After Russiagate, there’s a lot of FBI bashing in conservative circles.
It’s worth remembering that these guys represent the rank and file the way that Gen. Milley represents the troops. Democrats are very effective at taking over agencies and institutions from the top down.
And so it’s not surprising that it appears that FBI leadership was lying to its own people about Russiagate.
In the latest revelation to emerge from Sussmann’s trial in DC federal court on a count of lying to the FBI, special counsel John Durham’s prosecutors revealed that investigators had received an electronic communication citing a referral from the DOJ “on or about” Sept. 19, 2016, the same day Sussmann met with James Baker, then the FBI’s top lawyer.
The document, a record of the investigation being opened by agents Curtis Heide and Allison Sands and dated Sept. 23, 2016, did not mention Sussmann as the source of the allegations…
Sands, who testified late Monday afternoon, told jurors that she believed Heide had told her the referral came from the Department of Justice.
The error was seized on by Sussmann’s defense attorney Michael Bosworth, who grilled Sands about whether Heide had lied to her – or if someone had lied to him about the source of the material.
“You haven’t been interviewed in that [Durham] investigation?” Bosworth asked at one point. “No,” Sands responded.
Testifying for the prosecution Monday, FBI agent Ryan Gaynor revealed that bureau honchos shielded Sussmann’s identity from field agents who investigated the claims of a link between Trump and Alfa Bank as part of a longstanding practice known as a “close hold.”
Gaynor told prosecutor Andrew DeFilippis that the decision to hide where the information was made by top leadership at the FBI before the Alfa Bank material was given to the Chicago field office.
No doubt.
The careerists often either had Clinton ties or hoped to cultivate them. They left others in the dark to protect themselves and the Clinton campaign. And the credibility of this whole smear campaign.
PMK says
The FBI Chicago field office opened an investigation as a result of receiving this information. The investigating agents quickly determined that it was overblown and that the idea that Trump could be communicating with the Alfa bank server was nearly impossible because of firewalls. The connection turned out to be a marketing firm sending spam e-mails to hotels.
How long did we hear about Trump’s connection to a Russian bank? The fact that these agents didn’t come forward long ago makes me distrust even the ‘good’ FBI agents. It’s not just the 7th Floor. Whatever happened to whistleblowers?
libertyORdeath says
The problem with the Whistleblowers is that they are almost always either ideological leftists who do it to advance the leftist agenda, or as with many recent cases they are opportunists who hope to use it as a means to further their career. Some good examples of both are the Twitter Whistleblower, who did it to advance their censorship agenda, and the Florida tech worker who leaked fake covid stats to smear Governor DeSantis and advance her own career in leftist circles. There are very few Snowdens and Assanges out there, but a shitload of Bradley Mannings and Alexander Vindmans out there.
Nobody blew the whistle on gain of function research, but a Supreme Court draft was leaked in unprecedented fashion. During Trump’s presidency there were literally hundreds of government officials in the deep-state leaking (many times false) stories to the press, yet even with the string of disasters that have followed the inauguration of His Fraudulency into office the same officials have stayed quiet.
It comes down to culture and decency. Conservatives generally follow the rules, sometimes to a fault. On the other hand the party of lies, crime and propaganda have zero moral issues with breaking the rules to get whst they want. I still prefer our side to take the high road, but sometimes you gotta get down in the mud to defeat the enemy.
mortimer says
It’s precisely what many leading Republicans have said all along (based on their insider information!
Namely, TOP FBI FIGURES LIED TO CALUMNIATE DONALD TRUMP and SHIELD Hill-liar-y Clinton from criticism.
The rank-and-file FBI were and are loyal, true blue Americans, but the top echelon is composed of POLITICAL OPERATIVES CONSPIRING to make Dems the PERMANENT INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY!
somehistory says
Regular citizens can go to prison for every lie they tell to LE…including the FBI. Regular citizens can be sent to prison for lying to Congress…even though Congress is rife with liars.
But, the government has made so many *loopholes* for those who are hired to protect and serve and investigate and make laws, so they can lie to the public and they can lie to each other without fear of going to the local jail for a short stay, much less being sent to prison for lying.
That’s some kind of “justice.” It’s a wonder that any of them can sleep at night…or even nap during the day.
gravenimage says
FBI Bosses Lied to Their Own People About Russiagate
…………
There was a time when I had great respect for the FBI–sadly, it’s been a while.
somehistory says
g,
this is of topic, but it does involve lies. thought you might be interested in reading it.
“How I was trapped by gender ideology”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/how-i-was-trapped-by-gender-ideology
gravenimage says
So sad, Somehistory. I’m at least glad that Steven Richards realized that this wasn’t for him–but he realized this too late to ever lead a normal life. I wonder how many others there are like him? Thanks for that link.
somehistory says
yes, g, I feel really bad for him. so unhappy, but so very brave to put it all down in writing and sharing it so others can avoid the pain and he regret he suffers.
And to put a bright light on those who are destroying young lives.
gravenimage says
+1
wpm says
I believe there is a need to purge the upper levels of leadership in the FBI or just scrape the whole organization and start over.
Andrew Blackadder says
Donald J.Trump did NOT collude with any Russia Bank or Person….Who Knew ?… I DID…
OLD GUY says
Money and POWER corrupt even at the TOP. Or maybe I should say most often at the TOP. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has thousands of great agents that save lives and stop a lot of criminal activity. Any organization as large as the FBI is bound to have a few bad apples, and thats not limited to rank and file agents. Their leadership must be held to the highest standards and stay out of the political picture.
My sincere thanks to the Men and Women of the FBI for the work they do to make us all safer.
gravenimage says
Agreed, OLD GUY. Still lots of good people at the FBI in the rank and file.
gary fouse says
As a retired DEA agent, I was never a big fan of the FBI even though I spent my last 5 years as an instructor in DEA’s Office of Training, which was then located within the FBI Academy. The problem has historically been the Bureau’s lack of full cooperation with other agencies, an institutional problem that goes back to the Hoover days.
The majority of FBI agents are honest and dedicated, and I have always supported their efforts against terrorism. But there is clearly a problem at the top as the whole Hillary Clinton-Donald Trump-Michael Flynn-FISA saga has clearly indicated. It is a shame that these corrupt officials at the top were never indicted.
James Lincoln says
Thank you for your service with the DEA.
To your point, I personally know a few excellent and patriotic FBI field agents.
I believe that most of the rot is at the top…
gravenimage says
Thank you so much, Gary.