Replies

FNS - Aug 6, 2017 Youtube

Watching for the interaction with DAG Rosenstein.

First question is the surge in leaks. Is there a concerted effort by those in government to take down Trump? Rosenstein just answers that each leak will be investigated in an appropriate way. Criminal prosecution is not he only way to stop leaks (true - termination of employment is another).

Generally describes reorg to handle an increase in number of referrals.

Wallace says some leakers are members of Congress. will you prosecute them? Rosenstein says response is generally appropriate. If they break the law, we will prosecute. Wallace moves on the attention directed to reporters, that Sessions is proposing a dangerous threat to journalists. Rosenstein says nobody is after the reporters, after the leakers. Wallace wonders if the DOJ is ruling out criminal prosecution of publishing classified info (that is a crime, depends on the material published). The goal is to prevent leaks.

Rosenstein says the DOJ is looking at revising DOJ policy on procedures that impede investigation into leakers. Wallace wonders about jailing reporters who protect sources. No answer to a hypothetical, all case by case.

Onto Mueller and GJ, and some of the stories in the press are false. Wallace wants to know if bringing a GJ indicates likelihood of indictment. Rosenstein says "no," a GJ is an appropriate way to gather evidence.

Reports that Mueller is looking at Trump finances, are those accurate? Asks about breadth of Mueller's investigation. DOJ does not engage in fishing expedition. Mueller understands the specific scope of the investigation (so does Congress, BTW, see Comey testimony on March 20). Rosenstein and Mueller have discussed details of the scope, and if Mueller wants to expand that, he has to clear it with Rosenstein.

Wallace moves to whether or not DOJ is looking at Hillary e-mail, does Rosenstein take Trumps remarks at rally as an order? Rosenstein says he, Wray and Brand will follow the law. If Trump wants to order DOJ, he does that privately.

I encourage reading the transcript or watching, and studying the details that underlie Mueller's grant.

Comey - March 20:

I have been authorized by the Department of Justice to confirm that the FBI, as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia's efforts. As with any counterintelligence investigation, this will also include an assessment of whether any crimes were committed.
Because it is an open ongoing investigation and is classified, I cannot say more about what we are doing and whose conduct we are examining. At the request of congressional leaders, we have taken the extraordinary step in coordination with the Department of Justice of briefing this Congress' leaders, including the leaders of this committee, in a classified setting in detail about the investigation but I can't go into those details here.

Many members of Congress, Rosenstein, and Mueller know the details of the scope of Mueller's assignment. The rest of us have to "read between the lines" and learn to recognize press speculation and lies as such.

I don't trust Congress to raise an honest stink, no matter what. Just pointing out that they know, and they are hiding the ball from the public for political purposes.