Why I distrust the FBI more and more

[jimnyc]

This is all part of the same investigation, I suppose, but it's growing larger and growing wider.

Amazing that in so many committee questionings, the FBI, a major intelligence agency, never has any answers.

And finding out that not only did the FBI garner information about this dossier back then, but that they may have been more involved than we know of. I'll get to that in the next post...

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FBI Director Won't Tell Congress If 'Dossier' Formed Basis of Trump-Russia Investigation

(CNSNews.com) - Two simple questions: How did the FBI's Russia investigation start? And was it started because the Trump "dossier" was presented to somebody at the FBI?

Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) asked FBI director Christopher Wray those questions at a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, but he got no answers:

"How did the Russia investigation start?" DeSantis asked Wray. "Did (FBI counterintelligence agent)Peter Strzok -- was he -- did he start it?"

Wray answered, "I'm not aware of who started the investigation within the FBI."

DeSantis followed up: "Was it started because the dossier was presented to somebody in the FBI?"

"I don't have the answer to that question," Wray said.

DeSantis asked Wray if he could get back to the committee with the answer:

"Well, if there's information that we can provide that -- without compromising the ongoing special counsel investigation, I'm happy to see what there is that we can do to be responsive," Wray said.

Earlier in the hearing, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) drilled down on FBI agent Peter Strzok, the former deputy head of counterintelligence at the FBI who has been reassigned to the FBI's human resources department after the discovery that he sent anti-Trump/pro-Clinton text messages to another FBI agent with whom he was having an affair.

Jordan told the committee that Strzok was a "key player" in the the Clinton email investigation; he changed the wording in Director Comey's letter exonerating Hillary Clinton, swapping the term "extreme carelessness" for "gross negligence" apparently because the latter phrase might have legal implication; Strzok also was a "key player" in the Trump-Russia investigation; he ended up on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team until the discovery of his text messages; and he interviewed former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

Jordan questioned why someone like Strzok would be selected for Mueller's team -- and why he'd be kicked off it:

"If you kicked everybody off Mueller's team who was anti-Trump, I don't think there'd be anybody left," Jordan said. "There's got to be something more here. It can't just be some text messages that show a pro-Clinton, anti-Trump bias. There's got to be something more. And I'm trying to figure out what it is," Jordan said.

"But my hunch is it has something to do with the dossier. Director, did Peter Strzok help produce and present the application to the FISA court to secure a warrant to spy on Americans associated with the Trump campaign?"

Wray refused to discuss anthing having to do with the FISA process in an open setting.

"We're not talking about what happened in the court," Jordan said. "We're talking about what the FBI took to the court, the application. Did Peter Strzok -- was he involved in taking that to the court?"

Wray again refused to discuss it.

"Let's remember a couple of things about the dossier," Jordan said.

Rest - https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/fbi-director-wont-tell-congress-if-dossier-formed-basis-trump-russia

[jimnyc]

The FBI haven't exactly been shy themselves in responding about some things, even publicly, and even some things on twitter themselves. But they haven't taken the bait and haven't responded to anything about this dossier. Why would they have paid him anything, for any reason at all? This entire thing stinks to high heaven, as my Mommy used to say.

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Trump suggests FBI may have ‘paid for’ dossier alleging Russia ties

President Trump suggested Thursday that the FBI may have had a hand in creating an intelligence dossier that alleged ties between Russia and Trump’s presidential campaign.

“Workers of firm involved with the discredited and Fake Dossier take the 5th. Who paid for it, Russia, the FBI or the Dems (or all)?” Trump wrote on Twitter.

The compendium of information about Trump, much of it unproven, was produced by a former British intelligence agent last year, mostly before Trump won the 2016 election. Officials have said the FBI has confirmed some of the information and rejected other parts, and caution that it may be impossible to verify or disprove the rest.

Trump has vigorously denied allegations in the document that the Russian government has collected compromising information about him and was engaged in an active effort to assist his campaign.

The Washington Post has previously reported that the FBI agreed in October 2016 to pay the dossier’s author, Christopher Steele, for further work that might help its own investigation into Russian election activities.

The FBI, as well as the Senate Intelligence Committee, is investigating Russian interference in the election and alleged contacts between Trump’s associates and the Kremlin.

As the allegations contained in the dossier began appearing in news stories and the dossier itself became the subject of intense public debate, Steele became a publicly known figure and the FBI did not pursue further work from him, The Post reported in February.

Trump’s Twitter question about whether the FBI may have “paid for” the document suggests that he is asking whether the bureau had been involved earlier in the process, although his precise meaning is unclear.

An FBI spokesman declined to comment.

Republicans, particularly Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles E. Grassley (Iowa), have sought further answers from the FBI about its relationship with Steele, and its plan to pay him for information that could incriminate Trump or his associates.

It is not uncommon for the FBI to pay sources of information, and Steele was well known to the FBI. Previously, Steele had helped the FBI put together a sprawling global bribery case involving FIFA, the governing body of world soccer.

When Steele started compiling the dossier in 2016, he was doing so for a Washington firm called Fusion GPS. The firm began researching Trump first for an unidentified GOP donor, and then later for Democrats.

Republican lawmakers have been pressing Fusion GPS for months to identify those who paid for Steele’s work, but the firm has refused. Fusion GPS says that it has promised confidentiality to its clients and that violating that obligation would harm its business model.

On Wednesday, a lawyer for Fusion GPS said the firm’s employees refused to testify in response to a subpoena from the House Intelligence Committee, invoking their constitutional privilege not to do so. The firm’s founder, Glenn Simpson, had previously given a 10-hour interview to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The dossier alleged, among other things, that associates of Trump colluded with the Kremlin on cyberattacks on Democrats.

Trump said Monday that there was “no collusion” with Russia and that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation into Russian election activities should conclude quickly. Mueller’s probe, however, is broader than just the collusion inquest.

Steele began his Trump investigation in June 2016 after working for another client preparing a report on Russian efforts to interfere with politics in Europe.

U.S. intelligence had been independently tracking Russian efforts to influence electoral outcomes in Europe.

“Russian regime has been cultivating, supporting and assisting TRUMP for at least 5 years,” Steele wrote that June.

Steele’s information was provided by an intermediary to the FBI and U.S. intelligence officials after the Democratic National Convention in July 2016, when hacked Democratic emails were first released by WikiLeaks, according to a source familiar with the events. After the convention, Steele contacted a friend in the FBI to personally explain what he had found.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-suggests-fbi-may-have-paid-for-dossier-alleging-russia-ties/2017/10/19/2d5fa476-b4c9-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html?utm_term=.ec01540298c7

[jimnyc]

Rep. Gaetz to FBI Director: 'Did the FBI Pay for a Dossier on the President?'

(CNSNews.com) – Under questioning today by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), FBI Director Christopher Wray would not say whether Hillary Clinton was given “special” treatment by the bureau or whether the FBI paid for the Russia dossier that was used by Democrats and some media outlets to try to discredit President Donald Trump.

Director Wray, nominated to his FBI position by President Trump in June, testified today before the House Judiciary Committee.

Congressman Gaetz first asked Director Wray, “Were the rules followed in the Hillary Clinton investigation?”

Wray said, “That’s something that’s being investigated right now by the outside Inspector General.”

When asked by Gaetz if Clinton got “special treatment,” Wray said, “that’s exactly what the Inspector General’s going to tell us.”

Gaetz then asked, “Why don’t the American people deserve to know whether or not Hillary Clinton got special treatment?”

Wray replied that there is “no formal term special” used by the FBI, and that it is an “informal term.” At which point Gaetz noted that, “informally designating something as special signifies a double standard, right?”

Gaetz then asked, “So on the dossier, did the FBI pay for a dossier on the president?”

Wray would not answer, only saying, “Questions about the dossier are something better taken up in separate settings.”

Gaetz responded, “Don’t the American people deserve to know whether taxpayer money was used to buy a dossier that was curated by a political party to discredit the president of the United States before and after the election?”

Wray did not answer the question, but said, “I would tell you questions on that subject are something that we’re having lots and lots of interaction with, multiple congressional committees and their staffs on in a classified setting.”

As the questioning continued, Rep. Gaetz noted that it is not known whether Special Counsel Robert Mueller deliberately recruited people to his team who are biased against President Trump. Also, “We don't know whether Hillary Clinton was treated as special,” he said. “We don't know whether the FBI used taxpayer money to go buy a dossier to discredit the president.”

Yesterday, Dec. 6, Gaetz and five other members of Congress held a press conference and called for an investigation into the FBI’s “special” treatment of Hillary Clinton. FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe has stated that the FBI investigation of Clinton’s use of a private email server while Secretary of State was labeled a “special” case.

In addition, according to McCabe, a “decision was made to investigate it at HQ with a small team” instead of in the standard way through the Washington field office.

At that press conference, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) said, "Americans are tired of special treatment for the Clintons and their friends. Sadly, our own FBI has no interest in investigating them."

Rep. Gaetz yesterday said, “The law demands equal treatment for all, not ‘special’ treatment for some. There is a clear and consistent pattern of treating the Clinton investigation differently than other investigations. At least some of this ‘special’ treatment seems to have been motivated by political bias.”

“As America’s premier law enforcement agency, the FBI must rise above the fray of partisanship,” he said. “Our judicial system depends on equal treatment under the law.”

https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/michael-w-chapman/rep-gaetz-fbi-director-did-fbi-pay-dossier-president

[LongTermGuy]

I dont trust or like him...(Sneaky)...dont like the way he handled the questions...`Now`...Im sure Trump is aware also...
.https://img.rt.com/files/2017.08/thumbnail/5980efa8fc7e93f8048b4567.jpg


Something Liberal about this face below...something not right...crazy (goofy) in the eyes...

https://www.defence-point.gr/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Christopher-Wray-new-FBI-director.jpg

https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.g8AlDLQg4r5SKJHrF5vAGwEqDR&pid=15.1&P=0&w=230&h=163



************************************************** ************

​"I smell something..."
http://sharedmedia.grahamdigital.com/photo/2016/02/11/Donald-Trump-looking-up-jpg_2173382_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg

[pete311]

Didn't Trump hire this guy? So many of Trump's hire are terrible or resign. What is the deal?

[High_Plains_Drifter]

Didn't Trump hire this guy? So many of Trump's hire are terrible or resign. What is the deal?
When you're new to the SWAMP, you have to take people's word for those recommended to you.

President Trump had no idea who this guy really was himself. Give him a few years in Washington to learn who's who, and you'll not only see better people appointed to these positions, but you'll see the swamp continue to be drained.

You probably could have figured that out on your own, but I know you wouldn't pass up a chance to talk shit about the president. You're just a carbon copy, garden variety, group think, lock step, highly predictable, indoctrinated, caustic, triggered liberal.

[High_Plains_Drifter]

Rep. Gaetz to FBI Director: 'Did the FBI Pay for a Dossier on the President?'

(CNSNews.com) – Under questioning today by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), FBI Director Christopher Wray would not say whether Hillary Clinton was given “special” treatment by the bureau or whether the FBI paid for the Russia dossier that was used by Democrats and some media outlets to try to discredit President Donald Trump.

Director Wray, nominated to his FBI position by President Trump in June, testified today before the House Judiciary Committee.

Congressman Gaetz first asked Director Wray, “Were the rules followed in the Hillary Clinton investigation?”

Wray said, “That’s something that’s being investigated right now by the outside Inspector General.”

When asked by Gaetz if Clinton got “special treatment,” Wray said, “that’s exactly what the Inspector General’s going to tell us.”

