Screw Up and Move Up

For John, BLUF:  We are in the middle of a never-ending story of bureaucrats abusing the rights of Citizens, and getting away with it.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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MSNBC And NBC News Hire Lisa Page As A Legal Analyst

From Hot Air, by Mr John Sexton, 5 June 2020.

Here is the lede sentence:

Today, MSNBC announced it had hired Lisa Page as a legal analyst.

Don't remember her?  She is the potty mouth Department of Justice lawyer who exchanged EMails with FBI Agent Peter Strzok, during the period when the FBI was abusing the civil rights of Trump Campaign workers.  Because:  Trump.

But, in its own way it makes sense.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Summary Judgement

For John, BLUF:  Elements within the FBI, the Department of Justice and the Obama National Security apparatus could not wait for the system to work through issues with the Trump Campaign, but took justice into their own hands, to the detriment of the Republic Now the President has a not unreasonable distrust of things coming out of Main Justice and from his own National Security Council.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Flynn prosecution now stands exposed as massive FBI and DOJ abuse of power

From The New York Post, by the Post Editorial Board, 31 January 2020.

Here is the lede plus three:

Here’s another black eye for the Justice Department’s Obama-era leadership: The case against Gen. Michael Flynn is in full collapse.

Federal prosecutors just backed down from their demand that Flynn — President Trump’s first, short-lived national security adviser — serve jail time for lying to FBI investigators, telling a court Wednesday that probation would be a “reasonable” sentence.

In fact, Justice had long wanted leniency, since Flynn cooperated fully with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigations.  But last month it started seeking up to six months of confinement — mainly because he’s no longer taking responsibility for his crime.

“I am innocent,” he writes in a new filing, explaining that he pleaded guilty in 2017 to making false statements to the FBI because he felt helpless to fight the charges:  He’d already had to sell his home to pay legal costs and was told his son could be indicted, too.

Involved in this imbroglio was FBI agent Peter Strzok, who is no Inspector Lewis Erskine.

Then there is the role played by National Security Adviser Susan Rice, someone I used to feel sorry for.nbsp; She leaked the fact of General Flynn’s conversations with Russian Ambassador Kislyak.nbsp; Tacky, at best.

This whole episode is a blot on not just the FBI, but on the Department of Justice as a whole.

How do we fix this, make it better for the future?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Ms Lisa Page Declares Her Innocence

For John, BLUF:  I sure wished that Ms Lisa Page would have quietly gone away after the election and the exposure of corruption in the upper reaches of the FBI.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Lisa Page:  'There's No Fathomable Way That I Have Committed Any Crime at All'

From PJ Media, by Mr Tyler O'Neill, 2 December 2019.

Here is the lede plus four:

As America awaits the inspector general report into whether or not the FBI abused its power by investigating potential collusion between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia in the 2016 election, a key figure in that drama has stepped forward.  In an interview with the Daily Beast published Sunday evening, former FBI lawyer Lisa Page insisted that she committed no crimes and she predicted that the report should exonerate her.  Yet the Obama administration's pursuit of the Trump-Russia investigation stinks to high heaven, regardless of her denials.

Page became notorious for text messages she sent to FBI agent Peter Strzok, with whom she was having an affair.  Both were involved in the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails and in the Trump-Russia investigation.  In the text messages, Strzok promised, "we'll stop" Trump from getting elected.  They also discussed an "insurance policy" should Trump get elected, anyway.

President Trump has repeatedly mocked Page and Strzok, and he has suggested that the former FBI lawyer committed treason.  The Daily Beast interview cast Page as a victim of Trump's misogyny and harassment, agreeing with her suggestion that she did nothing wrong — besides the illicit affair (Page is still married to her husband and has small children).

In the interview, she claimed she decided to speak out because Trump seemed to act out an orgasm in mentioning her and Strzok in an October rally.  It seems more likely she spoke out in advance of the IG report, which will be released on December 9.

"Honestly, his demeaning fake orgasm was really the straw that broke the camel’s back," Page said.  "But it’s also very intimidating because he’s still the president of the United States.  And when the president accuses you of treason by name, despite the fact that I know there’s no fathomable way that I have committed any crime at all, let alone treason, he’s still somebody in a position to actually do something about that.  To try to further destroy my life.  It never goes away or stops, even when he’s not publicly attacking me."

