congress wants to invent a new process, it better damn well have a new protection process or don't do it.

[USS Alaska]

Is there not a single one of them who cares about the country their children and inheriting? Not one?

Hell no, not a single one.

[USS Alaska]

One question I have and haven’t seen answered yet is how did DT know? He knew way back when.

Admiral Rogers told him, and Trump moved the next day from Trump Towers to his NJ golf club.

[Ken H]

Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The seventeenth time, it’s still coincidence.

/deep state media

[masadaman]

Agree. The ‘investigation’ of Carter Page stopped as soon as the FISA court approved the first warrant. Like gaining entrance to the Super Bowl for free when tickets are tightly guarded and are going for 3 grand each. The DOJ/FBI management just wanted free reign to watch Trump 24/7.

Likely the domestic spying gambit followed what Brennan and Clapper were already doing using CIA and National Intelligence as well as similar agencies worldwide. The FBI’s track record of 99% wins dealing with the FISA judges gave Obama (who's approval was required by law for spying on U.S. citizens) carte blanche. Both Susan Rice and Samantha Powers are in the mix as well. Their unmasking endeavors were probably part of this massive treason.

[masadaman]

Rein not reign

[Mouton]

NKVD out KGB in. That will be the final solution.

[grasshopper2]

They write fast. That’s their primary skill.

And in the Internet age that primary skill is more and more valuable. Old-fashioned investigative journalism isn't cost effective anymore, sadly.

[itsahoot]

A freeper has kindly corrected my reference to the odds of a coin toss 17 times, the correct number is in excess of 120,000 to 1.

In my younger years I could easily flip a quarter 10 times or more and always get heads.

All it takes is practice and these political crooks are very practiced in their deception.

[LittleBillyInfidel]

I’ve worked with quite a few journalists. On the whole, they are not the brightest. They don’t generally have any deep knowledge on any topic. They write fast. That’s their primary skill. It doesn’t make them deep thinkers.

I've been a straight A journalism major from 7th grade through college graduation and agree with you, 100%. The vast majority of my co-undergrads were ill-educated and talentless. I was fortunate to have had disciplined, old school instructors - all of whom would be disgusted and appalled by today's crop of mashed potatoes.

[Badboo]

Ummmm, maybe because, thanks to Page, Barr’s top priority is how to save FISA now? Barr has his hands full. He has to keep the impeachment theme rolling and then there is the strategy to scandalize the reelection campaign with more spying and leaks of false narratives

DoJ and the FBI’s work is never done.

Just when you think no one could have been worse then Sessions.

Weep, cry and deny all you want but that is what is happening, those are the facts.

[subterfuge]

Absolutely right. Deep State acting and treating the entire fiasco as a training run. They will cover their tracks better next time.

[Roccus]

However, you have to allow the possibility of incompetence on a gross scale.

I believe the saying goes, "Never ascribe to malice what can be plainly explained by incompetence." However, one must remember that the malicious would seldom be successful without the presence of the incompetent.

[Wallace T.]

The FBI must be abolished, the agents RIFed, and the J. Edgar Hoover building demolished and sold to private developers. The legitimate functions of the FBI should be turned over to the remaining agencies, especially the U.S. Marshals Service, the only Federal law enforcement agency justified by the Constitution.

I would not have come to this position a few years ago, but the depth of corruption in the FBI calls for its abolition. The Stasi were abolished upon German reunification, the Royal Irish Constabulary abolished following Irish independence, and we would do well in learning from these examples. The FBI is emblematic of the vast expansion of Federal power in the last century, and its its abolition would be a major symbol of the reversal of every bad Federal program from the New Deal onward.

[bitt]

p

[Hostage]

Yep. Total corruption accompanied by incompetent boobs.