Can’t tell if Jsmith27 is truly stupid or just having a larf making the libs waste time explaining the origins of the Russia investigation and what unmasking is.

Top investigative body in the world.

Despite all the hate you have for it in this thread.

But its everyone else who is full of propaganda

Wait. Many on the left were highly critical of Comey and how he handled the HRC investigation. For many reasons I think that criticism was warranted. In this thread left wing supporters seem to be holding up the Comey led FBI and his role in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation as at the very least professional and above reproach. Seems like propaganda and tribalism to me.

DOJ IG Michael Horowitz Crossfire Hurricane Timeline

Quote:

Abbreviated Timeline of Key Events Related to Crossfire Hurricane Investigation
Prepared for 12/18/19 Hearing with IG Michael Horowitz
 June 2009: FBI NYFO interviews Carter Page, who “immediately advised [them] that due to his work and overseas experiences, he has been questioned by and provides information to representatives of [another U.S. government agency] on an ongoing basis.”1
 Mar. 2, 2015: NY Times reports that Secretary Clinton uses private email account.2
 July 10, 2015: FBI opens “Midyear Exam” investigation (MYE).3
 Mar. 21, 2016: Carter Page joins the Trump campaign.4
 Apr. 1, 2016: FBI HQ advises NYFO to investigate Carter Page (opened Apr. 6).5
 May 2016: George Papadopoulos meets with a Friendly Foreign Government (FFG).6
 July 5, 2016:
o FBI Director Comey statement ending MYE investigation9
o Christopher Steele provides an election report to FBI handling agent in Europe.
 May 4, 2016:
o Donald Trump becomes the presumptive GOP nominee.
o FBI DAD Peter Strzok texts FBI Special Counsel Lisa Page: “Now the pressure
7 really starts to finish MYE.” Page responds: “It sure does.”8
10
 July 28-31, 2016:14
o Neither CD AD Priestap nor EAD Steinbach want Strzok to lead the investigation
because of his personal relationship with L. Page and instances of Strzok-Page
15
 July 31, 2016:
o FBI opens the “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation (CFH).
o Strzok texts Page “And damn this feels momentous. Because this matters. The
other one did, too, but that was to ensure we didn’t F something up. This matters because this MATTERS. So super glad to be on this voyage with you.”19
 July 22, 2016: WikiLeaks releases DNC emails.11
 July 28, 2016:
12
o FBI HQ counterintelligence division (CD) receives FFG information.
13
o FBI NYFO receives two Steele election reports.
bypassing the chain of command to advise FBI Deputy Dir. Andrew McCabe.
o
o Priestap rejects idea of defensively briefing Trump campaign.
McCabe overrules decision to exclude Strzok.
16
17
18
Page 1 of 12

 Aug. 6, 2016: Page texts Strzok: “And maybe you’re meant to stay where you are because you’re meant to protect the country from that menace.”20
 Aug. 8, 2016: L. Page texts Strzok, “[Trump's] not ever going to become president, right? Right?!” and Strzok replies, “No. No he's not. We'll stop it.”21
 Aug. 10, 2016: FBI NYFO’s investigation of Carter Page is transferred to CFH.22
 Aug. 11, 2016: Strzok texts L. Page: “So. You come up with a codename? ” Page responds, “Latitude.” Strzok responds, “[REDACTED] Yuuuuuge. Though we may save that for the man, if we ever open on him.”23
 Aug. 15, 2016:
o CFH Case Agent 1 tells FBI OGC there is “a pretty solid basis” for requesting
24
o FBI OGC responds that they “need more for P[robable C[ause]”25
o Strzok texts L. Page: “I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andy [McCabe]’s office—that there’s no way he gets elected—but I’m afraid
we can’t take that risk. It’s like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die
This briefing did not address the allegations contained in the FFG
 Aug. 25, 2016: McCabe directs CFH to contact FBI NYFO for helpful information.31
 Aug. 31, 2016: FBI joins ODNI’s strategic intelligence briefing for Trump.32
 Sept. 8, 2016: Comey, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, and President Obama's Homeland Security Advisor Lisa Monaco brief Members of Congress about the Russian Government’s attempts to interfere in the 2016 election. The briefers assured Members that the Administration had the matter under control and asked for Congress's help in
FISA authority on C. Page.
before you’re 40....”26
o Comey is briefed on CFH.
27
 Aug. 17, 2016: FBI and ODNI provide a strategic intelligence briefing for Trump and
28 information;29
selected advisors.
a CFH agent attends and memorializes the results of the briefing.
30
33
 Sept. 19, 2016: CFH team receives six Steele reports.34
 Sept. 19, 2016: Strzok texts Page: “See, this is the crap that aggravates me: I specifically DIDN’T tell Bill about the new Intel we got on Fri on CH so that Jon [Moffa] could present it. Then Jon runs in this morning and does it without me. Whatever...”35
 Sept. 23, 2016: Yahoo News publishes story about C. Page similar to Steele reporting.36
 Sept. 26, 2016: C. Page ends association with the Trump campaign.37
reinforcing public confidence in the election.
Page 2 of 12

