DOJ’s Russian Probe Tainted With FISA Abuse, May Have Involved Retaliation Against Flynn
Rep. Meadows: “Part of me wishes that I didn’t read it because I don’t want to believe that those kinds of things could be happening in this country that I call home and love so much.”
An explosive new memo is making the rounds in Congress. (Figuratively. It’s so sensitive it can only be viewed in a secure room.) The four-page memo reportedly shows “alarming” and “troubling” abuses of FISA Courts by the DOJ. The department abused the courts to spy on the Trump campaign and other Americans.
Put together by the House Intelligence Committee, the memo details the committee’s oversight of the FBI and Justice, including the controversy over unmasking and FISA surveillance. “Unmasking” refers to the decision to reveal the name of someone caught up in the routine surveillance of foreign officials. What is already known: FBI and DOJ officials aligned with Hillary Clinton used a dossier prepared by Fusion GPS, a firm hired by the Clinton campaign, to justify obtaining a FISA warrant to spy on Trump campaign officials. The memo reportedly names names. But does it reveal far worse?
Troubling and Shocking
Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz found the memo so disturbing he predicted, “I believe the consequence of its release will be major changes in people currently working at the FBI and the Department of Justice.”
“It’s troubling. It is shocking,” Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) added. “Part of me wishes that I didn’t read it because I don’t want to believe that those kinds of things could be happening in this country that I call home and love so much.” Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) said, “You think about, ‘is this happening in America or is this the KGB?’ That’s how alarming it is.” The memo is so troubling it could end Mueller’s entire probe into Russian collusion.
“Is this happening in America or is this the KGB?”
The committee made the memo available to all members of Congress. GOP members are now calling to release it to the public. An inside source told Fox News a committee vote is all that is needed to release it. The White House has five days to object.
Retaliation Against Flynn?
The memo may also detail improper activity against former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. Inside sources told Circa, the national news arm of Sinclair Broadcast Group, that the FBI’s Russian probe into former Flynn was very likely initiated as retaliation.
He once intervened on behalf of a counterterrorism agent. Flynn defended Supervisory Special Agent Robyn Gritz’s claims of sexual discrimination. This was two years before the FBI began looking into him. Gritz charged higher level employees including now-FBI Director Andrew McCabe.
According to Circa, Flynn’s move to support her was “highly unusual.” It included “a letter in 2014 on his official Pentagon stationary, a public interview in 2015 supporting Gritz’s case and an offer to testify on her behalf.” This put Flynn as a hostile witness against McCabe. The FBI asked a judge to block Flynn from speaking on Gritz’s behalf in the EEOC case.
Gritz complained of “a hostile environment, defamation of character through continued targeting by Andrew McCabe in official documents, and continuous patterns and instances of severe and excessive hostile behavior/attitude toward complainant. These actions have a negative impact on the complainant, professionally, financially, and personally.”
Nothing But Political
Three FBI employees told Circa they heard McCabe say rude things about Flynn, even before he was being investigated the probe. They said it made them uncomfortable. One even consulted a lawyer.
A source said, “As far as the troops in the field, the vast-majority were disgusted with the Russia decision, but that was McCabe driving the result that eventually led [former FBI Director James] Comey to make the decision.” Another source within the FBI remarked, “The Flynn leaks were nothing short of political. The leaks appeared to be targeted to take Flynn out.”
The GOP has been complaining for months that the Russia probe is based on nothing but a concocted dossier. The House memo may shut it down. Meanwhile, the call grows to #ReleasetheMemo.
Americans deserve to know the contents of the memo. Democrats & deep state govt officials are doing everything they can to protect those within the government who used their positions of influence to target those they disagree with politically. RELEASE THE MEMO! #ReleaseTheMemo
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 19, 2018
Follow Rachel on Twitter at Rach_IC.
