Wider Corruption

For John, BLUF:  Reporter Glenn Greenwald widens the view of the indictment of Lawyer Sussmann to expose the role of the Media in trying to overturn the 2016 Election.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Indictment of Hillary Clinton's Lawyer is an Indictment of the Russiagate Wing of U.S. Media

Here is the sub-headline:

The DOJ's new charging document, approved by Biden's Attorney General, sheds bright light onto the Russiagate fraud and how journalistic corruption was key.

From the Greenwald Substack, by Reporter Glenn Greenwald, 19 September 2021.

Here is the lede plus three:

A lawyer for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign was indicted on Wednesday with one felony count of lying to the FBI about a fraudulent Russiagate story he helped propagate.  Michael Sussman was charged with the crime by Special Counsel John Durham, who was appointed by Trump Attorney General William Barr to investigate possible crimes committed as part of the Russiagate investigation and whose work is now overseen and approved by Biden Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Sussman's indictment, approved by Garland, is the second allegation of criminal impropriety regarding Russiagate's origins.   In January, Durham secured a guilty plea from an FBI agent, Kevin Clinesmith, for lying to the FISA court and submitting an altered email in order to spy on former Trump campaign official Carter Page.

The law firm where Sussman is a partner, Perkins Coie, is a major player in Democratic Party politics.  One of its partners at the time of the alleged crime, Marc Elias, has become a liberal social media star after having served as General Counsel to the Clinton 2016 campaign.  Elias abruptly announced that he was leaving the firm three weeks ago, and thus far no charges have been filed against him.

The lie that Sussman allegedly told the FBI occurred in the context of his mid-2016 attempt to spread a completely fictitious story:  that there was a "secret server” discovered by unnamed internet experts that allowed the Trump organization to communicate with Russia-based Alfa Bank.  In the context of the 2016 election, in which the Clinton campaign had elevated Trump's alleged ties to the Kremlin to center stage, this secret communication channel was peddled by Sussman — both to the FBI and to Clinton-friendly journalists — as smoking-gun proof of nefarious activities between Trump and the Russians.  Less than two months prior to the 2016 election, Sussman secured a meeting at the FBI's headquarters with the Bureau's top lawyer, James Baker, and provided him data which he claimed proved this communication channel.

Reporter Glenn Greenwald says what needs to be said.

It seems that when I begin to soften on Donald J Trump, more news comes out, showing that a) there is a swamp and b) the Democrats are into the swamp up above theiir Wellies and c) there is a need to drain the swamp.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Sussmann Indictment Could Go Either Way

For John, BLUF:  Blogger Ed Morrissey is no stranger to government scandle.  In the early days of blogging his blog, Captain's Cabin, helped bring down a Canadian government.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Sussmann indictment:  "Bizarre coda," or harbinger of deep-state exposure?  Update:  Watch Sullivan?

From Hot Air, by Blogger Ed Morrissey, 20 September 2021, 2:41 PM ET.

Here is the lede plus two:

Just what does the indictment of Michael Sussmann portend? MSNBC’s Barbara McQuade called it a “bizarre coda” to John Durham’s investigation, which seems to be the most unlikely bet on this last-minute action by the special counsel.  To get there, McQuade tries to shift focus to an early-on debunked part of the overall-debunked Russia-collusion theory, and overlooks Sussmann’s links at the same time:

It is hard to see how the case Durham filed on Thursday against Washington lawyer Michael Sussmann meets Justice Department standards.  The indictment alleges that Sussmann met with FBI General Counsel Jim Baker in September 2016 to provide information about connections between a Russian bank and the Trump Organization.  The FBI was unable to substantiate any links between Alfa Bank and former President Donald Trump’s businesses, but the charge against Sussman — making false statements to the FBI — doesn’t allege that the substance of the information was false.  Instead, Sussman is accused of having misrepresented on whose behalf he was providing it.

