Chances of a Presidential appeal being laughed away, Comey decides to take an alternate route for himself
Posted on 05/08/2019 4:53:32 PM PDT by Kaslin
The cat is out of the bag. You cannot put the toothpaste back in the tube. It seems like the Obama administration spied on the Trump campaign. The only thing left is figuring out the final cast of characters. James Comey, Rod Rosenstein, and some other familiar faces should be yanked back onto the Hill to discuss everything. From this apparent spy operation against the Trump campaign to FISA abuses, there are rumblings that the impending IG report on these abuses will be “scorching.” So, is there panic? There might be, especially after former Director of National Intelligence under Obama, James Clapper, nuked the FBI’s position that no spying occurred against the Trump team in 2016. The New York Times reported that some woman named Azra Turk was sent over by the FBI (or CIA) to oversee the spying operation, which also included longtime CIA operative Stefan Halper trying to infiltrate the campaign. Ms. Turk reportedly was a “honeypot” trying to pump information out of George Papadopoulos, who said he has no gripes with the Times’ piece other than he thought Turk was CIA. Yeah, former CIA director under Obama, John Brennan, is also on the list of people who need to get the hell back to the Hill to answer questions.
Yet, Michael Goodwin of the NY Post also noted how it’s a bit disturbing that the liberal media takes all of this at face value. How do we know this wasn’t a plot to stop Trump from being elected? How do we know nothing illegal occurred? All should be answered in due time. With Attorney General William Barr at the helm at DOJ, I have confidence that this will happen.
Top. Men. pic.twitter.com/EtdVXAAJ8x— David Rutz (@DavidRutz) May 8, 2019
.@Comey on Barr saying the Trump camp was spied on: "I have no idea what he’s talking about. The FBI doesn’t spy. The FBI investigates. The Republicans need to breathe into a paper bag." pic.twitter.com/8P4m9s5Rvs— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) May 8, 2019
Still, Comey asserts that the FBI doesn’t spy, which is absurd in the post-9/11 world. Of course, the FBI is an intelligence agency. It’s the domestic arm of that community, while the CIA handles foreign surveillance. FBI Director Wray also tried to run interference on this narrative (via NBC News):
FBI Director Chris Wray said Tuesday that he would not describe the federal government's surveillance, such as that conducted on President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, as "spying," as Attorney General William Barr has.
During a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Wray was asked by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., about Barr's statement last month that "spying did occur" on the Trump campaign.
"I was very concerned by his use of the word spying, which I think is a loaded word," Shaheen said. "When FBI agents conduct investigations against alleged mobsters, suspected terrorists, other criminals, do you believe they're engaging in spying when they're following FBI investigative policies and procedures?"
"That's not the term I would use," Wray said of "spying." "So, I would say that's a no to that question."
But Clapper had already come in like a wrecking ball, saying what happened to the Trump campaign fits the dictionary definition of—wait for it—spying. Of course, he also spun it to make it seem less pernicious, but it’s becoming clear that some unprecedented operation was executed against a rival presidential campaign (via Free Beacon)
Clapper on Obama Admin.: What They Did to Trump Campaign 'Meets the Dictionary Definition of Spying'
James Clapper, a CNN contributor and former Director of National Intelligence, admitted last Friday that what the Obama administration did to the Trump campaign "meets the dictionary definition of spying."
Clapper, who served as the DNI during the Obama administration, appeared on CNN's Situation Room to discuss new revelations that the FBI sent an undercover agent to meet with George Papadopoulos in London in 2016, backtracking from his prior comments about there not being any spying.
"Was it spying?" asked host Wolf Blitzer.
"Well, yeah I guess it meets the dictionary definition of spying—surveillance or spying, a term I don't particularly like," Clapper said. "It's not a term used by intelligence people. It has a negative connotation, a rogue operation, out of control, not in compliance of the law, and that's not the case at all."
So, you may not like the term, Obama-ites and liberal media clowns, but that’s what happened. And frankly, we don’t care if you’re uncomfortable with the term. We won. We’re going to find out what you did and brutal retribution should be carried out to those responsible.
