First Sentencing For Russiagate

For John, BLUF:  Yes, the DOJ has convictede a number of Trump supporters, but here is the first conviction of a person involved in smearing Donald J Trump and crew via Russiagate, and thereby distrupting the proper functioning of the US Government.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

FBI Lawyer Who Forged Email in Carter Page FISA Process Sentenced to Probation

From The Epoch Times, by Reporter Ivan Pentchoukov, 29 January 2021.

Here is the lede plus four:

A federal judge on Jan. 29 sentenced former FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith to 12 months of probation for forging an email that resulted in one of several major errors in the applications to spy on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.

U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg described Clinesmith’s forgery as an “inappropriate shortcut.”  The judge concurred with the defense’s argument that the FBI attorney did not intend to lie when he added the words “not a source” to an email from a CIA liaison which described Page as having provided information to the agency.

Boasberg, who serves as one of the judges in the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that approved the applications to surveil Page, said that Clinesmith’s forgery damages the reputation of the court.  The judge said he had no reason to disagree with the findings of the report by the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, which found that Clinesmith’s actions were not motivated by his bias against President Donald Trump.

The judge also ordered Clinesmith to serve 400 hours of community service.

This is the first fruit of the Federal Prosecutor John Durham's investigation into the Federal Government's handling of information on then Candidate Donald Trump.  Outgoing US Attorney General William Barr appointed him a Special Council before stepping down.  Mr Durham's task is to investigate to determine if intelligence collection involving the Trump campaign was "lawful and appropriate".

As to the sentence, it seems appropriate, given that Mr Carter Page is suing the US Government (Department of Justice, FBI and Mr James Comey) for $75 million over his Civil Rights being violated.  I don't see filling up another jail slot with Mr Clinesmith.  That is just more Federal money down the drain.  And, the community service is a nice touch.

On the other hand, I thought maybe a FISA Court Judge, like U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg, might want to extract a pound of flesh and send a serious message.  Kudos to him for resisting the temptation.  I hope this slap on the wrist, and professional embarrassment, is sufficient to send a signal to other Government lawyers.

But, at the end of the day I hope his testimony given in exchange for this light sentence will help convict others who violated the Civil Rights of American Citizens and who further blemshed the record of the FBI and the Department of Justice.

Here is the PJ Media take on the sentencing.

Regards  —  Cliff