Well, yes, and that misrepresentation turned out to be highly material.  Sussmann at the time represented the DNC and had been providing assistance to the Hillary Clinton campaign, a connection that Sussmnan kept hidden from the FBI.  Sussmann passed along the rumor that Vladimir Putin-connected Alfa Bank had a server dedicated to Donald Trump’s finances to Fusion GPS and Christopher Steele, which had the effect of laundering that claim right back into the Steele dossier.  He also passed that information to the FBI, without informing agents that he was working for Trump’s opponent at the time, as the indictment alleges:

At the end Mr Morrissey rings in President Biden's National current Security Advisor, Mr Jacob "Jake" Sullivan.

This looks ugly.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Democrat Debate Stage

For John, BLUF:  The Democratic Party Presidential Debates are boring and arbitrary in their choice of candidates.  But, if it make the party faithful happy I guess it is OK.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Do FEC Records Prove Michael Bloomberg Bought His Way onto the Democrats' Debate Stage?

From PJ Media, by Reporter Matt Margolis, 1 February 2020.

Here is the lede plus one:

On Friday, the Democratic National Committee announced a major change of their debate requirements for the upcoming primary debate February 19 debate in Las Vegas, removing the individual donor threshold, thus opening the door for billionaire Michael Bloomberg to participate.  Because Bloomberg is self-funding his campaign, it was impossible for him to meet the 225,000 individual donor threshold to participate in the debates.

The donor threshold was controversial when it was first rolled out last year, but that doesn't mean everyone's happy now that it is gone.  Current and former candidates were, in fact, outraged at the news because the DNC refused prior requests to change the rules to ensure more diversity on stage.

"The DNC didn’t change the rules to ensure good, diverse candidates could remain on the debate stage," tweeted Elizabeth Warren.  "They shouldn’t change the rules to let a billionaire on. Billionaires shouldn't be allowed to play by different rules—on the debate stage, in our democracy, or in our government."

. . .

Tulsi Gabbard's response was slightly different.  Instead of moaning about the Democrats not changing the rules to ensure diversity on stage when Democratic voters apparently preferred older and whiter candidates, she accused Bloomberg of buying the DNC.

Once more representative Tulsi Gabbard is spot on.

But, in fairness to Mayor Bloomberg, the DNC sold out to him.  It is on them.  They are no better now than they were under Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, back in 2016.  They should have stuck with Ms Donna Brazile.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Democrats and Clean Electiions

For John, BLUF:  The Election in 2016 had lots of hints of foreign entanglements.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Listening to NPR out of Boston today I heard Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz say that President Trump's evil included working with Foreign Governments to influence US Elections.

I would think that this would be an area where DWS is an expert.  Should Republican Senators call her to testify as an expert witness?

The House is constipated and I am hoping that this Impeachment vote will act as some sort of a purge, freeing up the system to do some real work.  We are already late on the FY2020 Budget and USMCA and could sure use a path to citizenship for aliens, legal (rule players) and illegal (rule ignores).

I am also looking forward to the future Presidential Elections—cleaner and more focused on issues important across the Fruited Plain.  I bet Candidate Bernie Sanders is also.

Regards  —  Cliff

Hillary in 2020

For John, BLUF:  I know our Democrat neighbor here in Lowell are enamored of Senator E Warren, but I don't think she goes the distance, nor does former Vice President Joe Biden.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Is Hillary running?!

From The Althouse Blog, by Professor Ann Althouse, 24 September 2019.

Professor Althouse talks about an article in The Washington Examiner, "New Hillary listening tour:  ‘I’d like to hear what you're thinking'".  And, she talks about a question, her Son John asked on Facebook.

Here is the key paragraph:

I certainly think Donald Trump is by far the most likely to win the election.  That's easy to say because his party is pretty much adapted to him.  That fight is over.  What Trump did to the GOP has played out and (mostly) resolved.  The Democratic Party is currently going through some kind of crack-up or evolution.  It's fractured and chaotic, and there are — what? — 20 candidates and not one of them is much good.  None seems equipped to go head-to-head with Trump.

Here is the penultimate paragraph, with the question Democrats should be asking themselves.

