Democratic Memo Defends FBI Surveillance of Ex-Trump Adviser

[Dashinka 25,864]

To very little fanfare, and containing somewhat collaborative information to the first memo and the Senate criminal referral the Democrat memo came out on Saturday.

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/house-releases-democratic-memo-on-russia-investigation-1519509217?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=4

[TBoneTX 47,510]

Paywall...

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

46 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Paywall...

Good thing I have my WSJ digital subscription then.

[smilesammich 10,727]

Quote

In 2013, the memo said, prosecutors indicted a pair of Russian spies who had “targeted Page for recruitment.” Mr. Page has confirmed he was targeted for recruitment by Russian intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover in a high-profile 2015 New York spy case. He wasn’t charged with any crimes in the case.

 

In March 2016, the FBI interviewed Mr. Page about his intelligence contacts, the Democratic memo said. Law-enforcement officials obtained four court approvals to surveil Mr. Page, the first in October 2016, and then three renewals. The memo said the surveillance of Mr. Page yielded “valuable intelligence.”

“The FBI’s concern about and knowledge of Page’s activities therefore long predate the FBI’s receipt of Steele’s information,” the memo said.

 

It said the FBI had already established Mr. Steele’s credibility before seeking to spy on Mr. Page, noting the warrant application reviewed his “multi-year history” of providing solid information on Russia and other matters.

The Republican memo said the FBI and Justice Department had omitted from its warrant application that Mr. Steele’s research had been funded by the Democratic Party and the Hillary Clinton campaign.

 

That wasn’t the case, the Democratic memo stated; the application clearly disclosed that Mr. Steele’s researched was underwritten by a party “likely looking for information that could be used to discredit” then-candidate Trump, it stated.

The Republican memo described Mr. Page as “volunteer adviser to the Trump presidential campaign.” The Democratic memo noted that Mr. Page parted ways with the Trump campaign before the Justice Department applied for a warrant and said the surveillance warrant wasn’t used to spy on Mr. Trump or his campaign.

 

Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee had hoped to release their memo alongside the GOP-produced document. On Feb. 9, Mr. Trump denied the request to release it and sent the Democratic memo back for revisions, citing national-security concerns. After that, committee staff and FBI and Justice Department officials began negotiating over redactions that would clear the way to releasing the document, sending drafts back and forth for review.

In an interview Saturday, Mr. Schiff said law-enforcement officials and committee staff agreed on Feb. 16 to a set of redactions that would address concerns about disclosing classified material. Mr. Schiff said the Democrats heard nothing more from the White House for a week. He said it is no coincidence the Trump administration sent the memo to the committee on a Saturday, “when they hoped people wouldn’t notice.” The House Intelligence Committee released the memo Saturday afternoon.

The White House disputed that claim. A White House official said there was no attempt to delay the memo or ensure it would be released on the weekend to minimize news coverage.

no coincidence at all..

[Dashinka 25,864]

On ‎2‎/‎26‎/‎2018 at 1:44 PM, smilesammich said:

no coincidence at all..

Yep all is well now that Adam Schiff has spoken.  It is interesting that the Democratic memo confirmed that there was one campaign that was colluding with the Russians. 

[smilesammich 10,727]

2 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

Yep all is well now that Adam Schiff has spoken.  It is interesting that the Democratic memo confirmed that there was one campaign that was colluding with the Russians. 

haha. the only thing interesting is that false premise is the only tidbit you wrangled out of all this.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

Even Stevie Wonder an Ray Charles could see what’s going on.  But that doesn’t automatically mean everyone will have their eyes so open.

[Dashinka 25,864]

1 hour ago, smilesammich said:

haha. the only thing interesting is that false premise is the only tidbit you wrangled out of all this.

I am just amazed that you excuse one side for collusion, but are all for persecuting the other side for it.  If Trump's team did collude with them, then they should be prosecuted, but more than 18 months of Mueller's investigation has yielded nothing, yet, this House committee has uncovered illegal collusion and both sides agree.

 

Otherwise, the Democratic memo looks like a rehash of Democrat talking points and a big CYA for the previous administration which was using government agencies for political attacks.  But I suppose you cannot see that.

[smilesammich 10,727]

Just now, Bill & Katya said:

I am just amazed that you excuse one side for collusion, but are all for persecuting the other side for it.  If Trump's team did collude with them, then they should be prosecuted, but more than 18 months of Mueller's investigation has yielded nothing, yet, this House committee has uncovered illegal collusion and both sides agree.

 

Otherwise, the Democratic memo looks like a rehash of Democrat talking points and a big CYA for the previous administration which was using government agencies for political attacks.  But I suppose you cannot see that.

'yielded nothing' 

[Dashinka 25,864]

1 minute ago, smilesammich said:

'yielded nothing' 

Nothing related to Russian collusion, but I suppose that is not visible either.