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To: ransomnote
I asked GROK to generate a report detailing difficulties in Congressional oversight of the DOJ/FBI etc. to supplement the information I'm looking at. The long prompts I created to get to this report are posted below GROK's response for convenience.

Congressional Oversight: Denials of Information Access (2013 - October 29, 2025)

This report details instances of information withholding from congressional oversight, grouped by presidency and organization. Focus: Perceptions from committees (e.g., House Oversight, Senate Judiciary) on denials via classification (EO 13526), FOIA exemptions, missing records, privacy for uncharged. Includes court findings of omissions (FISC, grand juries) by listed entities. Sources: OIG (Horowitz/Durham), hearings, Trump statements, FOIA suits, HJC Arctic Frost release (Oct 2025, revealing FBI proxy targeting concealment, context stripped from 160+ GOP figures).

Obama Second Term (Jan 2013 - Jan 2017)

IRS targeting, Benghazi, Fast & Furious probes amid smaller indictments (e.g., IRS officials). Committees decried "missing" emails, privileges as executive overreach.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Investigation: IRS targeting conservative groups (House Oversight Committee).
IRS (under Lois Lerner).
Withheld/destroyed 88,000+ emails (hard drive "crash"); FOIA Exemption 6 (privacy); delayed BOLO lists.
Chair Darrell Issa: "Unconscionable targeting" and cover-up; OIG confirmed improper scrutiny but no WH direction.
House Oversight Report.

Department of Justice (DOJ)

Investigation: Operation Fast and Furious (House Oversight).
DOJ (under Eric Holder).
Executive privilege on 20,000+ docs (internal memos); no reason for missing ATF transcripts; court-ordered partial release (65,000 pages, 2014).
Issa: "Abuse of power" blocking probe into agent deaths; Holder held in contempt (255-67 vote).
Hearing Transcript.

State Department / White House

Investigation: Benghazi attack (House Select Committee).
State Dept (Hillary Clinton), White House (Barack Obama, Denis McDonough).
33,000+ private emails deleted ("wiped clean"); 22 emails classified post-review (FOIA Exemption 1); unexplained gaps in talking points.
Chair Trey Gowdy: "Stonewalling" to protect narrative; >40,000 pages released after subpoenas.
House Report.

Court: FISC (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court)

Finding: Carter Page FISA applications (Crossfire Hurricane origins, 2016-2017).
FBI (James Comey, Andrew McCabe), DOJ (Loretta Lynch, Sally Yates).
17 significant inaccuracies/omissions (e.g., Page's CIA ties, Steele bias/dossier unreliability); altered email (Clinesmith); no disclosure of exculpatory info. FISC (Boasberg, 2020): "Unprecedented inaccuracies" – banned involved agents, ordered FISA reforms.
Grassley: Hid from Congress, undermining oversight; Durham: Criminal referrals.
Horowitz OIG Report.

Trump Presidency (2017-2021)

Russia probe origins amid Mueller indictments (e.g., Manafort). Nunes/Grassley decried "close-hold" as deep state bias.

FBI

Investigation: Crossfire Hurricane/Russia interference (House Intelligence, Nunes).
FBI (James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page).
Withheld FISA apps/Steele sources (national security, EO 13526); "close-hold" limited Gang of Eight; missing Nunes Memo (NARA "no record").
Nunes: "Withheld material facts"; Trump: "Corrupt FBI".
Nunes Memo.
Investigation: FISA on Carter Page (Senate Judiciary, Grassley).
FBI (Christopher Wray).
Refused full FISA warrants (FOIA Exemption 1); omitted Page CIA cooperation.
Grassley: "Stonewalling threat to oversight".
Politico.
Investigation: Internal bias (Senate Judiciary).
FBI (Peter Strzok, Lisa Page).
Partial texts (384 pages); withheld "vast swaths" (privacy exemption).
Grassley: "Raises more concerns".
Grassley Release.
Investigation: McCabe role (House Intelligence).
FBI (Andrew McCabe).
Misleading testimony; "lacked candor".
House Intel: Obstructive.
NPR.

Department of Justice (DOJ)

Investigation: Crossfire Hurricane origins (Senate Judiciary, Huber probe).
DOJ (Rod Rosenstein, Bruce Ohr).
Nondisclosure of Ohr-Steele contacts; FOIA exemptions; Huber's report withheld.
Grassley: "Hindered access"; Trump: "Disgrace".
The Hill.
Investigation: Mueller probe (House Judiciary FOIA).
DOJ (Robert Mueller, James Baker).
Withheld transcripts/memos (Exemption 7); judge denied full access.
Jordan: "Slow-walking".
EPIC v. DOJ.

CIA

Investigation: Russia ICA (Senate Judiciary).
CIA (John Brennan).
Delayed declassification of Clinton Plan intel.
Grassley: "Bias concealment".
Grassley.

Biden Presidency (2021 - Jan 2025)

Trump-related cases (Jan. 6, docs) amid 1,000+ indictments. Jordan/Comer accused "weaponization" via privilege/privacy.

Department of Justice (DOJ)

Investigation: Biden classified docs (House Oversight/Judiciary).
DOJ (Merrick Garland).
Exec privilege on Hur audio/transcripts; subpoena defiance (contempt vote 216-207).
Comer: "Contempt of Congress" shielding Biden.
Oversight Report.
Investigation: Smith Jan. 6/docs vs. Trump (House Judiciary).
DOJ (Merrick Garland, Jack Smith).
Partial Smith report (withheld Mar-a-Lago volume); FOIA exemptions.
Jordan: "Protecting Biden".
The Hill.

Court: Grand Jury (Smith Cases)

Finding: Trump election interference (2023-2024).
DOJ (Jack Smith).
Withheld impeachment records (Brady violation); no disclosure to defense, limiting cross-examination.
Grassley: "Prevents complete defense"; confirmed in Blanche hearing.
Grassley Release.