News from the future:  The Democrats beat Donald Trump in the 2020 election.  It was nothing in particular that he did.  He stayed the same.  And nothing changed in the economy or foreign affairs or domestic violence or anything like that.  It's all about the performance of the Democratic candidate.  Now:  Who was Democratic candidate?

The nomination of Mrs Clinton is not a totally unlikely outcome.  While I may not be quite as harsh as the Professor, each of them is flawed in some way, some more than others.  The best of the lot is Representative Tulsi Gabbard, Democrat from the Great State of Hawaii.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

To be inclusive, my wife thinks the Democratic Convention will deadlock and the compromise candidate will be Ms Donna Brazile, who rescued the DNC in 2016, when it was imploding under the leadership of Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Regards  —  Cliff

A Stormy Trump

For John, BLUF:  I wonder if those calling for the Impeachment of President Trump, or at least his post-presidency indictment, have thought about how that will slowly spin out of control, if not immediately, at least after the American People grow tired of Beto O'Rourke and all he will bring to the White House, and vote the Republicans back in.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Schiff:  Trump may face ‘real prospect of jail time’

This headline is from The Hill, from an article by Reporter Michael Burke, 9 December 2018.

Then this Tweet emerged:

Joel B. Pollak
@joelpollak
Missing in today’s news:  any acknowledgement that @HillaryClinton & the @DNC broke campaign finance law by failing to report they paid Fusion GPS via an intermediary for oppo research that triggered an FBI investigation. You don’t see @RepAdamSchiff calling for their prosecution!
11:49 AM · Dec 9, 2018 from Santa Monica, CA · Twitter for iPhone

Actually, this whole thing is interesting (e.g., the knife cuts both ways).  The question becomes would I be willing to see former President Trump indicted on organizing hush money for Stormy Daneils if it meant that I could see Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz indicted for funding the Steele Dossier, and then not reporting it, in violation of campaign finance laws?  Would the indictment of DWS then draw in former Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton?  Would it reach forward to capture current Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez?

It is possible that a round of indictments might, at least temporarily, change the culture in DC.\?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Hungary Goes Against Free Immigration

For John, BLUF:  I don't think this has predictive value here in the US, but I am sure it gives the progressives in Europe, the bien pensant, the jitters.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Wins Fourth Term

Here is the sub-headline:

Some opposition leaders criticized the results, saying the election was unfair

From The Wall Street Journal, by Reporters Drew Hinshaw and Anita Komuves, 8 April 2018.

(The article may be behind a paywall.)

Here is the lede plus one:

BUDAPEST—Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a leading figure for Europe's nationalist right, won a fourth term on Sunday, prevailing on an anti-immigration message to carry his country's biggest turnout election in years.

With 93% of votes counted, Mr. Orban's Fidesz party looked likely to win 133 seats in his 199 seat parliament, Hungary's election office said, just enough to rewrite the country's constitution—removing the few constraints on Mr. Orban's growing power here.  At least 68% of the country's eligible voters showed up, many still lined up for hours after polls closed at 7 p.m., and the election was likely to see the post-Communist state's highest turnout since 1994, when the right to vote was still young here.

The issues in the election were stark, each of them galvanizing millions of people to endure lines that surpassed a kilometer in some districts.  On the one side, Mr. Orban pounded away at a promise to keep out immigrants—especially Muslims—pointing to the 2015 barbed wire fence he erected across roughly 100 miles of Hungary's southern border.

Voters on the other side said they were tired of a leader who will have governed Hungary for half of its post-Communist history when he finishes his next four-year-term—one who is accused by the European Union and the U.S. State Department of becoming increasingly autocratic.  Local opposition also hammered Mr. Orban with corruption allegations that ultimately failed to discourage his base from turning out.

Apparently it isn't just the United States where voters are not all that keen on rampant immigration  Germany may like it, but not Hungary.

Here is a hopeful sign, perhaps a trend that might be adopted here:

Instead he won by such a resounding margin that the entire leadership of the socially liberal Together party resigned on live television, as did the head of the socialist party.  The nationalist Jobbik party's chairman Gábor Vona told reporters he refused to congratulate the winner—then he resigned, too.

