Brought over from last thread
It turns out that John Durham, the prosecutor chosen by Attorney General William Barr to lead the probe into the origins of the Trump/Russia Collusion investigation isnt so new to the case after all.
Real Clear Investigations Eric Felten published an excerpt from former FBI General Counsel James Bakers October 3, 2018 closed testimony before the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees. Baker is currently under criminal investigation for possible illegal leaking of classified information to the press.
During questioning by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), it was revealed that John Durham is the prosecutor assigned to Bakers case.
The following partial transcript (via Real Clear Investigations) from Bakers October 3, 2018 testimony shows how this was discovered.
Note: David Corn is the Washington Bureau Chief for Mother Jones. He was one of the first journalists to write an article about the Steele Dossier in October 2016. Throughout the summer and fall of 2016, the FBI received various versions of the dossier from different sources. One of those came from David Corn.
Rep. Jordan: Tell me about your relationship with David Corn.
Baker: David is a friend of mine.
Jordan: Tell me about that. A close friend? Long-time friend?
Baker: Long-time friend.
Jordan: When did you first meet Mr. Corn?
Baker: I dont specifically remember. A long time ago, though.
Jordan: Years ago?
Baker: Years and years and years ago, yeah. Our kids carpooled together. We carpooled with them when our kids were little
Jordan: Prior to the election of Presidential election of 2016. How many times did you talk with David Corn in the weeks and months prior to election day?
Baker: I dont remember.
Jordan: Is it fair to say you did talk with Corn?
Baker: Yes, I did, but I just dont remember how many [times].
Jordan: So did you talk to Mr. Corn about anything that the FBI was working on? Specifically the now infamous Steele dossier?
Bakers lawyer, Dan Levin: (interrupts) One second. (Levin and Baker speak privately.)
Levin: I cannot let [Baker] answer these questions right now. You may or may not know, hes been the subject of a leak investigation which is still a criminal leak investigation thats still active at the Justice Department. Im sorry. Im cutting off any discussion about conversations with reporters.
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC): Youre saying hes under criminal investigation? Thats why youre not letting him answer?
Levin: Yes.
Jordan: There is an ongoing investigation by whom?
Levin: The Justice Department.
Jordan: I mean, is the inspector general looking at this or is this
Levin: No. Its Mr. John Durham, a prosecutor I dont want him talking about conversations hes had with reporters because I dont know what the questions are and I dont know what the answers are right now. Given that there is an ongoing investigation of him for leaks which the Department [of Justice] has not closed, Im not comfortable letting him answer questions.
This particular excerpt from Bakers testimony was disclosed in January, and at that point, the name John Durham would have been meaningless to most of us...
Well before Barr says Durham got started.
I'm sticking with Q's version of events.
Thank you, VRWC! Bigbob, check out VRWC’s comment above about Durham/Baker.
Nice dig.
Thanx for posting