Yes, I agree that the President should not be talking about adultery on the campaign trail.  Young ears are listening.  I would like to think that Ms Page had a momentary slip and has since regretted it and has reformed her life.  That part of her life should be left alone.

On the other hand, her prejudice, in 2016, against Mr Trump, is obvious.  That prejudice should be appropriately forgiven, but not forgotten.  The FBI has been here before, with a much earlier Director of the FBI.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

What Really Happened in 2016?

For John, BLUF:  As much as some may wish for (parts of) the 2016 Election to go away, it isn't.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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DOJ Response to Peter Strzok Opens a Whole Can of Whoop-Ass on Comey, McCabe and the Lovers

Opening a can of "Whoop-ass" is a colloquial term for saying one is asking for a beating.

From Doug Ross @ Journal, 1 December 2019.

Here is the lede plus one:

After his firing, disgraced former FBI counterintelligence official Peter Strzok filed a complaint with the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) asserting that his proposed termination was unwarranted.

In a recently released response dated August 8, 2018, OPR assistant director Candice M. Will outlined all of the facts underpinning Strzok's termination.

I would like for this to all go away quietly, but it isn't going to happen.  Which is a good thing, since the lessons of FBI Director J Edgar Hoover's excesses seem to have not yet been learned.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Suing to Get Job Back

For John, BLUF:  Maybe Mr Peter Strzok has a case, but I think he is more likely to be caught up in exposure of criminal activity within the FBI, or at least an unethical streak amongst certain high level members of the FBI.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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I SAY HE NEEDS HANGING, CUT DOWN WHILE STILL LIVING, AND HIS ENTRAILS BURNED BEFORE HIS EYES.  IF THAT’S CRUEL AND UNUSUAL, IT JUST BETRAYS TIMIDITY OF THE PUBLIC TO ENDURE THIS NONSENSE WITH NO RETALIATION

From The InstaPundit, by Author Sarah Hoyt, 7 August 2019.

Here is the lede plus one:

Peter Strzok Sues FBI, Cites Privacy And Freedom Of Speech Were Violated

Look, he betrayed the will of his sovereign, we the people, and plotted against us, and our lawfully constituted Republic.  And then he wants redress from our courts…  I might be a little angry.

I get that he betrayed our nation, and his wife, in public, but Ms Hoyt seems to have reverted to a harsher time, but then she is originally from Europe.  However, the court slapping him down might be good for the FBI and the nation.  And, he apparently was found to be less than candid in his discussions with DOJ Investigators.

And he was pretty disrespectful of Walmart shoppers.

On the other hand, I would not like to see him and his family homeless, and a charge on the public's treasury.

On the other other hand, if he were to win his job back, and I was at the Resolute Desk, I would have him detailed to the White House and put him in an office with no phone or Internet, as a protection for the American People.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Alternate Conspiacy Theory

For John, BLUF:  Some of us out there are dubious about Mrs Clinton and dubious of the Deep State, and thus are Trump supporters—you know, Les Deplorables.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Are the Investigations the Cover-Up?

From The American Thinker, by Mr Bryce Buchanan, 26 December 2018.

Here is the Key sentence:

Peter Strzok, Andrew McCabe and others discussed the need for an “insurance policy” in case Trump won.

From this is derived the theory that all investigations are designed to shield Mrs Clinton and frame Mr Trump.

As for myself, I am going to believe Mr Mueller will uphold Truth, Justice and the American Way, right up to the point facts prove Howie Carr was right all along.  I am an optimist.

Regards  —  Cliff

Sloppy Paperwork?

For John, BLUF:  I am glad that Federal Judge Sullivan is on the case.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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TEXTS FOUND (& LOST) IN A BOTTLE

From PowerLine, by Mr Scott Johnson, 14 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus one:

The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General conducted an investigation of the gap in text messages during the period December 15, 2016, through May 17, 2017, from the cell phones assigned to famous FBI lovers Peter Strzok and Lisa Page.  The Office of Inspector General Cyber Investigations Office was asked to attempt recovery of these missing text messages for the period in issue.  The Inspector General has just issued a report summarizing his investigation and stating his conclusion.

