Authored by John Solomon, op-ed via TheHill.com,
Lisa Page and Peter Strzok, the reported FBI lovebirds, are the poster children for the next “Don’t Text and Investigate” public service ads airing soon at an FBI office near you.
Their extraordinary texting affair on their government phones has given the FBI a black eye, laying bare a raw political bias brought into the workplace that agents are supposed to check at the door when they strap on their guns and badges.
It is no longer in dispute that they held animus for Donald Trump, who was a subject of their Russia probe, or that they openly discussed using the powers of their office to “stop” Trumpfrom becoming president. The only question is whether any official acts they took in the Russia collusion probe were driven by those sentiments.
The Justice Department’s inspector general is endeavoring to answer that question.
For any American who wants an answer sooner, there are just five words, among the thousands of suggestive texts Page and Strzok exchanged, that you should read.
That passage was transmitted on May 19, 2017. “There’s no big there there,” Strzok texted.
The date of the text long has intrigued investigators: It is two days after Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein named special counsel Robert Mueller to oversee an investigation into alleged collusion between Trump and the Russia campaign.
Since the text was turned over to Congress, investigators wondered whether it referred to the evidence against the Trump campaign.
This month, they finally got the chance to ask. Strzok declined to say — but Page, during a closed-door interview with lawmakers, confirmed in the most pained and contorted way that the message in fact referred to the quality of the Russia case, according to multiple eyewitnesses.
The admission is deeply consequential. It means Rosenstein unleashed the most awesome powers of a special counsel to investigate an allegation that the key FBI officials, driving the investigation for 10 months beforehand, did not think was “there.”
By the time of the text and Mueller’s appointment, the FBI’s best counterintelligence agents had had plenty of time to dig. They knowingly used a dossier funded by Hillary Clinton’s campaign — which contained uncorroborated allegations — to persuade the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court to issue a warrant to monitor Trump campaign adviser Carter Page (no relation to Lisa Page).
They sat on Carter Page’s phones and emails for nearly six months without getting evidence that would warrant prosecuting him. The evidence they had gathered was deemed so weak that their boss, then-FBI Director James Comey, was forced to admit to Congress after being fired by Trump that the core allegation remained substantially uncorroborated.
In other words, they had a big nothing burger. And, based on that empty-calorie dish, Rosenstein authorized the buffet menu of a special prosecutor that has cost America millions of dollars and months of political strife.
The work product Strzok created to justify the collusion probe now has been shown to be inferior: A Clinton-hired contractor produced multiple documents accusing Trump of wrongdoing during the election; each was routed to the FBI through a different source or was used to seed news articles with similar allegations that further built an uncorroborated public narrative of Trump-Russia collusion. Most troubling, the FBI relied on at least one of those news stories to justify the FISA warrant against Carter Page.
That sort of multifaceted allegation machine, which can be traced back to a single source, is known in spy craft as “circular intelligence reporting,” and it’s the sort of bad product that professional spooks are trained to spot and reject.
But Team Strzok kept pushing it through the system, causing a major escalation of a probe for which, by his own words, he knew had “no big there there.”
The answer as to why a pro such as Strzok would take such action has become clearer, at least to congressional investigators. That clarity comes from the context of the other emails and text messages that surrounded the May 19, 2017, declaration.
It turns out that what Strzok and Lisa Page were really doing that day was debating whether they should stay with the FBI and try to rise through the ranks to the level of an assistant director (AD) or join Mueller’s special counsel team.
“Who gives a f*ck, one more AD like [redacted] or whoever?” Strzok wrote, weighing the merits of promotion, before apparently suggesting what would be a more attractive role: “An investigation leading to impeachment?”
Lisa Page apparently realized the conversation had gone too far and tried to reel it in. “We should stop having this conversation here,” she texted back, adding later it was important to examine “the different realistic outcomes of this case.”
A few minutes later Strzok texted his own handicap of the Russia evidence: “You and I both know the odds are nothing. If I thought it was likely, I’d be there no question. I hesitate in part because of my gut sense and concern there’s no big there there.”
So the FBI agents who helped drive the Russia collusion narrative — as well as Rosenstein’s decision to appoint Mueller — apparently knew all along that the evidence was going to lead to “nothing” and, yet, they proceeded because they thought there was still a possibility of impeachment.
Impeachment is a political outcome. The only logical conclusion, then, that congressional investigators can make is that political bias led these agents to press an investigation forward to achieve the political outcome of impeachment, even though their professional training told them it had “no big there there.”
And that, by definition, is political bias in action.
How concerned you are by this conduct is almost certainly affected by your love or hatred for Trump. But put yourself for a second in the hot seat of an investigation by the same FBI cast of characters: You are under investigation for a crime the agents don’t think occurred, but the investigation still advances because the desired outcome is to get you fired from your job.
_0_itok-SRCjaiax.jpg)
Is that an FBI you can live with?
Ok so when does Strozk go to jail and we quite paying Mueller for a there there Time for Congress to act it is the Executive Branch or does every Rep and Senator need to be replaced….lets get some of the rank and file of the FBI who have not been tainted moved up to restore the trust it needs to serve America
Personally I feel it might be time to replace every Rep and Senator. They have become complacent as far as working for the American people. Cut their salaries and don’t pay them for life when they leave office. That might just bring some people who really want the job and want it for the right reasons…not to line their pockets. The FBI has far to much power and needs to be reigned in. Oversight is definitely needed as far as they are concerned.
typo: to=too
i read yor message loud and clear charles.
COMEY DID A COVER-UP FOUND IN IG REPORT AND ON WEINERS LAPTOP of hillarys CHILD CRIMINAL CRIMES and a long list of names of Washington government officials names involved with these child crimes and child traffcing, clear COMEY ‘S NAME WAS ONE OF THEM along with john mccain clapper,brennan eric holder rosenstein mueller, COMEY USED THE RUSSIANS TO COVER-UP THESE CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN
AMERICANS WE HAVE TO TAKE BACK OUR AMERICA FROM THE EVIL CRIMINAL ACTS OF DEMOCRATS………………………..TO SOLVE AMERICAS PROBLEMS MAKE THIS CHOICE WE THE PEOPLE’ HAVE THE POWER OF OUR VOICES AND OUR VOTES, TO VOTE OUT THE ENTIRE LYING,CORRUPT, TREASONOUS DEMOCRAT PARTY COME NOV 2018, VOTE TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN AND TO END ALL CORRUPTIONS IN WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT
Reply
WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR MUELLER AND HIS BAND OF WARLOCKS TO STOP THIS INVESTIGATION? They have steered far off course from their original mandate, my guess, IN SEARCH OF A CRIM. That’s not how an investigation is to begin… I believe a crime needs to exist for an investigation to begin??
In addition to the danger to ALL OF US that exists because of a FBI/DOJ that has clearly abused their power to try & STOP a President, as long as the real colluders (HRC/DNC/Obama Admin) are allowed to remain unscathed, the more they’re allowed to cover up their crimes AND HRC probably will be a candidate in 2020. TALK ABOUT A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE!
All these bad actors have forgotten, THEY WORK FOR US, “We The People”. Because of their power, they would probably destroy any of us that attempted to dismantle the hierarchy or even bring THEM to justice. Looks as though they do believe that they are ABOVE the law.
I believe that as Horowitz report is digested and further investigative action is pursued, Sessions will begin indictments just in time to effect 2018 midterms. If not, I believe Trump will take action replace Rosenstein & Sessions and justice will prevail. As to HRC 2020, she will be 83 by election and if she won she would about 87 by end of first term. She is already falling down w/out help and will have elective appeal than before, plus by then she may be under investigation or indictment by new and reputable council. Not to worry !
Only one correction, Killary is younger than me, I am 72, so by 2020 she will be 73, and 77 at the end of her first term. That being said, it may have just been a typo.
I am a huge President Trump advocate and can see how the country has improved with just one year into his first term. I say the Trump Campaign start clipping and pasting together the rabid, radical leftist that claim to be the Democratic Party. From Whoopie’s insane performance on the View with Judge Jeanine Perio and afterward, to Strozk’s cynical and horrible behavior when testifying, to all those rioters who are the most infantile, volatile, vitriolic, and subhumans this country has ever had to deal with, to the insane liberal who lost his mind and tried to blow away the Republican baseball team, and so much more. Not leaving out Killary and her insanity when lying in front of the email scandal testimony, which was all a cover up to bleach bit the emails and “get rid” of the server, of the largest counterterrorism act ever committed in U.S. History, the Uranium One Deal with Russia where she received 140 million from Putin, then laundered the money through European Banks, globally, so it wasn’t subject to U.S. Laws, Congressional subpoenas or FOIA demands for the evidence. This money was laundered right into the Clintons Foundation so the U.S. government could not examine it. The people who protected her from clear felonious activity and violations of the Espionage Act. James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, was protecting her and leaking things to the media and lying. John Brennan, Director of the CIA, protecting her by starting a false investigation (on Trump), and stirring things up with this false/unverified dossier. James Comey, Director of the FBI protecting her. Peter Strzok protecting her and now it appears the UK GCHQ was using NSA information to target Trump and protect Killary. What kind of power or connections does this woman have to get all of these member of the Deep State, Shadow Government to risk their own criminal penalties to protect her and try to get her elected? That is the Shadow Government, that is the Deep State, and thais is what is so chilling about this whole thing!” Check out the article by a CIA OFFICER and whistleblower, Kevin Shipp. I am fed up with he corruption we KNOW is happening and has been happening for years since the Moderate Dems are gone and the radicals, Socialist/Communist infiltrated the party and are the majority. The Deep State is in the highest levels of government, including the top law enforcement organization in the world, the FBI. Anyone that possesses an ounce of common sense and IQ above 100 should see that the last Regime was the most corrupt and evil REGIME that nearly destroyed America. They want our President out, and now they are digging around in his past, over 10 years ago, with another bimbo, a conversation taped with DT unaware, then used. This is criminal, and this has to stop. Especially when those that are making a big deal out of Stormy Daniels and this Playboy Bunny have rapes, sexual harassment, deviant behavior towards anyone with a skirt, and even pedophilia in their past. It is shameful the way the left tries to demean a man who is no longer the person he was back when he was a Democrat.
I feel bad that she’s falling down without help. I’d like to help her fall down.
When is their going to be a special counsel appointed to investigate the Clinton’s? There is an abundance of evidence that has been made public for quite some time. What excuse can either the Republicans or the Democrats or the US Attorney General come up with to justify this ignoring of this situation.
Just as in the 1990s, there was one “major” long running story after another that dominated the news (such as the OJ Simpson trial/ Menendez brothers, etc.) used to distract us from the real issues such as NAFTA, etc.
I still say it’s time to make “career politician” and extinct breed. All they do is find ways to stay in power and are totally out of touch with reality. Everyone going to the polls needs to find the common sense candidate with private sector experience. The career politician doesn’t know the mess they make and it would be a good thing to make them have to go live in it.
ABSOLUTELY. ANY career politician has endorsed a methodology of lies and appeasement in order to manipulate, it is all right on the surface — they are nothing but self-aggrandizing criminals after they make that “career” choice.
The FBI, DOJ, State Dept., and DNC are all deeply involved in covering up the crimes of HRC and the Obama Administration. HRC and BHO must have a lot of dirt on all of them, payoffs, sex crimes, and even murders. Unless they all all brought to justice, America will quickly turn into a #Shithole
Why don’t the f**king Republicans stop this bullshit? The scary part is they are all in in this deep state parasite sh*t together. Trump is fighting a one-man battle and making even Jesus Christ look like a beginner. Only God and the 60 million “deplorables” are with Trump. An Un-civil War between true Constitutional Christian Americans with Trump and the Deep State Commies and their stupid followers trying to take over the country is the only answer. I am getting ready for this battle as it is the only one worth fighting.
Funny how the libtards called the FBI “fascists” for so many yrs,but wound up utilising the same brutal authoritarianism & corrupt socio-political chicanery when they themselves got ahold of the same bureau. This proves Dems are not only corrupt,but stupid. I’d love to beat Strzok to death.
“LOCK HIM UP”!
We can only thank Obama and his minions for infiltrating all of American agencies with spy hating Americans, socialist and commies. President Trump has a large task to remove these treasonous traitors with good honest Americans and Drain the Swamp of the left wing socialist Democrats and traitors ho that are.
So the two FBI Agents engaged in attempting to derail Trump’s election by investigating “alleged” collusion between Trump and the Russians knew all along there was NOTHING THERE…NO EVIDENCE… NONE. It was no more than Liberal Bias over extreme personal hatred of Trump that created the entirely FAKE STORY of collusion, with millions of dollars wasted in a fake investigation or witch hunt. As the two agents discuss in text messages back and forth… both should prosecuted for their actions along with Hillary, Obama, Comey, Lynch, Mueller and the rest of the Uber-liberal hate group that concocted this fake news from a fake dossier TO INFLUENCE THE ELECTION. Thank heavens Americans saw through their lies and elected Trump!!!
We need to do a review of history and the Democratic party…one needs to go back to the early part of the 20th Century and look to the development of the Socialist party and the state of California…and the governors race back in the mid to late 30’s with Upton Sinclair and his bunch. The Democratic Party was “reformed” as a Socialist front by changing names to appear as if they were Democrats. This in lies the issue(s) we see today with all of the FBI and election issues. The need to delve deeper into the “deep state issue” is only a beginning…one need s to look to the past history and the changes that really didn’t take place only the names changed and the intent was to undermine what was once the Democratic party into the Socialist party but not just in name only. The entire party became as one and influence of the “new” passel of twits who are protesting Trump’s every turn and ideas…look at the influence of Sanders and the new “ideas” of the primary lost to the Socialist idealog in New York Queens district…this is the front of their program…and we think it is only the FBI and the some of the other intelligence agencies…guess again…its the whole of the party that need s to be reviewed/investigated and not Trump.
Anyone really surprised that Trump hinted that he trusts Putin more than the FBI? I’m right there with him. The swamp is draining and the swamp dwellers are getting nastier.
I don’t understand how the people that worked for the FBI and DOJ could do the investigation, when they were the ones involved in the whole matter to begin with. It all sounds like a conflict of interest to me. What are they trying to keep covered up. because the whole truth isn’t coming out? the Democrats need to be investigated, because it is all about them. Something isn’t right with this picture.