And the truth shall set you free!
"...It has a negative connotation, a rogue operation, out of control, not in compliance of the law..."
Really?
So the people we have in and out of this country who have put their lives in danger doing "spying" in the service of their country have negative connotations with their sacrifice, are classified as a rogue operation, are "out of control" and are "not in compliance with the law"?
What Clapper, and nearly every leftist doesn't want to admit is that is isn't the "spying" that is problematic, it was how that "spying" was conceived, planned out, initiated, "justified", executed, and excused.
We spy all the time in and out of this country, and for damn good reasons. To spy on a vast group of people for political purposes as was done is not one of them.
And I think the real scandal is, we are going to find out this wasn't just "spying" on Trump, either. I think the abuses by the Obama Administration and those on the Left in this respect are going to shock our country to the core.
And it should. Because what was done to Trump for political reasons is in all likelihood being done to legions of nobodies like us for even less valid reasons, and you will have a hard time finding less valid reasons than the "political" ones.
And the redoubtable Loretta Lynch. I want to see her hide nailed to the wall.
Spying is colloquial easy to understand language for espionage. Every lowly democrat can understand spying. that is why it is so dangerous to them
The Obama administration conducted a program of ESPIONAGE against the Republican Presidential candidates.
” James Comey, Rod Rosenstein, and some other familiar faces should be yanked back onto the Hill”
Nope enough Congressional inquiries, they should be arrested at 4AM by Federal Marshals and stood up in front of a Grand Jury.
It seems to me that if law enforcement gets a LEGITIMATE warrant through an honest process from a competent judge, then the operation would be legal surveillance of a target in a criminal investigation.
But rogue FBI agents making up dossiers, lying to judges, getting false warrants, going on fishing expeditions to torpedo political rivals ... that would be a spy operation.
There was NSA database query abuse by FBI contractors. The redacted FISC court report suggests extensive targeting of certain individuals. That is a scandal unto itself. Maybe some more sunlight will shine on the abuse.
Is there any way to get to Barry Soetero?
I believe President Trump can declassified anything he wants.
Once he saw the opportunity he simply put the plan out there for Hillaroid to bid on it. Christopher Steel and Simpson know each other so it was easy to set it motion. I think they thought Trump dirt rumors would be enough but it snowballed big time, and Trump won anyway. In come Mueller to cover tracks.
Yes, I am sure Trump can declassify it. I also wonder if Barr could himself. I’m sure he has the clearance necessary to read it and hopefully will have his prosecutors doing just that.
That is my far from expert assumption too.
RE: enough Congressional inquiries
Right on! Let the AG and DOJ do their jobs, let the grand juries begin, and let me see indictments VERY SOON.
IT has to go a long, long way to top the last "scorching" report. Remember that one? As I recall, it was a total nothingburger.
Exactly. Fay Mr. Wray should have asked Shaheen whether the CIA was SPYING when they “surveilled” the Senate Intel Committee in 2014. A whole lot of media blowpipes thought so at the time. A simple search turns up a dozen stories, including by the NYT and MSNBC, with the SPY word plastered throughout headlines and content. Was the Senate Intel Committee Democrat Staff full of mobsters, criminals, and Chinese espionage agents posing as drivers? I retract that last question...
Interesting to ponder... hate to think such a vicious plot could have originated from such simplicity but it’s sure possible and it makes sense.
Like Rush has noted “For $10 Million, Hillary sure got a bonazana.” (paraphrasing) Look at the trouble she’s caused.
Right and I’m sure AG Barr will declassify all that info straight away, now that John Soloman has made certain it’s YUGE NEWS!
PING to rlmorel;
SunkenCiv - add to your ‘files’
But the more I think about it, I think he sees he is going to be on the hot seat, and when he is, he won't be able to talk to the press anymore. I think he is trying to get out in front and say as much as he can before he is silenced by an active legal process.
Thanks for the ping, by the way, much appreciated.
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