 Sept. 30, 2016: Strzok texts Page: “Hey I’m almost home, sorry. Remind me tomorrow what victoria nuland said.”38
 Early Oct. 2016: Papadopoulos is dismissed from Trump campaign.39
 Oct. 7, 2016: DNI and DHS attribute DNC hack to Russia40
 Oct. 11, 2016: Steele meets at the State Department.41 
o
o
o
 Oct. 12, 2016: Comey and McCabe are briefed about Evans’ concerns by Priestap, Strzok, L. Page, and others;
o
 Oct. 13, 2016: FBI Transnational Organized Crime Section Chief informs DOJ Attorney
48
 Oct. 14, 2016: McCabe receives text message from an unknown individual: “Just called. Apparently the DAG [Yates] wants to be there, and WH wants DOJ to host. So we are setting that up now. We will very much need to get [REDACTED] view before we meet with her. Better, have him weigh in with her before the meeting. We need to speak with one voice, if that is in fact the case.”49
Oct. 11, 2016:
After being asked three times by DOJ attorney Stu Evans, FBI responds that
Steele “had been paid to develop political opposition research”;42 DOJ holds
FISA application because of concerns of bias that may need to be disclosed to the
court43
Strzok advises L. Page that, the IG writes, “support from McCabe might be
necessary to move the FISA application forward.”44
Strzok texts Page: “Currently fighting with Stu [Evans] for this FISA.”45
forward despite those concerns.”46
Comey and McCabe both were “‘supportive’ of moving
L. Page texts McCabe: “I communicated you and boss’s green light to Stu earlier.
. . . If I have not heard back from Stu in an hour, I will invoke your name to say
you want to know where things are[.]”47
Bruce Ohr that FBI counterintelligence agents were examining Steele’s reporting.
 Oct. 18, 2016:
o Steele emails DOJ Attorney Bruce Ohr about a “quite urgent” matter to discuss. o Ohr schedules meeting with McCabe; Ohr meets with McCabe and L. Page, he
50 explains Steele’s connection to Glen Simpson and his wife, and they tell Ohr to
51
 Oct. 21 2016: FISC approves FISA warrant for Carter Page (Yates).53
 Oct. 31, 2016: Mother Jones publishes article based on information from Steele.54
 Nov. 1, 2016: FBI terminates relationship with Steele.55
o
contact the FBI if he heard again from Steele.
Either McCabe or L. Page briefs Strzok about their meeting with Ohr.
52
Page 3 of 12

 Nov. 8, 2016: Trump is elected President.
 Nov. 9, 2016: FBI attorney instant messaged another FBI employee: “I am so stressed about what I could have done differently...I just can’t imagine the systematic disassembly of the progress we made over the last 8 years.”56
 Nov. 17, 2016: FBI officially closes Steele as a source for cause.57 
They discuss sending someone who can “assess ... any new[] Q[uestion]s, or different demeanor.”59
 Nov. 21, 2016: Bruce Ohr meets with L. Page, Strzok, and other FBI officials to discuss “Steele’s background and reliability as a source and to identify his source network.”60
 Nov. 23, 2016: During a discussion of how much a subject was paid to work on the Trump campaign, an FBI colleague instant messaged an FBI attorney, “Is it making you rethink your commitment to the Trump administration?” The FBI attorney responds, “Hell no,” and “Viva le resistance.”61
 Nov. 28, 2016: McCain Institute staffer meets with Steele in Europe. Staffer later obtains
Nov. 17, 2016: Strzok texts L. Page about the possibility of “develop[ing] potential
relationships” at a November 2016 FBI briefing for the Trump presidential transition
team staff.
58
62
 Dec. 9, 2016: Sen. McCain provides Comey with 16 Steele election reports (including
the Steele reports from Glen Simpson.
five reports that Steele had not given the FBI).
63
 Dec. 10, 2016: Ohr receives thumb drive from Simpson containing Steele’s reports.64
65
o Thumb drive contains all but one of the reports Sen. McCain provided Comey.
o Ohr gives thumb drive to the FBI. 
66
Dec. 15, 2016: Strzok texts L. Page, “Think our sisters have begun leaking like mad.
Scorned and worried and political, they’re kicking in to overdrive.”67
Page 4 of 12

