Posted on 06/10/2018 4:01:18 AM PDT by SkyPilot
The indictment of James Wolfe, 58, former security director of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), has sent shockwaves around Washington. Wolfe faces three counts of violating 18 U.S.C. 1001, for making false statements to criminal investigators, and could easily face serious jail time if convicted. After a year of leaks cascading down Capitol Hill, Wolfe is a cautionary tale for many members, staffers and journalists. Yet, one person should be especially discomforted by the indictment: former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe
The Wolfe indictment shows the Justice Department has been actively pursuing leaks out of Congress. Given the lack of prior action, members and staffers may have become emboldened over time, but it now appears the Trump administration has been quietly tracking down the source of some news articles. Wolfe was an obvious concern for any allegations of leaks, given his work at the SSCI for three decades, from 1987 to 2017.
In his capacity, the most sensitive material passed over his desk from the executive branch to the committee. The Justice Department alleges that he “lied to FBI agents in December 2017 about his repeated contacts with three reporters, including through his use of encrypted messaging applications. Wolfe is further alleged to have made false statements to the FBI about providing two reporters with nonpublic information related to the matters occurring before the SSCI.”
The alleged disclosure in this case has proven far more salacious than expected. Wolfe reportedly had an intimate three-year relationship with Ali Watkins, a reporter for the New York Times. The relationship reportedly occurred when Watkins worked for BuzzFeed. It raises ethical issues on the relationship of sources and reporters, but a greater concern is raised by the targeting of a journalist by the FBI.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
The DoJ just might apply the Scooter Libby rule and put all of them away. And there is nothing the media can do about it.
All excellent questions. I’ll add the human interest question of exactly how many affairs were involved in Spygate?
Who was chairman of the Senate Intelligence committee in 1987?
Counter-Intelligence is not a function that should be under the FBI. It’s played by a different set of rules and criminal investigations.
I seriously doubt the above. Note that Wolfe was immediately INDICTED. The DOJ is currently in a war with Congress, and Wolfe will be prosecuted to make a point (as he should be). It's also a shot across the bow of Congress and their staff that they are being watched and will be prosecuted if they cross DOJ. Meanwhile, McCabe's case is sitting on a shelf for months now, and it remains to be seen if he will ever be indicted. They play under different rules than the rest of us...
That’s nothing. I’m still waiting for Holder to be indicted for fast and furious.
David Bogan, democrat from Oklahoma. I didn’t know they even elected democrats in Oklahoma.
I am also surprised that the Republicans had not replaced him in any of the intervening cycles where they controlled the committee.
The circus is what they pulled with Bubba Clinton.
My point is it cannot be a half measure. It’s got to end in real executions of traitors who have committed real acts of treason against the republic. Their families destitute and anyone they ever knew should be in jail.
Sounds good to me.
Therre’s nothing stopping him from “admitting” the Democrats were right about Sessions all along and firing him in order to “improve race relations.”
Seesions (SIC) is at best an idiot and at worst a traitor.Really? Based on your opinion? Becuase (SIC) there is no evidence to support that claim that I have seen.
You don’t take a job and recuse yourself the same day from any and all responsibility.And AG Sessions did no such thing.
Then appoint a Clinton operative who names another Clinton operative to investigate and hamstring our President on ridiculous innuendo.You do not get out much, right?
There is no scenario on Earth where this makes sense. You Sessions loving nutjobs make me sick.You really need to get out more. Really.
That Rat!
This is the fate of John Wilkes Booth's co-conspirators. This should be the fate of Hillary, Bill, Chelsea, Huma, Mills, Comey, Lynch, Brennan, Clapper, Strozyk, Page, McCabe, et.al.
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