Oh well, at least I can hope.  And, there is no promise that after resignation they will actually go away, although DNC Chairperson Debbie Wasserman Schultz seems to have gone away, although her IT folks do keep popping up in the news.

Regards  —  Cliff

Giving Away Your Secrets

For John, BLUF:  I suspect the to many Democrats on Capital Hill computers and the internet are just magic and they need magicians to operate their systems.  Anyone will do.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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44 Dems, Including Wasserman Schultz, Exempted Pakistani IT Aides From Background Checks

This is via Hot Mike, by Ms Liz Sheld, 2 April 2018.

The original article was in The Daily Caller, by Reporter Luke Rosiak, 1 April 2018.  Unfortunately, it wasn't an April Fools Day Joke.

Here are two key paragraphs:

Every one of the 44 House Democrats who hired Pakistan-born IT aides who later allegedly made “unauthorized access” to congressional data appears to have chosen to exempt them from background checks, according to congressional documents.

All of them appear to have waived background checks on Imran Awan and his family members, even though the family of server administrators could collectively read all the emails and files of 1 in 5 House Democrats, and despite background checks being recommended for such positions, according to an inspector general’s report. The House security policy requires offices to fill out a form attesting that they’ve initiated background checks, but it also includes a loophole allowing them to simply say that another member vouched for them.

And you wonder why they don't seem hot on illegal immigration?  They don't care.  It is all one great big party and since we are a land of immigration, what could possibly go wrong?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Candidate for Minnesota AG—Rep Keith Ellison?

For John, BLUF:  I would think our friends who are Democrats would be embarrassed.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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THE DEEP MEANING OF KEITH ELLISON

From Power Line, 27 January 2018, by Mr Scott Johnson.  Note this is over a month ago.

Here is the lede plus one:

Edward-Isaac Dovere reported in Politico yesterday that Minnesota Fifth District Rep. Keith Ellison is exploring a run for Minnesota Attorney General.  Dovere confirmed his story with four acquaintances of Ellison with whom Ellison has discussed the possibility.  Dovere adds that Ellison “has indicated to several people close to him in recent days that he’s less likely to run,” although Ellison still “finds the idea enticing.”

In addition to serving in Congress, Ellison holds the position of deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee.  According to Dovere, Ellison “has grown listless and bored” as a congressional backbencher and is frustrated serving at the pleasure of DNC chairman Tom Perez.  Ellison has been ready to move on for a while, as I inferred from his disingenuous 2014 memoir cum manifesto My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.

The thing is, Representative Ellison cozying up to Minister Farrakhan means he is cozying up to a rabid anti-semite.  That is not a good look for a member of the US House of Representatives.  And how did the Democrats pick him to be the deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC)?  Are we to assume the Democratic Party has become, as have its Progressive followers, a home for anti-semitism?

I wonder what DWS thinks?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Family Disagreement

For John, BLUF:  Far bigger than Watergate.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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My wife and I are having a disagreement on the issue of the intersection of the Continuing Resolution and the Memo about FBI abuse of the FISA Court.  She says blow it up and expose all the hypocrisy and the hypocrites.  I say use it as a bargaining chip to keep the Government open.

Of course, this is speculation, as neither of us have seen the memo.

This is from a report at Zero Hedge, by Mr Tyler Durden, 18 January 2018.

Here is the lede plus one:

All hell is breaking loose in Washington D.C. after a four-page memo detailing extensive FISA court abuse was made available to the entire House of Representatives Thursday. The contents of the memo are so explosive, says Journalist Sara Carter, that it could lead to the removal of senior officials in the FBI and the Department of Justice and the end of Robert Mueller's special counsel investigation.