 Dec. 16, 2016:
o McCabe insists that Steele reporting is included in the Intelligence Community
Assessment (ICA) about Russian interference in the 2016 election;68 Comey informs DNI Director that FBI will submit the Steele reporting to the
69
election reporting] in there, it goes from what you’d expect the FBI to be collecting in a counterintelligence context to direct allegations about collusion with the Trump campaign.”70
 CIA viewed Steele reporting as “not completely vetted” and “internet rumor”71
o Washington Post story, “FBI in agreement with CIA that Russia aimed to help Trump win White House.”72
o Strzok texts Page: “And just talked with Kortan, he was just on with editor of WP.” Page responds: “They going to change it?” Strzok said: “Not certain. Sounds like something. Mike [Kortan] was worried, like me, that the tone was WE [FBI] had shifted our position. Because the agency plays this game better than we do. Gotta say the new WP article angle really infuriates me – and Kortan echoed it – the notion that somehow we’ve come around to the agency’s position. The point now is there were a variety of motives. That’s [sic] been our position all along. Only the agency’s has changed. Why is that so hard to see? The re-write headline is still wrong - “FBI in agreement with CIA that Russia aimed to help Trump win White house”73
 Dec. 19, 2016: Strzok texts Page: “I hope this upcoming presidency doesn’t fill my years with regret, wonderwishing [sic] what we might have done differently.”74
 Dec. 20, 2016: Strzok texts Page: “Remind me [REDACTED] met with Bruce and got.[sic]more stuff today.” Page responds: “Yeah, lots to read, but it all stressed me Out [sic] too much.”75
 Dec. 22, 2016: Page texts Strzok: “The election stuff makes me want to cry.” Strzok responds, “I know. Me too. And I don’t see it getting better...” Page responds: “As you said last night, I’m really scared for our country. And there’s practically no one I can talk to about it.”76
 Dec. 22, 2016:77 Strzok texts L. Page: “Where it says we ‘changed’ our assessment to the Russians helping T.”
o Page texts Strzok: “Yup. Infuriating. The hrc stuff was accurate, the Russia stuff not really at all.”
o Strzok texts Page: “Again. Agency’s pr masterful, ours, meh. Yet THEY’RE resisting putting the C stuff in. Maybe there’s a lesson in there.”
o Page texts Strzok: “What the lesson?”
o Strzok texts Page: “Play the political game better. I don’t know. We seem to
irritate everyone at every turn.”
assessment.
 The Intel Section Chief said to the OIG, “The minute we put the [Steele
Page 5 of 12

 Dec. 28, 2016: McCabe emails ODNI Principal Deputy Director objecting to CIA’s
78
proposal to present Steele information in an appendix to the ICA.

o o o o
Jan. ?, 2017: FBI interviews Steele’s primary sub-source for the first time,
79
and reports:
Steele’s reporting was “misstated or exaggerated,” and some of the primary sub-
source’s information was based on “rumor and speculation”;80
“he/she never expected Steele to put the Primary Sub-source’s statements in
reports or present them as facts”;81
“he/she made it clear to Steele that he/she had no proof to support the statements
from his/her sub-sources and that ‘it was just talk’”;82
Information was “word of mouth and hearsay”; “conversations that [he/she] had
with friends over beers”; statements made in ‘”jest.”83
 Early Jan. 2017: ICA is completed and includes a short summary and assessment of the
84
 Jan. 3, 2017:85 Strzok texts L. Page: “Our material in the report is much better now. Don’t like an annex, but is what it is. Did you follow the drama over the P[residential] D[aily] B[riefing] last week?”
o L. Page: “Yup. Don’t know how it ended though.”
o Strzok: “They didn’t include any of it and Bill didn’t want to dissent.”
o L. Page: “Wow. Bill should make sure Andy knows about that, since he was
consulted numerous times about whether to include the reporting.”
 Jan. 3, 2017: Strzok texts Page: “[Bill Priestap], like us, is concerned with over sharing. Doesn’t want Clapper giving CR cuts to WH. All political, just shows our hand and potentially makes enemies.” Page responds: “Yeah, but keep in mind we were going to put that in the doc on friday, with potentially larger distribution than just the dni.” Strzok says, “The question is should we, particularly to the entirety of the lame duck usic with partisan axes to grind.”86
 Jan. 5, 2017: Clapper, Michael Rogers, Brennan, and Comey brief the ICA report to
87
Steele election reporting as an appendix.
Obama and his national security team.

