Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Declassified Documents Show FBI Used ‘Defensive’ Briefing In 2016 To Spy On Donald Trump
The Federalist ^ | 7/23/2020 | SEAN DAVIS

Posted on 07/24/2020 8:27:18 AM PDT by bitt

The new documents detail the FBI's attempts to use a briefing ostensibly meant to warn the Trump campaign about foreign intelligence threats to spy on the Trump campaign itself.

Newly declassified internal Federal Bureau of Investigation documents prove the top U.S. law enforcement agency used a so-called defensive briefing of the Trump campaign in 2016 to spy on and collect information about Donald Trump himself. The new documents, which are just the latest in a string of declassifications regarding the FBI operation to spy on the Trump campaign and later the Trump administration, detail the FBI’s attempts to use a briefing ostensibly meant to warn the Trump campaign about foreign intelligence threats to spy on the Trump campaign itself.

The documents were formally declassified by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe on July 23 then provided to Sens. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

In one of the documents declassified and released on Wednesday, FBI supervisory Special Agent Joe Pientka wrote that he deliberately used the briefing to “actively listen for topics or questions” from Trump “regarding the Russian Federation.” Rather than provide the Trump campaign a specific warning that certain campaign principals were being targeted by Russian intelligence, the FBI instead gave a general, non-specific warning that foreign intelligence services might eventually target the campaign.

Pientka’s written summary of the briefing noted that Trump, Michael Flynn, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie were the only three Trump campaign members in attendance. Christie’s attendance had not previously been disclosed. The August 17, 2016 meeting came the day after the FBI opened a formal counterintelligence investigation against Flynn and just two days after FBI

(Excerpt) Read more at thefederalist.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: fbi

1 posted on 07/24/2020 8:27:18 AM PDT by bitt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Whenifhow; null and void; aragorn; EnigmaticAnomaly; kalee; Kale; 2ndDivisionVet; azishot; ...

p


2 posted on 07/24/2020 8:27:30 AM PDT by bitt (Let justice be done though the heavens fall - Fiat justitia ruat caelum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bitt

The Federal Bureau of Incrimination And Sedition (FBIAS) needs to be disbanded.

Totally corrupt.


3 posted on 07/24/2020 8:28:50 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents|Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bitt

And STILL NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO THEM!!!


4 posted on 07/24/2020 8:29:47 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bitt

Everyone of the coup plotters should be hung by their feet starting with
St. Comey.


5 posted on 07/24/2020 8:32:58 AM PDT by tennmountainman (The Liberals Are Baby Killers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ann Archy

Nothing will happen to them because they were acting on orders from the Kenyan from Indonesia.

His usurpation will be protected at all costs because it would expose that our entire government is corrupt.


6 posted on 07/24/2020 8:35:27 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents|Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: bitt

on the alternate Earth, they were hung after
300 million Americans, with pitchforks and
motorcycles, descended upon DC demanding
decimation for SEDITION/TREASON/MURDER/RAPE/TRAFFICKING
and its systematic coverup by the FIB.


7 posted on 07/24/2020 8:36:53 AM PDT by Diogenesis ("when a crime is unpunished, the world is unbalanced")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lurkinanloomin

THAT train has left the station!! WTH doesn’t know our entire govt. is CORRUPT!


8 posted on 07/24/2020 8:40:07 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: tennmountainman
Everyone of the coup plotters should be hung by their feet...

Or neck...

9 posted on 07/24/2020 8:45:17 AM PDT by GOPJ (European countries that gave concessions to China are getting their covid under control...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Ann Archy

Have NO “inside info” about this, but found it VERY INTERESTING that last night on Hannity, Greg Jarret—who has done EXCELLENT research on OBAMAGATE—expressed concern that Joe Pientka is being sequestered by the FBI, and does not appear to be under any kind of investigation.
Makes me wonder if Pientka is turning “State’s evidence”, or whatever it is called.


10 posted on 07/24/2020 8:48:27 AM PDT by milagro (There is no peace in appeasement!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: bitt

The problem isn’t the corruption, it’s the lack of accountability. We’ll always have corruption and crime, but it MUST be addressed and people need to be accountable.


11 posted on 07/24/2020 8:52:15 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (#openupstateny)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: milagro

Sincerely doubt he has turned......WRAY is DIRTY as hell, and if he is protecting him, he will NEVER turn!
WHY would they express CONCERN....if he is turning, they would be GLAD! He isn’t turning.


12 posted on 07/24/2020 8:53:58 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Ann Archy
And STILL NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO THEM!!!

Yup.

This is all boob bait for the bubbas. No one care about more "evidence" reported in Conservative blogs or news outlets.

Unless Barr indicts the coup plotters and criminals, from Obama on down, all of this means absolutely nothing.


13 posted on 07/24/2020 8:55:04 AM PDT by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Ann Archy

I know, but IF—and that’s a BIG if— he has turned, I doubt it would be publicised until the dirty FIBbers could be INDICTED, hopefully of COLLUSION against Trump.


14 posted on 07/24/2020 9:49:27 AM PDT by milagro (There is no peace in appeasement!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...

15 posted on 07/24/2020 10:00:12 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: milagro

The lack of coverage by the liberal media is an indictment of their bias. They will investigate Trump for the least bit of implied wrongdoing but ignore the biggest scandalmof our history because to do so would show that America’s first black President directed the political spying on of a rival candidate and a unlawful coup attempt.


16 posted on 07/24/2020 10:46:36 AM PDT by vigilence (Vigilence)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: bitt
Again So What!
17 posted on 07/24/2020 2:47:45 PM PDT by itsahoot (Welcome to the New USA where Islam is a religion of peace and Christianity is a mental disorder.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson