The sordid story between the Trump White House, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation/ Department of Justice reached a new level last week: there reportedly was a spy working the campaign. The asset appears to have tried to establish relationships between Sam Clovis, George Papadopoulos, and Carter Page—all members of the Trump team—in the hopes of gleaning information from them; all of this occurring under then-President Obama’s DOJ/FBI.
1. So a few important points on that new NYT "Hurricane Crossfire" piece. A story that, BTW, all of us following this knew had to be coming. This is DOJ/FBI leakers' attempt to get in front of the facts Nunes is forcing out, to make it not sound so bad. Don't buy it. It's bad.
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) May 17, 2018
2. Biggest takeaway: Govt "sources" admit that, indeed, the Obama DOJ and FBI spied on the Trump campaign. Spied. (Tho NYT kindly calls spy an "informant.") NYT slips in confirmation far down in story, and makes it out like it isn't a big deal. It is a very big deal.
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) May 17, 2018
3. In self-serving desire to get a sympathetic story about its actions, DOJ/FBI leakers are willing to provide yet more details about that "top secret" source (namely, that spying was aimed at Page/Papadopoulos)--making all more likely/certain source will be outed. That's on them
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) May 17, 2018
4. DOJ/FBI (and its leakers) have shredded what little credibility they have in claiming they cannot comply with subpoena. They are willing to provide details to friendly media, but not Congress? Willing to risk very source they claim to need to protect?
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) May 17, 2018
5. Back in Dec., NYT assured us it was the Papadopoulos-Downer convo that inspired FBI to launch official counterintelligence operation on July 31, 2016. Which was convenient, since it diminished the role of the dossier. However . . .
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) May 17, 2018
5. Back in Dec., NYT assured us it was the Papadopoulos-Downer convo that inspired FBI to launch official counterintelligence operation on July 31, 2016. Which was convenient, since it diminished the role of the dossier. However . . .
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) May 17, 2018
6. Now NYT tells us FBI didn't debrief downer until August 2nd. And Nunes says no "official intelligence" from allies was delivered to FBI about that convo prior to July 31. So how did FBI get Downer details? (Political actors?) And what really did inspire the CI investigation?
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) May 17, 2018
7. As for whether to believe line that FBI operated soberly/carefully/judiciously in 2016, a main source for this judgment is, um . . .uh . . . Sally Yates. Who was in middle of it all. A bit like asking Putin to reassure that Russia didn't meddle in our election.
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) May 17, 2018
8. On that, if u r wondering who narrated this story, note paragraphs that assure everybody that hardly anybody in DOJ knew about probe. Oh, and Comey also was given few details. Nobody knew nothin'! (Cuz when u require whole story saying u behaved, it means u know you didn't.)
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) May 17, 2018
The New York Times and Washington Post had extensive stories on this, though there was some linguistic gymnastics concerning the words spy and informant - spy vs. informant to be more accurate. Now, Axios reported tonight that this informant, who is rumored to be longtime CIA operative Stefan Halper, tried to infiltrate the Trump administration after the 2016 election. The president’s trade adviser, Pete Navarro, is said to have recommended him for a job:
He wasn't a spy.... he was hired by the FBI to secretly engage in conversations under false pretenses and then report back whatever he learned in those conversations.
— Larry O'Connor (@LarryOConnor) May 22, 2018
But he wasn't a spy.
?? https://t.co/Mki2Nvqc5X
President Trump's top trade adviser, Peter Navarro, recommended appointing Stefan Halper, an academic and suspected FBI informant on the Trump campaign, to a senior role in the Trump administration, Axios has learned.
Behind the scenes: During the presidential transition Navarro recommended Halper, among other people, for ambassador roles in Asia. A White House official said Halper visited the Eisenhower Executive Office Building last August for a meeting about China.
[…]
Navarro says he submitted Halper’s name for the Asian ambassadorship — we have not been able to confirm the country — along with around a dozen other people for roles in the region.
FBI didn't tell FISA court who paid for it; Obama politicals unmasked transition members; Steele was blabbing to the press; etc. ad nauseum. In each instance, reporters of said news were deridingly dismissed as fantasists. Yet each of these items is now fact. (And more.)
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) May 18, 2018
It seems not every criticism of the FBI/DOJ/Russia saga from the Trump camp is false. Fox News’ Chad Pergram also tweeted tonight that some GOP members on the Hill plan to present a resolution to get a second special counsel appointed. The DOJ has already asked its inspector general to look into the spy allegations.
Coalition of GOP mbrs to unveil resolution tomorrow calling for a 2nd special counsel
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) May 21, 2018
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