o
o
Jan. 6, 2017:
Clapper, Brennan, Rogers, and Comey brief Trump on ICA at Trump Tower; after
the briefing, pursuant to Clapper’s suggestion, Comey alone briefs Trump on
Steele reporting.
88
Comey told Trump that the “FBI did not know whether the allegations were true
or false and that the FBI was not investigating them.”89
o Congressional leadership briefed on ICA. 
90
Jan. 7, 2017: Comey memorializes his discussion with Trump and writes, “I [] executed
the session exactly as I had planned.”91
Page 6 of 12

 Jan. 10, 2017: Buzzfeed publishes Steele reports after obtaining them from McCain
92
 Jan. 12 2017: FISC grants 1st renewal for C. Page FISA (Yates).93
 Jan. 20, 2017: Trump’s inauguration
o The same day before leaving the White House, National Security Advisor Susan
Rice sends herself an email memorializing an Intelligence briefing she attended with Obama on Jan. 5, 2017 that reportedly included a discussion on the Steele
94
handled by the Intelligence and law enforcement communities [to be done] ‘by the book.’”95
 Feb. 2, 2017: Strzok texts Page: “I mean, I feel like we’re living on borrowed time before some massively disastrous event.” Page responds: “Same here.”96

 Mar. ?, 2017: FBI interviews Steele’s primary sub-source a second time.98
 Apr. 7, 2017: FISC grants 2nd renewal for C. Page FISA (Boente).99 
 May ?, 2017: FBI interviews Steele’s primary sub-source for the third time.101
 May 9, 2017: Comey is fired.102
 May 17, 2017: CFH transferred to Office of Special Counsel.103
 May 19, 2017:104
o Strzok texts Page: “For me, and this case, I personally have a sense of unfinished
business. I unleashed it with MYE. Now I need to fix it and finish it.”
o Strzok texts Page: “you and I both know the odds are nothing. If I thought it was
Institute staffer.
dossier and the FBI’s investigation.
o Rice writes that that Obama stressed that he wanted “every aspect of this issue []
Feb. 15, 2017: After interviewing a primary sub-source in January, Strzok emails
Priestap and states that “recent interviews and investigation [] reveal [Steele] may not be
in a position to judge the reliability of his sub-source network.”97
Apr. 13, 2017: Strzok emails FBI colleagues: “I’m beginning to think the agency got info
a lot earlier than we thought and hasn’t shared it completely with us. Might explain all
these weird/seemingly incorrect leads all these media folks have. Would also highlight
agency as source of some of the leaks.”100

likely I’d be there no question.
I hesitate in part because of my gut sense and
concern there’s no big there there.”
June 19, 2017: FBI Attorney alters email to read that C. Page was not a source for
another U.S. government agency105
Page 7 of 12

 June 29, 2017: FISC grants 3rd renewal for C. Page FISA (Rosenstein).106
 July 27, 2017: McCabe removes Strzok from Special Counsel team.107
 Sept. 22, 2017: FISA coverage of Carter Page ends.108
 Dec. 2017: FBI memo for Congressional briefing states it “did not assess it likely that the [Steele election reporting] was generated in connection to a Russian disinformation campaign.”109
 Dec. 12, 2017: Initial press reports on the content of the Strzok/Page text messages.110
 Jan. 19, 2018: FBI notifies Congress that it did not preserve five months of Strzok/Page
111
 Jan. 23, 2018: Chairman Johnson releases Strzok-Page text messages. “no big there
text messages.
112
 Mar. 16, 2018: McCabe is fired.113
 Apr. 19, 2018: Reports indicate DOJ OIG referred McCabe to federal prosecutors for
114
there” text released.
lying.
 May 4, 2018: L. Page resigns from the FBI.115
 June 14, 2018: IG Horowitz releases his 2016 election report.116
 Aug. 10, 2018: Strzok is fired.117
 Dec. 13, 2018: DOJ IG issues report about recovering 20,071 total Strzok/Page texts.118
 Apr. 18, 2019: Mueller report becomes public.119
 Dec. 9, 2019: IG Horowitz releases his FISA report.120
Page 8 of 12

1 U.S. DEP’T OF JUSTICE, OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GEN., REVIEW OF FOUR FISA APPLICATIONS AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE FBI’S CROSSFIRE HURRICANE INVESTIGATION 61 (2019) [hereinafter IG Report].
2 Michael S. Schmidt, Hillary Clinton Used Personal Email Account at State Dept., Possibly Breaking Rules, N.Y. TIMES, Mar. 2, 2015, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/03/u...mail-at-state- department-raises-flags.html.
3 Matt Apuzzo et al., Comey Tried to Shield the F.B.I from Politics. Then He Shaped an Election., N.Y. TIMES, Apr. 22, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/22/u...-election.html.
4 Post Opinions Staff, A Transcript of Donald Trump’s Meeting with The Washington Post Editorial Board, WASH. POST, Mar. 21, 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ipt-of-donald- trumps-meeting-with-the-washington-post-editorial-board/.
5 IG Report at 62.
6 Id. at 1.
7 Stephen Collinson, Donald Trump: Presumptive GOP Nominee; Sanders Takes Indiana, CNN (May 4, 2016), https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/03/polit...hts/index.html.
8 Text messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page (May 4, 2016), Strzok-Page Texts at 114. (on file with Comm.).
9 James B. Comey, Director, Fed. Bureau of Investigation, Statement on the Investigation of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s Use of a Personal E-mail System, Jul. 5, 2016, https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press- releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clinton2019s-use-of-a- personal-e-mail-system.
10 IG Report at 95.
11 Kristine Phillips, Timeline: The events that led to the inspector general's report on the origins of the Russia probe, USA TODAY, Mar. 21, 2016,
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/ne...e-carter-page- surveillance/2623350001/.
12 IG Report at 52.
13 Id.
14 Id.
15 Id.
16 Id.
17 Id.
18 Id.
19 Id.
20 Id.
21 Id.
22 Id.
23 Text messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page (Aug. 11, 2016), DOJ-PROD-0000218. (on file with Comm.). 24 IG Report at 122.
25 Id.
26 U.S. DEP’T OF JUSTICE, OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GEN., A REVIEW OF VARIOUS ACTIONS BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN ADVANCE OF THE 2016 ELECTION 404 (2018).
27 IG Report at 68-69.
28 Id. at 340.
29 Id. at 77.
30 Id. at 3.
31 Id. at 99.
32 Id. at 340.
33 Briefing from the Dep’t of Homeland Sec. and Fed. Bureau of Investigation to Members of Congress on Cybersecurity (Sept. 8, 2016); see also Letter from Chairman Ron Johnson, S. Comm. on Homeland Sec. & Gov’t Affairs, to DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen (June 6, 2018), https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/imo/med...20Election%20S ecurity%20Briefing.pdf.
34 IG Report at 101.
at 98. at 52. at 64.
at 63.
at 52, 55. at 53.
at 67.
at 67.
Page 9 of 12

35 Text Message from Peter Strzok to Lisa Page (September 19, 2016), DOJ-PROD-0000259. (on file with Comm.). 36 IG Report at 5.
37 Id. at 2.
38 Text Message from Peter Strzok to Lisa Page (Sept. 30, 2016), DOJ-PROD-0000273. (on file with Comm.).
39 IG Report at 2.
40 David E. Sanger and Charlie Savage, U.S. Says Russia Directed Hacks to Influence Elections, N.Y. TIMES (Oct. 7, 2016), https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/08/u...-stealing-dnc- emails.html?mtrref=www.google.com&gwh=90EB9E74BB49 29C28CB9769E7CDE7418&gwt=pay.
41 Letter from Mary Elizabeth Taylor, Ass’t Sec., Bureau of Leg. Affairs, U.S. Dept. of State, to Ron Johnson, S. Comm. on Homeland Sec. & Gov’t Affairs (Jun. 7, 2019). (on file with Comm).
42 IG Report at 136.
43 Id.
44 Id. at 137.
45 Id.
46 Id. at 139.
47 Id. at 141.
48 Id. at 275-276.
49 Text Message to FBI Dep. Dir. Andrew McCabe from unknown individual (Oct. 14, 2016), FBI001012. (on file with Comm.).
50 IG Report at 276.
51 Id. at 276-277.
52 Id. at 278.
53 Id. at 6, 74.
54 Id. at 6.
55 Id. at 173.
56 Id. at 256 n.400.
57 Id. at 6.
58 Letter from Senator Ron Johnson and Senator Chuck Grassley, to William P. Barr, Attorney General, U.S. Dep’t of Justice (Apr. 25, 2019) (on file with the Committee).
59 Id.
60 IG Report at 279.
61 Id. at 256 n.400.
62 Id. at 175; Gregg Re, McCain associate shared unverified Steele dossier with Buzzfeed, court filing says, FOX NEWS, Dec. 20, 2018, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mcc...le-dossier-to- buzzfeed-court-filing-says.
63 IG Report at 175.
64 Id. at 176.
65 Id.
66 Id.
67 Text message from Peter Strzok to Lisa Page (Dec. 15, 2016), Strzok-Page Texts Second production at 5. (on file with Comm.).
68 IG Report at 177.
69 Id. at 178.
70 Id.
71 Id.
72 Adam Entous and Ellen Nakashima, FBI in agreement with CIA that Russia aimed to help Trump win White House, WASH. POST, Dec. 16, 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...tins-personal- grudge-against-her-for-election-interference/2016/12/16/12f36250-c3be-11e6-8422-eac61c0ef74d_story.html.
73 Text messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page (December 16, 2016), Strzok-Page texts Second Production at 6-7. (on file with Comm.).
74 Text message from Peter Strzok to Lisa Page (Dec. 19, 2016), Strzok-Page texts Second Production at 12. (on file with Comm.).
75 Text messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page (Dec. 20, 2016), Strzok-Page texts Second Production at 15. (on file with Comm.).
76 Text messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page (Dec. 22, 2016), Strzok-Page texts Second Production at 17. (on file with Comm.).
Page 10 of 12