These sources say the report is “explosive,” stating they would not be surprised if it leads to the end of Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel investigation into President Trump and his associates. -Sara Carter

Here is what I propose:

• The Democrats agree to a budget deal.
• The Memo on the FBI messing with the FISA Court is kept secret.
• The Mueller investigation goes away with Special Counsel Mueller saying there is no there there.
• Senator Schumer and Rep Pelosi jointly announce that they agree with Special Counsel Mueller that there is no there there.
• The President provides broad amnesty to Ms Clinton, Rep Wasserman-Schultz, Mr James Comey and some others.
• Involved FBI and other involved DOJ officials quietly resign.
• The rest of us, the Citizens of this Great Nation outside DC, breath a sigh of relief that we weren't turned into a third rate banana republic.

My wife wants it all to come out, every wretched bit, so it doesn't look like the Republicans are hiding something.

What do you think?

Spill all the beans.

Get a deal and move on.

Don't know.

Don't care.

 

pollcode.com free polls

Hat tip to the Drudge Report.

Regards  —  Cliff

DWS and Imran Awan

For John, BLUF:  Is the "Russian" hacking of the DNC just a cover for deeper stuff?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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US House Democrat IT Scammers

Stuff you have probably never heard of.

Some speculation and some links from Law Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Now and Future Democrats

For John, BLUF:  The "Liberals" need to focus on Citizenship as a unifying theme, not their individual identities.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Liberal Crackup

Here is the Sub-headline:

Liberals should reject the divisive, zero-sum politics of identity and find their way back to a unifying vision of the common good

I found this 11 August 2017 Wall Street Journal article on Drudge and believe the author, Dr. Mark Lilla, professor of the humanities at Columbia University, is spot on. It is a little long, but it is insightful.

And, it talks about what might prevent Democrats from winning the House and Senate in 2018.

I wonder if the Democrats are hoping that there will be some cataclysmic event, brought on by Donald Trump, that will allow them to say (1) see, I told you so, and (2) vote for us because we are all calm middle of the road people (Maxine Waters, Nancy Pelosi, DWS, Chuck Schumer and Conn's Senator Richard Blumenthal aside).

I am thinking 2018 should be an interesting year, locally and nationally.

Hat tip to the Drudge Report.

Regards  —  Cliff

More on Mr Awan's Family

For John, BLUF:  On the face of this, it doesn't look good.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Democratic IT Staffer Arrested On Fraud Charge Has Family Links To SoCal Lawmakers

This is from CBS Los Angeles, on 27 July 2017.

Family members of a staffer for the former Democratic National Committee chair who was arrested this week while attempting to leave the U.S. for Pakistan once worked for several Southern California congressional offices.

As we know, IT Specialist Imran Awan was fired this last Tuesday by Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, after being arrested Monday at Dulles International Airport and then pleading not guilty to a bank fraud charge.

Nr Awan’s attorney, Chris Gowen, called the bank fraud count a “modest real estate matter” and the arrest is motivated by anti-Muslim bigotry.

Further in the story we learn:

Hina Alvi, the wife of Imran Awan, also worked for Schultz and was fired Feb. 2 by Rep. Karen Bass’ office, records show. A second brother, Jamal Awan, was fired by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) on that same day. Records show he was then terminated days later on Feb. 9 by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside).

Does the mean that these firings were motivated by "anti-Muslim bigotry?

And why were they so much earlier than Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz cutting lose Mr Imran Awn?

Maybe we will learn more on 21 August, when, according to Lawyer Gowen, an arraignment is scheduled.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

DWS Silent re Awan

For John, BLUF:  I just hope there wasn't hanky-panky involved.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Wasserman Schultz Avoiding Reporters Since Awan Arrest

From The Daily Caller and Reporter Kerry Picket, on 28 July 2017.

Here is the lede:

WASHINGTON — Embattled Democratic Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has avoided facing any media since her law enforcement arrested her former IT staffer Imran Awan Tuesday on bank fraud charges.

Of course she is.  There are no good answers as to what has been going on regarding Mr Awan and Rep Wasserman Schultz's handling of it.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

How Deep Does "Awangate" Go?

For John, BLUF:  This would be an awkward time to start another Special Counsel, drilling in the opposite direction.  But…  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Imran Awan Case Needs Special Counsel 100X More than Russiagate

This is from PJ Media, by Writer Roger L Simon, Wednesday, 26 July 2017.