FBI

Investigation: Arctic Frost (Trump allies/electors; Senate Judiciary/House Judiciary).
FBI (Christopher Wray), DOJ (Jack Smith).
Withheld files until Grassley/Jordan demands; secret subpoenas on 8 GOP senators' phones (tolling data, no notice); 92+ GOP targets (e.g., Turning Point USA) via proxies (field offices); context removed (HJC PDF lists without full investigative rationale); merged to Smith GJ concealing scope.
Grassley: "Spying outrage"; Jordan: "Weaponization" on 160+ figures.
Grassley.

Trump Second Presidency (Jan 2025 - Oct 29, 2025)

Oversight accelerating via Patel/Grassley releases exposing prior abuses; HJC probes ongoing.

FBI / DOJ

Investigation: Legacy of Arctic Frost / Russiagate (Senate Judiciary, Grassley).
FBI (prior Wray agents), DOJ (prior Garland/Smith).
Prior prohibited access files hidden; now releasing (e.g., Thibault misconduct emails); CR-15 unit dismantled, agents fired.
Grassley: "Historic misconduct exposed"; Patel: Increased transparency, whistleblower protections.
Grassley-Johnson Release.
Summary: Key Withholding Patterns
PresidencyOrganizationMeansCourt ImpactSource Example
ObamaIRS/DOJMissing emails, privilege-OIG Reports
TrumpFBI/DOJClose-hold FISA, exemptionsFISC omissionsHorowitz
BidenDOJ/FBIPrivilege, secret subpoenasBrady in GJGrassley Releases
Trump 2.0FBI/DOJPrior hidden files (now releasing)-Patel Oversight
END OF GROK's generated report. I copied my prompts for later use below.

First Request TO GROK

The period of time in the operation of the US government between 2014 and January 20, 2025 is known for its remarkable number of investigations, indictments, arrests etc. For now I would like to focus on complaints about the constrictions placed on what would normally be a flow of information as seen from the perspective of various members of Congress and COngressional Committees (eg., Representative Nunes' House Oversight Committee, Sen Grassley's Judiciary Oversight committee and others). There were many instances in which Congress requested information which was denied them through a number of stratigems, including abusing the capacity to withhold records, testimony, transcripts etc. by inappropriately classifying them (Executive Order 13526). Some were missing without explanation for years (e.g., the nunes memo, the national arcives said they didn't have it either), some records or information was withheld without a stated reason, some records were withheld by citing a FOIA exemption (e.g., Exemption 1 for national security), sometimes information was blocked through unusual means, in some instances the FBI said it withheld records because it was protecting the privacy of those not yet charged. I want to look at all those prosecutions going on and starting with the Congressional point of view, identify problems in obtaining information, particularly from people and organizations in the following list: Andrew McCabe, Barack Obama, John Brennan, Bruce Ohr, Carter Page, Christopher Wray, Congressional Committees including oversight and Judiciary committees, Dana Boente, Denis McDonough, Department of Justice, Eric Holder, FBI, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Jack Smith, James Baker, James Clapper, James Comey, John Brennan, Josh Carlin, Lisa Monaco, Lorretta Lynch, Mary McCord, Merrick Garland, Nellie Ohr, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, NSA, CIA, Lisa Page, Peter Strzok, Robert Mueller, Rod Rosenstein, Sally Yates, ODNI, DNI, National Security Division. Include other organizations like DIA when appropriate. Use as your sources OIG reports, congressional hearings, statements by members of Congress and the WHite House, information released by Huber, Horowitz and other investigators, use statements by President TRump, FOIA litigation etc. Group the instances you cite under the name of the serving President in order of chronology ( Obama, Trump, and then Biden), then by organization (CIA, FBI etc.) under that presidency. Include the names or organizations which stand accused of withholding information by any means, list the means used, cite source(s) and hyperlink to the name of the source. I am seeking the perceptions of those trying to perform oversight of the DOJ and White House as prosecutions big and small continued throughout the stated time period. Identify the investigation. Where a specific name of a person responsible for providing and yet denying access to people for questioning, or resources and other access, use the name of the organization indicated (e.g., FBI).

Second Request TO GROK

Well done. Please repeat this report and include Barack Obama's second term in office for the time frame from inauguration to the present. Please include instances where courts, like the FISA court (FISC) or grand juries or other places of testimony consider that information needed to provide a fair hearing or trial was not submitted by the names I listed. Please provide your response in HTML. Include modern instances like the recent releases of information about Arctic frost, the concealment of the FBI's use of proxies in the following document: https://judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-judiciary.house.gov/files/2025-11/FBI-HJC119-AF-000001-000198.pdf. I am looking for places where context or agency was removed for the purpose of misleading or concealment.

Final Request TO GROK

I wanted the prior report format and level of specificity you prepared. My second request was intended to expand the time frame and types of information to include. Please rerun the first report, at that level of detail, and add information to it which I specify in my second request. I like organization and specific detail in the first report. Please provide your results in HTML.

7,432 posted on 10/29/2025 12:31:01 PM PDT by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
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To: ransomnote

List of Key Players:

Andrew McCabe, Barack Obama, John Brennan, Bruce Ohr, Carter Page, Christopher Wray, Congressional Committees including oversight and Judiciary committees, Dana Boente, Denis McDonough, Department of Justice, Eric Holder, FBI, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Jack Smith, James Baker, James Clapper, James Comey, John Brennan, Josh Carlin, Lisa Monaco, Lorretta Lynch, Mary McCord, Merrick Garland, Nellie Ohr, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, NSA, CIA, Lisa Page, Peter Strzok


7,446 posted on 11/02/2025 11:00:31 AM PST by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
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