77 Text messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page (Dec. 22, 2016), Strzok-Page texts Second Production at 18. (on file with Comm.).
78 IG Report at 178-179.
79 Id. at 186.
80 Id. at 187. 81 Id. at 188. 82 Id.
83 Id.
84 Id. at 179.
85 Text messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page (Jan. 3, 2017), Strzok-Page Texts Second production at 23. (on file with Comm.).
86 Id.
87 IG Report at 180.
88 Id.; Rowan Scarborough, How James Clapper laid bare to Trump prostitute tale in debunked dossier, WASH. TIMES, Apr. 20, 2018, https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...trump-receive- prostitute-br/.
89 IG Report at 180.
90 Id.
91 Letter from Chairman Ron Johnson, S. Comm. on Homeland Sec. & Gov’t Affairs, to FBI Dir. Christopher Wray Nielsen (May 21, 2018), https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/media/m...details-about- intel-briefing-on-steele-dossier-to-president-elect-trump-.
92 IG Report at 176; Gregg Re, McCain associate shared unverified Steele dossier with Buzzfeed, court filing says, FOX NEWS, Dec. 20, 2018, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mcc...le-dossier-to- buzzfeed-court-filing-says.
93 IG Report at 7, 74.
94 Letter from Charles E. Grassley and Lindsey O. Graham, S. Comm. on the Judiciary, to Amb. Susan Rice (Feb. 8, 2018), https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2018-02- 08%20CEG%20LG%20to%20Rice%20(Russia%20Investigatio n%20Email).pdf.
95 Id.
96 Text messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page (Feb. 2, 2017), Strzok-Page Texts Second production at 47. (on file with Comm.).
97 IG Report at 188.
98 Id. at 186.
99 Id. at 7, 74.
100 E-mail from Peter Strzok, Fed. Bureau of Investigation, FBI_HJC_03_22_18_Req7_000376, 377 (Apr. 13, 2017). (on file with Comm.).
101 IG Report at 186.
102 Tessa Berenson, Here's a Timeline of What Led to James Comey's Firing, TIME, May 10, 2017, https://time.com/4774278/james-comey-fired-timeline/.
103 IG Report at 1.
104 Text Message from Peter Strzok to Lisa Page (May 19, 2017), Strzok-Page texts at DOJ-PROD-0000340-341. (on file with Comm.).
105 IG Report at 160, 254.
106 Id. at 7, 74.
107 Kyle Cheney, McCabe reveals he’s the one who decided to remove Strzok from Mueller’s team, POLITICO, May 20, 2019, https://www.politico.com/story/2019/...strzok-1336694.
108 IG Report at 7.
109 Id. at 194.
110 Kevin Johnson, Peter Strzok, FBI agent removed from Robert Mueller's Russia probe, called Trump an 'idiot', USA Today, Dec. 12, 2017, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...zok-fbi-agent- removed-muellers-russia-probe-called-trump/946913001/.
111 Letter from Stephen Boyd, Assistant Attorney Gen. for Legislative Affairs, Dep’t of Justice, to Sen. Ron Johnson, Chairman, S. Comm. on Homeland Security & Gov’t Affairs (Jan. 19, 2018). (on file with Comm.).
112 Brooke Singman, FBI's Strzok allegedly dismissed Mueller probe: 'no big there there', FOX NEWS, Jan. 23, 2018, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fbi...ig-there-there.
Page 11 of 12