This is about former House Democratic Party IT person Imran Awan.  The Wikipedia Article takes the approach of his defense attorney, this is all about nothing.

However, Mr Roger Simon disagrees.  A few paragraphs down his article we have these two paragraphs:

For years, Imran Awan had access to the secret data and correspondence of many House committees, including foreign affairs.  What did he do with it?  As I said, that's the worst case scenario (I guess).  But I don't want to bury my own lede in a welter of ledes, so here it is:

Jeff Sessions should immediately appoint a special counsel in this case whose tentacles are so vast they reach the highest levels of our government.  The FBI, working unsupervised, has already been tainted by its heavily-criticized investigation of Hillary Clinton's emails, an investigation that actually may turn out to be related to this one.  It cannot be trusted to do this by themselves.  We need a special counsel.

And don't forget "the mysterious death of Seth Rich". Sure, all the conspiracy theories have been "debunked", but now might be a good time to dust them off and maybe add the Pakistani ISI to the mix.

When the ISI is involved one can never be sure who is being betrayed.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Something is Rotten in DC

For John, BLUF:  Was DWS Hacked by Everybody?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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MSM Ignores Loss of Data of Democrat Congresspersons

This blurb was posted at InstaPundit this morning (27 July 2017) by Mr Ed Driscoll:

JOURNALISM IS ABOUT COVERING IMPORTANT STORIES. WITH A PILLOW, UNTIL THEY STOP MOVING:♠  Total CNN and MSNBC Blackout of Arrest of IT Guy Continues; Print Media Mentions the Story — with Hilarious Understatement.

Just think of the media as Democrat operatives with lavalieres, and it all makes sense.

The Link is to The Ace of Spades.

A Link from The Ace of Spades to The Daily Caller provides this information:

Chris Gowen, Imran Awan’s lawyer, is a long-time campaigner for former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and a member of an attorney team that brought a fraudulent lawsuit against energy giant Chevron.

…

Politico reported the criminal probe concerned “serious, potentially illegal, violations on the House IT network.”

Gowen described Awan’s arrest as “clearly a right-wing media-driven prosecution by a United States Attorney’s Office that wants to prosecute people for working while Muslim.”

…

His official bio on the firm’s web site notes that he “left the Public Defender’s office to work for former President William Jefferson Clinton and then-Senator Hillary Clinton. Chris was a fact checker for President Clinton’s memoir, My Life.”

“He also served as a traveling aid for President Clinton’s national and international trips. Chris finished his tenure with the Clintons by directing the advance operations for then-Senator Hillary Clinton during her 2008 presidential campaign.”

Is the Trump/Russia meme just a classic example of misdirection, of maskirovka?  That would be the ultimate Russian Hack.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  The Pillow reference is to a Tweet by the Iowa Hawk, Mr Dave Burge, back on 9 May 2013.

Foreign Influence in the Corridors of Power

For John, BLUF:  The Democrats should have left the Russia thing alone, when they had the chance  This could slip out of control  Their only hope is the Mainstream Media.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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UNDERSTANDING THE AWAN CONNECTION

Posted on The Powerline Blog by Mr Paul Mirengoff, on 26 July 2017.

No, this isn't about the extended Trump Family and campaign staff and Russia.

No, this is about Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, at one time the head of the Democratic National Committee, right up until the 2016 Convention.  And it is about a group of Pakistani IT experts who were running the computer systems for Ms Schultz and other Democrats in Congress.

And, about how DWS has given possible foreign agents access to information that they could then use to blackmail Members of Congress and others.  In the article these is a strong running from Mr Awan to Hezbollah.  That doesn't sound good.

Maybe we should appoint a special prosecutor?  Not likely, though, given that Mr Awan was arrested for fraud unrelated to what was going on on Capitol Hill.  Why was that?  Is the Deep Government covering up this obvious penetration of our Government by a foreign government or non-governmental actor?