Gaetz then asked, “Why don’t the American people deserve to know whether or not Hillary Clinton got special treatment?”

Wray replied that there is “no formal term special” used by the FBI, and that it is an “informal term.” At which point Gaetz noted that, “informally designating something as special signifies a double standard, right?”

Gaetz then asked, “So on the dossier, did the FBI pay for a dossier on the president?”

Wray would not answer, only saying, “Questions about the dossier are something better taken up in separate settings.”

Gaetz responded, “Don’t the American people deserve to know whether taxpayer money was used to buy a dossier that was curated by a political party to discredit the president of the United States before and after the election?”

Wray did not answer the question, but said, “I would tell you questions on that subject are something that we’re having lots and lots of interaction with, multiple congressional committees and their staffs on in a classified setting.”

As the questioning continued, Rep. Gaetz noted that it is not known whether Special Counsel Robert Mueller deliberately recruited people to his team who are biased against President Trump. Also, “We don't know whether Hillary Clinton was treated as special,” he said. “We don't know whether the FBI used taxpayer money to go buy a dossier to discredit the president.”

Yesterday, Dec. 6, Gaetz and five other members of Congress held a press conference and called for an investigation into the FBI’s “special” treatment of Hillary Clinton. FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe has stated that the FBI investigation of Clinton’s use of a private email server while Secretary of State was labeled a “special” case.

In addition, according to McCabe, a “decision was made to investigate it at HQ with a small team” instead of in the standard way through the Washington field office.

At that press conference, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) said, "Americans are tired of special treatment for the Clintons and their friends. Sadly, our own FBI has no interest in investigating them."

Rep. Gaetz yesterday said, “The law demands equal treatment for all, not ‘special’ treatment for some. There is a clear and consistent pattern of treating the Clinton investigation differently than other investigations. At least some of this ‘special’ treatment seems to have been motivated by political bias.”

“As America’s premier law enforcement agency, the FBI must rise above the fray of partisanship,” he said. “Our judicial system depends on equal treatment under the law.”

https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/michael-w-chapman/rep-gaetz-fbi-director-did-fbi-pay-dossier-president
This is the SWAMP. Never before in the history of this nation has there been this level of corruption inside our halls of power, and what we have going on here is the SWAMP supposedly investigating the SWAMP, and believe me, the wagons are circled and the stone walling is EPIC, and these people don't give SHIT whether the American people see it or like it, because they know we can't do a GOD DAMN THING ABOUT IT. Us little PEONS can just fuck off and die and let them go about their CORRUPTION.

Well, Judge Jeanine Pirro really hit it out of the park with this opening monologue last night. Don't know if the link to this twitter video will work but here it is... it's worth watching...

https://twitter.com/JudgeJeanine/status/939679648434319360

[LongTermGuy]

Didn't Trump hire this guy? So many of Trump's hire are terrible or resign. What is the deal?


Ya so what....? A lot of people get hired and taken on jobs....Their job to prove their worthiness...They mess up..they are fired...pretty simple pete...


You happy with obam`s and hillarys picks of their first choice lemmings and what they have done to our country?

[pete311]

Ya so what....? A lot of people get hired and taken on jobs....Their job to prove their worthiness...They mess up..they are fired...pretty simple pete...


You happy with obam`s and hillarys picks of their first choice lemmings and what they have done to our country?

Trump specifically campaigned that he was going to hire the best people in the world.

[High_Plains_Drifter]

Trump specifically campaigned that he was going to hire the best people in the world.
Are you perfect?

[jimnyc]

Trump specifically campaigned that he was going to hire the best people in the world.

You mentioned in a previous thread that there were about 35k employees within the FBI. Do you think that Trump hired all of them? Do you think any of them at all are there previously from the Obama administration? Do you think ANY of them are biased towards Obama or Hillary or Democrats?

So he very well may have done what he said - and yet folks at the FBI still aren't the best folks in the world, and might not be the best of the best & the always can be trusted agency - that I was naive to always believe.