113 Matt Zapotosky, Andrew McCabe, Trump’s Foil at the FBI, is Fired Hours Before He Could Retire, WASH. POST, Mar. 17, 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...ired-a-little- more-than-24-hours-before-he-could-retire/2018/03/16/e055a22a-2895-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html.
114 Pamela Brown and Lauren Jarrett, Justice Dept. Watchdog Sends McCabe Findings to Federal Prosecutors for Possible Charges, CNN, Apr. 19, 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/19/polit...cabe-criminal- referral/index.html.
115 Laura Jarrett and Josh Campbell, FBI officials Lisa Page and James Baker resign, CNN, May 5, 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/04/polit...ign/index.html.
116 Matt Apuzzo, Report Criticizes Comey but Finds No Bias in F.B.I. Decision on Clinton, N.Y. TIMES, June 14, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/14/u...on-report.html.
117 Matt Zapotosky, FBI Agent Peter Strzok Fired Over Anti-Trump Texts, WASH. POST, Aug. 13, 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...er-anti-trump- texts/2018/08/13/be98f84c-8e8b-11e8-b769-e3fff17f0689_story.html.
118 Jacqueline Thomsen, DOJ watchdog: No clear 'pattern' in missing Strzok, Page texts, THE HILL, Dec. 13, 2018, https://thehill.com/policy/national-...zok-page-texts.
119 Kristine Phillips, Timeline: The events that led to the inspector general's report on the origins of the Russia probe, USA TODAY, Dec. 9, 2019, https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/ne...z-fisa-report- timeline-fbis-russia-probe-carter-page-surveillance/2623350001/.
120 Id.
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Regarding the disinformation in this thread about Manafort. Manafort was convicted of crimes that occurred long before TRUMP announced his candidacy. Basically TRUMP was not material to those crimes IE he couldn’t provide any relevant information about them thus couldn’t have impeded the investigation and prosecution of those crimes.

Anyone claiming that FISA warrants weren’t the key factor in initiating the Mueller probe is just full of it.

It's true that Manafort was convicted for crimes that mostly occurred before he worked for the Trump campaign. However he was still actively meeting with Russian/Ukrainian agents while he was chairman of Trump's campaign, including sharing polling data from the campaign, and that was the reason Mueller took over the handling of the investigation. Those activities continued even after his indictment and subsequent plea deal in September 2018 and he had the plea real revoked because he lied about them, in part because it was thought the reason for the lies was to increase the likelihood of receiving a pardon from Trump.

The FISA warrants certainly had a role in starting the Mueller probe but the FBI investigation started months before that. The opening of the initial investigation had nothing to do with information obtained as a result of FISA warrants.

haha at calling me gullible when you expect Mueller to be psychic.

It took him time to put together all the cases and get all the convictions he did due tot he non cooperation by Trump and his allies. That is fact for the non gullible.

WTF? Why did you quote me with that garbage post.

No where did I suggest they should not lawyer up. No where did I say they obstructed justice. So take your made up crap elsewhere.

YES, lawyering up adds more TIME to the investigation. That is FACT and that is all I said. It took more TIME because of their actions.

If the police pull you over on the suspicion of drunk driving, and you allow a breathalyzer and it proves you innocent the investigation ends there and then and quickly and you drive on. If you refuse and require them to hold you and get a warrant, it will take more TIME. YOu cannot then blame them for the extra time it took.

Trump co-operated fully with the witch-hunt. None of the convictions had anything to do with collusion.

That is a lie. It is factually incorrect and easily provably so with just a single instance of a request that went unfulfilled.
All of the convictions had to be fully investigated to understand the nature fo the Russian involvement.

One more time, for those to daft to follow along, 'the investigation of something can be warranted even if they do not lead to convictions on that thing and/or lead to other convictions.

Over and over you keep making the mistake of suggesting that guilt has to be found or the investigation was not warranted. That is wrong.

So these top intel officials all testified in July 2017 that there was no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Yet you are trying to tell me that a three year investigation was still warranted.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/n...on-transcripts

So if no concrete evidence is found early in an investigation then the whole investigation should be scrapped without bothering to complete it in full? Even if there was still large amounts of circumstantial evidence that hadn't yet been fully investigated?

All of the replies in those transcripts are variations on saying that there was a lot of suspicious contact between the campaign and Russian agents but that it hadn't been possible to determine the exact nature of those contacts. So yeah it's technically accurate to say they had no concrete evidence of conspiracy but that is very different from saying that there was not reason to suspect that there was, which is the only thing that is relevant in determining whether the investigation was warranted.