Here is how the Powerline Post ends:

Clearly, I’ve entered the realm of speculation.  But if the mainstream media is going to speculate endlessly about President Trump’s alleged collusion with Russia, shouldn’t it also be speculating about the Awan connection?  And if Trump is to be investigated endlessly by the government, shouldn’t the Awan connection be investigated, as well?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

The FBI Use of Bad Intel

For John, BLUF:  This should shake your confidence what is going on in DC.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Bad intel from Russia influenced Comey's Clinton announcement: report

From The Hill and Reporter Katie Bo Williams, 24 May 2017.

At some level this doesn't make any sense, but at another level it suggests the confusion within the Federal Government toward the end of the last Administration and within the Democrat Party in 2016.♠

Here is how the story starts out:

Former FBI Director James Comey’s controversial decision to detail the FBI’s findings in the Hillary Clinton email case without Justice Department input was influenced by a dubious Russian document that the FBI now considers to be bad intelligence, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

The secret document, which purported to be a piece of Russian intelligence, claimed that former Attorney General Loretta Lynch had privately assured someone in the Clinton campaign that the investigation into Clinton’s handling of classified information would go nowhere.

But according to people familiar with the matter, by August the FBI had come to believe the document was unreliable — and in fact may have been planted as a fake to confuse the FBI.

Comey made his announcement in July.

The document reportedly described an email supposedly written by then-Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and sent to Leonard Benardo, who is an official with the George Soros organization Open Society Foundations.

According to the document, Wasserman Schultz claimed Lynch had assured senior Clinton campaign staffer Amanda Renteria that the investigation would not go too far.

Yes, I added a bunch of links, since many of you may not be familiar with all of these people and organizations listed above. If this kind of thing was going on then the Federal Bureau of Investigation did, indeed, need new leadership and management.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  And I don't think the DNC is on a better path under Chairman Tom Perez.

What Really Changed at DOJ?

For John, BLUF:  If it is the "Russian thing" then President Trump appears to have jumped from the frying pan into the fire.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Frenzied reactions to the Comey firing

This is from The Washington Times and Reporter Tammy Bruce, Thursday, 11 May 2017.

Here are two interesting paragraphs:

The fact is this:  With the firing of Mr. Comey, Andrew McCabe is now the acting FBI director.  About Mr. McCabe’s wife, the Daily Mail reported:  “Before McCabe was appointed as the Deputy Director of the FBI, his wife Jill McCabe ran as a Democrat for the Virginia State senate in 2015.  Her campaign received funds from the state Democratic Party and a political action committee run by Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe.  McAuliffe is a close friend of the Clintons and before his group, Common Good VA, donated to McCabe’s campaign, Hillary Clinton headlined a fundraiser for the PAC.”

Even without this Democratic partisan waiting in the wings to take over the FBI, it’s clear no investigation at the FBI is quashed because the director leaves. No matter who takes the helm, the work in progress continues.

I will be interested in seeing who the President nominates to be the new Director of the FBI and how the US Senate responds to this nomination, providing advice and consent.

The other thing to consider is if, absent leaked information, we would ever know of the gross carelessness of Mrs Hillary Clinton in handling classified information.  Would we ever know about how the Democratic National Committee mistreated Senator Bernie Sanders during the 2016 Primaries?  Would we ever known about the sleaze at the DNC Headquarters?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

The New Yorker Excuses the DNC

For John, BLUF:  Wrong is wrong.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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WHY THE D.N.C. E-MAILS AREN’T SCANDALOUS

This is The New Yorker, and the pleader is Columnist Jeffrey Toobin.

Mr Toobin's brief is that it was small scale chatter, that went nowhere.  And it happens all the time.  No big deal.

He argues it shouldn't happen, but it does.

On the other hand, such chatter on my EMail is one thing and on the DNC EMail is another.  Only the totally bored are going to hack my computer.  The DNC?  a much bigger risk.

Next Mr Toobin will be saying SecState Clinton's private EMail Server, with TS/SCI on it, is no big deal.  If he does I hope everyone who comes across his trail tells him he is a p___.

Regards  —  Cliff