If FBI was routinely cutting corners on FISA warrants, Comey will look even worse

NY Post ^ | 12/21/19 | Editorial board

[Libloather]

Now that we know FBI agents deceived the court to get the warrants to spy on Trump campaign aide Carter Page, the big question is: Was this the exception, or the rule?

That is, has the bureau taken to regularly lying in its 1,500 requests a year for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act wiretaps - or did higher-ups opt to go rogue in this particular case?

**SNIP**

The FISA law rightly allows for secret wiretaps to guard the nation’s security, with strict rules meant to prevent abuse. Yet here was massive abuse in a case of the utmost sensitivity, a presidential campaign allegedly colluding with a malign foreign power - and a case overseen by the very top ranks of the FBI and Justice Department.

Were they playing fast and loose because they were investigating a presidential candidate and then the sitting president? Or was rule breaking so routine that they didn’t even think about it?

To find out, Horowitz testified, he’s doing an emergency audit of other FISA applications for both counterintelligence and anti-terror warrants.

[Libloather]

Disgraced former FBI chief Jim Comey insists his people had no anti-Trump bias, or at least didn’t act on it in this investigation. But the only alternative explanation - that the bureau on his watch took to routinely abusing its national-security powers - will make him look even worse.

One thing Comey has going for him - he was vindicated for, like, a minute. And then he wasn't.

[wastoute]

One thing Comey has going for him, if the DOJ has to acknowledge publicly he was a dirty cop everything he touched has to be re-litigated. It would tie up the DOJ and FBI for a long, long time. Bagpipes won’t do it.

[Sacajaweau]

Make it mandatory that the TOP persons asking for the warrant come before the court and plead it out.

[HighSierra5]

FISA= Fraudulently Issued Spying Authorizations

[JonPreston]

Unless he is arrested & prosecuted, “Comey stories” like this mean nothing.

[Flick Lives]

Here is a really good idea to prevent FISA / secret court abuse. No FISA / secret court.

[T Ruth]

Now that we know FBI agents deceived court to get the warrants to spy on Trump campaign aide Carter Page

It is not clear to me that the FISA court was deceived. From what I have read, it is more likely that the FISA judges were part of the cabal, and knowingly signed off on fraudulent applications. They only wanted plausible deniability for themselves.

[Hojczyk]

Time for the court to go...there spying on Americans...I assume they have everything on every politician.....The FBI DOJ need to go have been corrupt for forty years....along with the other forty or so secret spy agencies..

[Travis McGee]

[Qiviut]

But the only alternative explanation — that the bureau on his watch took to routinely abusing its national-security powers — will make him look even worse.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

His goose is cooked either way .... if it's routine abuse, it's BAD. If it was only FISA warrants to allow them to spy on Trump, it proves extreme bias.

If you haven't listened to Dan Bongino's interview of Devin Nunes Friday (posted yesterday). it's worth a listen. Sundance noticed the same thing I noticed ...

"Keyword to focus attention; something CTH has drawn attention toward; is when Nunes says: “conspiracy” and “conspiring” in relation to conduct being illegal."

A lot of what was going on is in and of itself, not illegal, but if it's a "conspiracy", it is illegal.

[SoCal Pubbie]

It would seem to me that would not be the case if the DOJ acknowledged Comey’s bias toward Trump. There would be no effect on actual criminal cases, since investigating mobsters and such would not involve politics, unless the mafioso was a vocal Trump supporter I guess.

[mewzilla]

The FISA court scandal will affect a lot more people than Comey.

Note to SCOTUS: Hint, hint...

[ptsal]

Post 4- bears repeating

FISA= Fraudulently Issued Spying Authorizations

FISA= Fraudulently Issued Spying Authorizations

[ptsal]

To find out, Horowitz testified, he’s doing an emergency audit of other FISA applications for both counterintelligence and anti-terror warrants.

Expected delivery date for the report....probably December 2020, if not later.

[magooey]

o find out, Horowitz testified, he’s doing an emergency audit of other FISA applications for both counterintelligence and anti-terror warrants.

He should go back to the beginning, 1978, and dig through the entire record.

[bert]

We have notyet learned about all the other warrants obtained to spy on other Republicans. There were certainly such warrants issued to spy on the leading candidate Jeb Bush.

At the outset, Jeb Bush was the greatest threat

[Avalon Memories]

Now that we know FBI agents deceived the court

Now that we know? Now! This is why the media — even conservative-friendly outlets like the Post — can't be trusted. Anyone who has paid even a modicum of attention knew the FBI deceived the court about two years ago. But the media wouldn't admit it until an insider like Horowitz said it.

[qaz123]

As someone that was a detective in a large city, here are some things that folks have to think about, even though I think most on here already know/have an idea about....

The judges only go with what they are being told. The FBI Agents and US Attorney’s that seek these warrants go before the court, ask for a warrant and most of the time will get them on the first try. Sometimes the judge will ask a few questions, maybe for some clarification. Sometimes, rarely, will they not sign. Then the warrants get re-written and signed later.

So, unless the judge is complicit, as I think the FISC judges were in all of this, there’s no way of them knowing anything other than what they’re being told.

And what they’re being told is done, under penalty of Perjury. Cops have gone to prison for that. I know 3 of them, that did.

To the FBI. The FBI and DOJ are the ones that, police the police. They are the ones that will come in and investigate you and everyone you know on civil rights charges, etc. They are the ones that will come in and investigate EVERY OTHER law enforcement agency in the country. They’ll do with their nose in the air, because their sh*t don’t stink. Or so they think. They are not looked up to by anyone, especially on the local level. Sure, when you’re a rookie and you deal with a few, you’re like, OMG..the FBI. Then you see them work annnnndddd, not so much. Most street cops and detectives could work circles around any of them with a 1/3 of the resources.

I’ve worked with and met some amazing ones. Ones that are the type that would be great at any job. They are the exceptions and there ain’t many of them. And their numbers are dwindling.

I digress....If the FBI/DOJ are the ones that, police the police...who police’s them? Congress? What entity goes after them? Two prosecutors get caught lying and withholding evidence in the Sen Stevens trial and absolutely nothing happens to them. In fact, the same judge that is overseeing Gen Flynn’s case is the one that caught them. Nothing happened to them. McCabe gets caught lying on 4 separate occasions, nothing....so far, maybe, I doubt it.

Will Congress drop the hammer? Obviously not, as certain members tried to use the FBI/DOJ to undo an election and get rid of the President. They aren’t going to let anything happen to their henchmen.

[Maris Crane]

LOL for a really long time!