Even though it is short, the report is so dry as to be sleep inducing.  I take it that the OIG finds no wrongdoing.  To adapt a formulation from Cool Hand Luke, what we have here is failure to preserve communication.  Perhaps relevant policies need to be adjusted. Nearly 20,000 text messages have been recovered, but none from the tenure of Strzok and Page with the Special Counsel.

Here is the take of Pajama Media, 13 December 2018, by Ms Debra Heine, "OIG: Mueller's Office Scrubbed Strzok-Page Text Messages Before IG Could Review Them".

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) was unable to recover text messages from the iPhones of FBI lovebirds Peter Strzok and Lisa Page from their time on the special counsel team because the records officer scrubbed them, a new report from the DOJ watchdog reveals.

Regarding Strzok's iPhone, investigators were told that it "had been reset to factory settings and was reconfigured for the new user to whom the device was issued."

The special counsel’s records officer said that she had "determined it did not contain records that needed to be retained.”  She wrote in her records log, "No substantive texts, notes or reminders,” the report states.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Thwarting the Will of the People

For John, BLUF:  Rogue Civil Servants acting on their own to frustrate elected officials.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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FBI OFFICIALS DISCUSSED ‘MEDIA LEAK STRATEGY’ AHEAD OF MAJOR TRUMP-RUSSIA REVELATION

From The Daily Caller, by Reporter Chuck Ross, 10 September 2018.

Here is the lede plus one:

Newly released text messages show disgraced FBI official Peter Strzok asked to speak to former FBI lawyer Lisa Page about a “media leak strategy” during a crucial period of the Trump-Russia investigation in 2017.

The text messages were revealed Monday by North Carolina Republican Rep. Mark Meadows, a member of the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee.

“Our review of these new documents raises grave concerns regarding an apparent systemic culture of media leaking by high-ranking officials at the FBI and DOJ related to ongoing investigations,” Meadows wrote to U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in the letter, which was obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation and first reported by Sara Carter.

I guess that if you think President Trump is illegitimate, actions to displace him are acceptable.  The first problem is that tens of millions think President Trump is legitimate.  The second problem is that this kind of action tears down the barriers to future criminal actions by the "deep state" against properly elected officials.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Analysis: Mr Comey is Fudging

For John, BLUF:  Bureaucrtic self-preservation at its best, and least insightful.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Gregg Jarrett:  Comey and Strzok — Two key players in the scheme to clear Clinton and frame Trump

That seems a little harsh, although plausible.

By the way, there is video at the link.

From Fox News, by Gregg Jarrett, 24 July 2018.

Here are three key paragraphs:

Based on Comey’s finding, Clinton should have faced a multiple-count criminal indictment, since the FBI discovered that she had stored 110 classified emails on her unauthorized, private computer server.  Other people had been prosecuted for similar conduct that jeopardized national security in violation of the law. Yet, Comey – despite characterizing Clinton’s actions with the clear language denoting violation of the law – saw to it that no charges were ever brought against Clinton.

Under questioning, Comey admitted to the Inspector General Michael Horowitz that he authored the May 2 statement and penned every word of it himself.  But then he offered the implausible claim that “he did not recall that his original draft used the term ‘gross negligence,’ and did not recall discussions about that issue.”

Comey’s amnesia is preposterous.  He would have us believe that, as FBI director, he memorialized in print his decision that the leading candidate for president of the United States had committed crimes, yet later could not recollect anything about the most important decision of his career.

Frankly, I like Gregg Jarrett, and his reporting.  I have no reason to doubt this report, which is worth reading in its entirety.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Action at J Edger Hoover Building

For John, BLUF:  I have a friend, who wrote regarding a closely related topic, "I love it when the circus comes to town."  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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FBI agent who said ‘we’ll stop’ Trump from becoming president escorted from building, though he remains a bureau employee

From The Wash Post, by Mr Matt Zapotosky, 19 June 2018, at 1650.

