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==Obamagate scandal==

==Obamagate scandal==

The House Judiciary and Oversight committees concluded in 2018 that the DOJ under [[President Barack Obama]] had treated [[Donald Trump]] and [[Hillary Clinton]] unequally by affording Clinton and her associates extraordinary accommodations, while abusing surveillance powers to investigate Trump’s associates.

The House Judiciary and Oversight committees concluded in 2018 that the DOJ under [[President Barack Obama]] had treated [[Donald Trump]] and [[Hillary Clinton]] unequally by affording Clinton and her associates extraordinary accommodations, while abusing surveillance powers to investigate Trump's associates.

Baker testified that it was [[Michael Sussmann]], a partner at [[Perkins Coie]], who shared with him information that detailed alleged communications between servers in Trump Tower and servers located in [[Russia]] at Alfa Bank—an allegation that eventually was debunked.<ref>https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/11/the-trump-server-evaluating-new-evidence-and-countertheories.html</ref> Sussmann was also the lawyer who spearheaded the handling of the alleged breach of the [[DNC]] servers.  

Baker testified that it was [[Michael Sussmann]], a partner at [[Perkins Coie]], who shared with him information that detailed alleged communications between servers in Trump Tower and servers located in [[Russia]] at Alfa Bank—an allegation that eventually was debunked.<ref>https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/11/the-trump-server-evaluating-new-evidence-and-countertheories.html</ref> Sussmann was also the lawyer who spearheaded the handling of the alleged breach of the [[DNC]] servers.  

James Baker, Comey's top legal advisor in the FBI, told Congressional investigators the FBI [[collude]]d with [[Michael Sussmann]], DNC attorney with [[Perkins Coie]] before [[FusionGPS]] was hired to author false and defamatory allegations against Donald Trump.<ref>https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/409817-russia-collusion-bombshell-dnc-lawyers-met-with-fbi-on-dossier-before</ref> Sussmann reportedly provided Baker with documents and electronic media, tainted evidence that was used to gain a warrant to spy on opposition Republicans without informing the court of its origins in the 2016 elections.<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2018/10/04/fbi-dnc-lawyer-russia-2016-election/</ref>

James Baker, Comey's top legal advisor in the FBI, told Congressional investigators the FBI [[collude]]d with [[Michael Sussmann]], DNC attorney with [[Perkins Coie]] before [[FusionGPS]] was hired to author false and defamatory allegations against Donald Trump.<ref>https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/409817-russia-collusion-bombshell-dnc-lawyers-met-with-fbi-on-dossier-before</ref> Sussmann reportedly provided Baker with documents and electronic media, tainted evidence that was used to gain a warrant to spy on opposition Republicans without informing the court of its origins in the 2016 elections.<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2018/10/04/fbi-dnc-lawyer-russia-2016-election/</ref>

Baker told investigators that he personally reviewed portions of the Page FISA application, adding that this wasn’t something he would usually get involved in. He also admitted that he didn’t review the Woods file, which provides underlying documentation for the accuracy of facts represented in the FISA application. Baker testified that he told James Comey at some point that he thought the FISA “was legally sufficient.”<ref>https://www.theepochtimes.com/transcripts-of-former-top-fbi-lawyer-detail-pervasive-abnormalities-in-trump-probe_2771370.html</ref>

Baker told investigators that he personally reviewed portions of the Page FISA application, adding that this wasn't something he would usually get involved in. He also admitted that he didn't review the Woods file, which provides underlying documentation for the accuracy of facts represented in the FISA application. Baker testified that he told James Comey at some point that he thought the FISA “was legally sufficient.”<ref>https://www.theepochtimes.com/transcripts-of-former-top-fbi-lawyer-detail-pervasive-abnormalities-in-trump-probe_2771370.html</ref>

In 1972, opposition researchers working for [[President Nixon]] broke into the [[Watergate]] hotel to spy on Democrat opponents during the [[1972 presidential election]]. Nixon later was forced from office and disgraced for abusing his office by illegal domestic spying on political opponents to influence the outcome of an election. Dozens of [[conspiracy|conspirator]]s - inside and outside of government - were convicted and jailed.

In 1972, opposition researchers working for [[President Nixon]] broke into the [[Watergate]] hotel to spy on Democrat opponents during the [[1972 presidential election]]. Nixon later was forced from office and disgraced for abusing his office by illegal domestic spying on political opponents to influence the outcome of an election. Dozens of [[conspiracy|conspirator]]s - inside and outside of government - were convicted and jailed.

In 2017, Sinclair-owned ''Circa News'' reported that Baker was under a Department of Justice [[criminal]] investigation for allegedly leaking classified national security information concerning the [[Trump administration]] to the media.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.circa.com/story/2017/07/26/politics/james-a-baker-fbi-general-counsel-is-allegedly-under-an-investigation-for-leaking-classified-information-to-the-media|title=EXCLUSIVE: A top FBI lawyer is allegedly under an investigation for leaking classified information to the media|access-date=|date=July 27, 2017|language=en|work=Circa News}}</ref><ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/22/trump-dossier-fbi-james-baker-david-corn-mother-jones-316157 </ref>

In 2017, Sinclair-owned ''Circa News'' reported that Baker was under a Department of Justice [[criminal]] investigation for allegedly leaking classified national security information concerning the [[Trump administration]] to the media.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.circa.com/story/2017/07/26/politics/james-a-baker-fbi-general-counsel-is-allegedly-under-an-investigation-for-leaking-classified-information-to-the-media|title=EXCLUSIVE: A top FBI lawyer is allegedly under an investigation for leaking classified information to the media|access-date=|date=July 27, 2017|language=en|work=Circa News}}</ref><ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/22/trump-dossier-fbi-james-baker-david-corn-mother-jones-316157 </ref>

Baker admitted he received a version of the ''[[Steele dossier]]'' from leftist reporter [[David Corn]] of ''[[Mother Jones]]'' magazine, and then forwarded it to [[Peter Strzok]]'s team. Corn says that occurred in November 2016, right after the [[2016 presidential election]]. Baker admitted to having received parts of the ''Steele dossier'' from Corn. Baker testified that these sections were different than the ones already in the FBI’s possession: "My recollection is that he had part of the dossier, that we had other parts already, and that we got still other parts from other people, and that — and nevertheless some of the parts that David Corn gave us were parts that we did not have from another source."

Baker admitted he received a version of the ''[[Steele dossier]]'' from leftist reporter [[David Corn]] of ''[[Mother Jones]]'' magazine, and then forwarded it to [[Peter Strzok]]'s team. Corn says that occurred in November 2016, right after the [[2016 presidential election]]. Baker admitted to having received parts of the ''Steele dossier'' from Corn. Baker testified that these sections were different than the ones already in the FBI's possession: "My recollection is that he had part of the dossier, that we had other parts already, and that we got still other parts from other people, and that — and nevertheless some of the parts that David Corn gave us were parts that we did not have from another source."

Baker said he either knew or assumed at the time that Corn had gotten the dossier from [[Fusion GPS]] co-founder [[Glenn Simpson]], whom [[Christopher Steele]] worked for.

Baker said he either knew or assumed at the time that Corn had gotten the dossier from [[Fusion GPS]] co-founder [[Glenn Simpson]], whom [[Christopher Steele]] worked for.

The FBI used the news media as alleged "corroborating evidence" they presented to the [[FISA court]] as supposed independent investigation results which, in fact, came from the same source - the foreign agent Christopher Steele.<ref>https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/410447-former-fbi-lawyer-plot-to-record-remove-trump-not-a-joke</ref>

The FBI used the news media as alleged "corroborating evidence" they presented to the [[FISA court]] as supposed independent investigation results which, in fact, came from the same source - the foreign agent Christopher Steele.<ref>https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/410447-former-fbi-lawyer-plot-to-record-remove-trump-not-a-joke</ref>

DOJ official [[Bruce Ohr]], who was a key conduit between Steele and the FBI, testified that he had informed the bureau of Steele’s anti-Trump bias, and that the dossier was tied to the Clinton campaign and the DNC. Neither fact appeared in the final FISA application before it was approved by the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court]].

DOJ official [[Bruce Ohr]], who was a key conduit between Steele and the FBI, testified that he had informed the bureau of Steele's anti-Trump bias, and that the dossier was tied to the Clinton campaign and the DNC. Neither fact appeared in the final FISA application before it was approved by the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court]].

When asked whether he was aware of Bruce Ohr’s warning to the FBI, Baker responded, “I don’t recall ever hearing that before just right now” in his 2018 Congressional testimony. Baker told lawmakers he was aware Ohr served as Steele’s back-channel to the FBI, but said he was unaware, however, that Ohr’s FBI handler, agent [[Joe Pientka]], funneled the intelligence to FBI Deputy Assistant Director [[Peter Strzok]] and FBI attorney [[Lisa Page]]. Baker said that he only became aware of the fact that Ohr’s wife, [[Nellie Ohr]], worked for Fusion GPS—which had also employed Steele—from public reporting.

When asked whether he was aware of Bruce Ohr's warning to the FBI, Baker responded, “I don’t recall ever hearing that before just right now” in his 2018 Congressional testimony. Baker told lawmakers he was aware Ohr served as Steele's back-channel to the FBI, but said he was unaware, however, that Ohr's FBI handler, agent [[Joe Pientka]], funneled the intelligence to FBI Deputy Assistant Director [[Peter Strzok]] and FBI attorney [[Lisa Page]]. Baker said that he only became aware of the fact that Ohr's wife, [[Nellie Ohr]], worked for Fusion GPS—which had also employed Steele—from public reporting.

Strzok and Lisa Page exchanged dozens of text messages expressing bias against Donald Trump and support for Hillary Clinton, while playing key roles on the investigations related to both candidates. The discovery of the text messages led to the removal of Strzok from the [[Mueller probe]]. Baker told Congress he ordered an investigation into the messages shortly after reading them.

Strzok and Lisa Page exchanged dozens of text messages expressing bias against Donald Trump and support for Hillary Clinton, while playing key roles on the investigations related to both candidates. The discovery of the text messages led to the removal of Strzok from the [[Mueller probe]]. Baker told Congress he ordered an investigation into the messages shortly after reading them.