You still support Trump.

That link you provided does not say what you think it says. It points out they were seeing troubling contacts that needed investigation.

What you are trying to say is that because they did not have the evidence at the start of the investigation it should not have been undertaken. That is incorrect. You don't start with the evidence. You seek it. Mueller was seeking it, Trump and co were stalling and blocking it thus stretching out the investigation.

The crossfire Hurricane counter-intelligence investigation into the Trump campaign began in July 2016. By July 2017 not one shred of evidence of conspiracy to collude had been found according to those top intel officials.

And investigations are only limited to finding one particular crime?

The FBI engaged in a gross abuse of power throughout this whole witch-hunt aided and abetted by the mainstream media.

https://theintercept.com/2019/12/12/...the-u-s-media/

No direct evidence. Even the article you linked to doesn't try to claim that there was no evidence of any kind. Hell it even explicitly quotes Clapper as saying that there was evidence that caused concern, which is pretty much a direct contradiction of your claim that the investigation was unwarranted.

The idea that anyone would expect an investigation of this scale to be anywhere close to completion after a year is laughable.

Yup.


I've said it many times that dumb people think that for an investigation to be valid it must find guilt and lead to charges. That is wrong.

I'll give an example again for the simple minded.

- Joe6pack is reported by a neighbor as potentially selling drugs to neighbourhood kids

- police open an investigation into Joe and start watching him

- separately another guy, who the police have been watching for drug sales meets with Joe

- separately Joe and the other guy go to a known drug den

None of the above means Joe is guilty of selling drugs. But it is a reason to continue the investigation and dig deeper for the facts. If it proves later that Joe actually did nothing wrong that is fine.

As that relates to Mueller Investigation:

- Reports come in Russia is meddling in the election to help Trump

- Separately Flynn is being investigated for Russian dealings and joins the Trump team and lies about those contacts and obstructs.

- Separately Manafort is being investigated for Russian dealings and joins the Trump team and lies about those contacts and obstructs.

- Separately the Trump team is taking meetings with Russians and Don Jr is bragging about them getting money from Russians and lies about those meetings and obstructs.

Thus Mueller is absolutely justified to continue the Republican spawned investigation of Trump and his campaign and the blame for it dragging on is on Trump.

It was a fraudulent witch-hunt from the get go carried out by corrupt FBI officials who spied on American citizens, altered documents and lied for political purposes.

Trump and his campaign and transition team and administration have committed numerous serious and some treasonous crimes which they have gotten away with due to his blatant obstruction and the intentional failure by the GOP Senate to do their sworn duty to hold him accountable.

[QUOTE=Cuepee;56131782]Yup.


I've said it many times that dumb people think that for an investigation to be valid it must find guilt and lead to charges. That is wrong.

I'll give an example again for the simple minded.

- Joe6pack is reported by a neighbor as potentially selling drugs to neighbourhood kids

- police open an investigation into Joe and start watching him

- separately another guy, who the police have been watching for drug sales meets with Joe

- separately Joe and the other guy go to a known drug den

None of the above means Joe is guilty of selling drugs. But it is a reason to continue the investigation and dig deeper for the facts. If it proves later that Joe actually did nothing wrong that is fine.

As that relates to Mueller Investigation:

Citation needed. Specifically who is making these reports and when we’re they made.

Citation needed . Specifically the timeline and the type of investigation.

Citation needed. Specifically the timeline and type of investigation.

Citation needed. Specifically the timeline and which Russians.

Citation needed. Specifically the timeline and more detail about what he was bragging about.

He testified before Congress. Can you point out what he lied about please?

You have done nothing to actually back this up.

[QUOTE=adios;56132864] I don't waste my time with the 'citation game' when as soon as you get the info you dismiss it anyway. You should just say 'even with citations I won't believe it'.


What I suggest you do is use google as EVERY SINGLE ONE of the US intelligence agencies came before Congress and said the Russians were meddling. And if you need me to cite that you are either so out of it (and purposely so) that talking to you is not worthwhile. Or you will dismiss any fact, and in which case, what is the point of giving you trolls any.

What the **** is this garbage? There is zero chance you've ever read even part of the Mueller report.

Trump obstructed the investigation at every turn. Saying otherwise is moronic. To be clear, what I'm saying is that you're a god damn idiot, Joe.

No proven obstruction. No proven collusion.

Case closed.

Oh really? Care to name some of them.

Why do people engage in a conversation with this person?