Here is the lede plus three:

The FBI agent who was removed from the special counsel investigation for sending anti-Trump texts was escorted from the FBI building Friday and effectively relieved of work responsibilities — though he technically remains an FBI agent, his lawyer said.

Peter Strzok already had been re-assigned to the FBI’s Human Resources Division after he was taken off Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s team, though the move last week effectively took him off even that assignment.

His lawyer, Aitan Goelman, said in a statement, that Strzok was “being put through a highly questionable process,” and those in the public should be concerned about how politics had “been allowed to undermine due process and the legal protections owed to someone who has served his country for so long.”

“Pete has steadfastly played by the rules and respected the process, and yet he continues to be the target of unfounded personal attacks, political games and inappropriate information leaks,” Goelman said.  “All of this seriously calls into question the impartiality of the disciplinary process, which now appears tainted by political influence.”

I thought it was rich that Agent Strzok's lawyer, Mr Goelman, was concerned that "politics" was being "allowed to undermine due process".  I wonder if Mr Strzok would garner sympathy from President Trump over that.

Agent Strzok's case is probably being examined by the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

As a side point, the DOJ said it was slow in releasing Text Messages to the Congress due to a technical glitch.  On the Howie Carr show this afternoon the poll question was if the listeners believed the DOJ with regard to the technical glitch.  Believers was two percent when I was listening to the show at around 1630.

Regards  —  Cliff

Turmoil at Justice

For John, BLUF:  I wonder if the Special Council would be better off wrapping this imbroglio up quickly.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Mueller’s Credibility Problem:  The special counsel is stonewalling Congress and protecting the FBI.

From the Editorial Board of The Wall Street Journal, 4 December 2017.

Here is what The Instapundit Excerpted from the article:

Donald Trump is his own worst enemy, as his many ill-advised tweets on the weekend about Michael Flynn, the FBI and Robert Mueller’s Russia probe demonstrate. But that doesn’t mean that Mr. Mueller and the Federal Bureau of Investigation deserve a pass about their motives and methods, as new information raises troubling questions.

The Washington Post and the New York Times reported Saturday that a lead FBI investigator on the Mueller probe, Peter Strzok, was demoted this summer after it was discovered he’d sent anti- Trump texts to a mistress. As troubling, Mr. Mueller and the Justice Department kept this information from House investigators, despite Intelligence Committee subpoenas that would have exposed those texts. They also refused to answer questions about Mr. Strzok’s dismissal and refused to make him available for an interview.

The news about Mr. Strzok leaked only when the Justice Department concluded it couldn’t hold out any longer, and the stories were full of spin that praised Mr. Mueller for acting “swiftly” to remove the agent. Only after these stories ran did Justice agree on Saturday to make Mr. Strzok available to the House.

This is all the more notable because Mr. Strzok was a chief lieutenant to former FBI Director James Comey and played a lead role investigating alleged coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. Mr. Mueller then gave him a top role in his special-counsel probe. And before all this Mr. Strzok led the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails and sat in on the interview she gave to the FBI shortly before Mr. Comey publicly exonerated her in violation of Justice Department practice.

Oh, and the woman with whom he supposedly exchanged anti-Trump texts, FBI lawyer Lisa Page, worked for both Mr. Mueller and deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe, who was accused of a conflict of interest in the Clinton probe when it came out that Clinton allies had donated to the political campaign of Mr. McCabe’s wife. The texts haven’t been publicly released, but it’s fair to assume their anti-Trump bias must be clear for Mr. Mueller to reassign such a senior agent.

There is no justification for withholding all of this from Congress, which is also investigating Russian influence and has constitutional oversight authority. Justice and the FBI have continued to defy legal subpoenas for documents pertaining to both surveillance warrants and the infamous Steele dossier that was financed by the Clinton campaign and relied on anonymous Russian sources.

I am withholding judgement, but I am scanning the horizon.  Currently I am reading Licensed to Lie about the Enron trials, and with a discussion of the Senator Ted Stevens trial.  In that case the Ninth Circuit, sometimes criticized here, held DOJ's feet to the fire after (DOJ) Prosecutorial Wrongdoing was uncovered.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff