Changes

===Simpson, Steele, and the Ohrs===

===Simpson, Steele, and the Ohrs===

<!--'''18-20 November.''' [[McCain]] and his longtime adviser, David Kramer–an ex-U.S. State Dept. official–attend a security conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia where former UK ambassador to Russia Sir Andrew Wood tells them about the Fusion GPS anti-Trump dossier. (Kramer is affiliated with the anti-Russia “Ukraine Today” media organization). They discuss confirming the info has reached top levels of  FBI for action.-->

<!--'''18-20 November.''' [[McCain]] and his longtime adviser, David Kramer–an ex-U.S. State Dept. official–attend a security conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia where former UK ambassador to Russia Sir Andrew Wood tells them about the Fusion GPS anti-Trump dossier. (Kramer is affiliated with the anti-Russia “Ukraine Today” media organization). They discuss confirming the info has reached top levels of  FBI for action.-->

Sometime around Thanksgiving, [[Glenn Simpson]] of FusionGPS met with Assistant Attn. Gen. [[Bruce Ohr]]. Ohr and Simpson discussed the Clinton campaign's ''[[Steele dossier]]'', the Russia meddling investigation, and what Simpson considered the distressing development of Trump’s victory. Ohr's wife, [[Nellie Ohr]], a former employee of the [[CIA]], worked for [[FusionGPS]] also.<ref>Nellie Ohr represented the CIA's "Open Source Works" group in a 2010 "expert working group report on international organized crime" along with Bruce Ohr and Glenn Simpson. Open Source Works, the CIA’s in-house open source analysis component, is devoted to intelligence analysis of unclassified, open source information. The directive that established Open Source Works is classified, as is the charter of the organization. CIA says the existence of any such records is a classified fact.</ref>

Sometime around Thanksgiving, [[Glenn Simpson]] of FusionGPS met with Assistant Attn. Gen. [[Bruce Ohr]]. Ohr and Simpson discussed the Clinton campaign's ''[[Steele dossier]]'', the Russia meddling investigation, and what Simpson considered the distressing development of Trump's victory. Ohr's wife, [[Nellie Ohr]], a former employee of the [[CIA]], worked for [[FusionGPS]] also.<ref>Nellie Ohr represented the CIA's "Open Source Works" group in a 2010 "expert working group report on international organized crime" along with Bruce Ohr and Glenn Simpson. Open Source Works, the CIA’s in-house open source analysis component, is devoted to intelligence analysis of unclassified, open source information. The directive that established Open Source Works is classified, as is the charter of the organization. CIA says the existence of any such records is a classified fact.</ref>

<!--'''28 November.''' McCain associate David Kramer flies to London to meet Christopher Steele for a briefing on the anti-Trump research. Afterward, Fusion GPS’ Glenn Simpson gives Sen. McCain a copy of the “dossier.” Steele also passes anti-Trump info to top UK government official in charge of national security. Sen. McCain soon arranges a meeting with FBI Director Comey.

<!--'''28 November.''' McCain associate David Kramer flies to London to meet Christopher Steele for a briefing on the anti-Trump research. Afterward, Fusion GPS’ Glenn Simpson gives Sen. McCain a copy of the “dossier.” Steele also passes anti-Trump info to top UK government official in charge of national security. Sen. McCain soon arranges a meeting with FBI Director Comey.

*'''13 December.''' Sen. McCain receives copy of ''Steele dossier''.''<ref>https://t.co/ujPqB4bOLK?amp=1</ref>-->

*'''13 December.''' Sen. McCain receives copy of ''Steele dossier''.''<ref>https://t.co/ujPqB4bOLK?amp=1</ref>-->

When [[Jake Tapper]] of [[CNN]] broke the story of the dossier's sensational allegations co-written by Evan Perez - a friend and former colleague of FusionGPS principal [[Glenn Simpson]], it cleared the way for ''BuzzFeed'' to publish the entire dossier, and signaled that the intelligence community was implementing the "insurance policy". This completed a circular echo chamber, binding the intelligence community - chartered to steal and keep secrets, to the media - embodying the right to free speech.

When [[Jake Tapper]] of [[CNN]] broke the story of the dossier's sensational allegations co-written by Evan Perez - a friend and former colleague of FusionGPS principal [[Glenn Simpson]], it cleared the way for ''BuzzFeed'' to publish the entire dossier, and signaled that the intelligence community was implementing the "insurance policy". This completed a circular echo chamber, binding the intelligence community - chartered to steal and keep secrets, to the media - embodying the right to free speech.

Russiagate was no longer part of Hillary Clinton's political campaign directed at Trump, it was now a [[disinformation]] operation aimed at the American public, as the pre-election media coverage resonated more fully with the ''[[Steele dossier]]'' in the open. The [[mainstream media]] now implied all the innuendo published about Trump and [[Putin]] was really true—there’s a document proving it. What the press corps neglected to add was that they’d been reporting the same Clinton talking points and innuendo from the same opposition research since before the election, and were now parroting the same unsubstantiated “evidence” to prove it was true.

Russiagate was no longer part of Hillary Clinton's political campaign directed at Trump, it was now a [[disinformation]] operation aimed at the American public, as the pre-election media coverage resonated more fully with the ''[[Steele dossier]]'' in the open. The [[mainstream media]] now implied all the innuendo published about Trump and [[Putin]] was really true—there's a document proving it. What the press corps neglected to add was that they’d been reporting the same Clinton talking points and innuendo from the same opposition research since before the election, and were now parroting the same unsubstantiated “evidence” to prove it was true.

On Tuesday January 10, 2017, CNN stated President-elect Trump was briefed on the ''Clinton-Steele dossier''.  An hour later Buzzfeed published the dossier. The next day, Wednesday January 11, Trump said he was not briefed on the dossier.  NBC confirmed Trump wasn’t briefed.  Fox News confirmed Trump wasn’t briefed. Later that night Wednesday January 11, DNI [[James Clapper]] issued a press statement noting that he had only just now briefed President-elect Trump on the dossier moments before. Clapper's press release stated, “The [[IC]] has not made any judgment that the information in this document is reliable," yet Clapper's intelligence community used the same dossier, with no other evidence, to obtain a FISA warrant for surveillance on the Trump campaign three months earlier. The fact the "evidence" originated as a political smear campaign from the Clinton campaign and [[Democratic party]] was never told to the [[FISA court]].

On Tuesday January 10, 2017, CNN stated President-elect Trump was briefed on the ''Clinton-Steele dossier''.  An hour later Buzzfeed published the dossier. The next day, Wednesday January 11, Trump said he was not briefed on the dossier.  NBC confirmed Trump wasn't briefed.  Fox News confirmed Trump wasn't briefed. Later that night Wednesday January 11, DNI [[James Clapper]] issued a press statement noting that he had only just now briefed President-elect Trump on the dossier moments before. Clapper's press release stated, “The [[IC]] has not made any judgment that the information in this document is reliable," yet Clapper's intelligence community used the same dossier, with no other evidence, to obtain a FISA warrant for surveillance on the Trump campaign three months earlier. The fact the "evidence" originated as a political smear campaign from the Clinton campaign and [[Democratic party]] was never told to the [[FISA court]].

==Russian sanctions==

==Russian sanctions==

Within a few weeks the Global Magnitsky Act<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/putin-congress-rohrabacher-trump-231775 </ref> and the Inspector General Empowerment Act were passed. The OIG now had access once again to all information the Obama administration had been refusing to Inspectors General which created the [[FISA abuse]] scandal.  

Within a few weeks the Global Magnitsky Act<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/putin-congress-rohrabacher-trump-231775 </ref> and the Inspector General Empowerment Act were passed. The OIG now had access once again to all information the Obama administration had been refusing to Inspectors General which created the [[FISA abuse]] scandal.  

On December 22 right after an anti-Istaeli resolution was proposed at the UN by the US, a “very senior member” of Trump’s transition team — who has been identified as [[Jared Kushner]] directed Michael Flynn to contact officials of the various foreign governments on the [[UN Security Council]] to inform them Trump opposed an Obama orchestrated resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity. Russian Amb. Sergei Kislyak informed Flynn that Russia would not vote against the Obama administration's resolution condemning [[Israel]] despite Trump's opposition to it.<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/article/454293/robert-mueller-trump-russia-investigation-michael-flynn-obama-administration-foreign-policy-israel</ref>

On December 22 right after an anti-Istaeli resolution was proposed at the UN by the US, a “very senior member” of Trump's transition team — who has been identified as [[Jared Kushner]] directed Michael Flynn to contact officials of the various foreign governments on the [[UN Security Council]] to inform them Trump opposed an Obama orchestrated resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity. Russian Amb. Sergei Kislyak informed Flynn that Russia would not vote against the Obama administration's resolution condemning [[Israel]] despite Trump's opposition to it.<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/article/454293/robert-mueller-trump-russia-investigation-michael-flynn-obama-administration-foreign-policy-israel</ref>

On December 23 Obama signed an executive order with a new round of sanctions against Russia. Flynn sought guidance from K.T. McFarland about what to tell Kislyak. Flynn and McFarland discussed how the sanctions might affect Trump foreign-policy goals. McFarland told Flynn that the transition team did not want Russia to escalate the situation — meaning, not to respond aggressively to Obama’s move.

On December 23 Obama signed an executive order with a new round of sanctions against Russia. Flynn sought guidance from K.T. McFarland about what to tell Kislyak. Flynn and McFarland discussed how the sanctions might affect Trump foreign-policy goals. McFarland told Flynn that the transition team did not want Russia to escalate the situation — meaning, not to respond aggressively to Obama's move.

[[File:27067022 1565197686869300 6687960957434384962 n.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Mainstream news sources repeated fake news put out by the Obama administration stirring up anti-Russian hysteria to justify the illegal surveillance of Gen. Michael Flynn's conversations with the Russian ambassador.]]

[[File:27067022 1565197686869300 6687960957434384962 n.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Mainstream news sources repeated fake news put out by the Obama administration stirring up anti-Russian hysteria to justify the illegal surveillance of Gen. Michael Flynn's conversations with the Russian ambassador.]]

Flynn called Kislyak, asking that Russia not escalate — that it restrict itself to a measured, reciprocal response.

Flynn called Kislyak, asking that Russia not escalate — that it restrict itself to a measured, reciprocal response.

The following day Obama announced the new sanctions as retribution for alleged hacking activities.  From this date until Trump’s inauguration January 20, the White House aggressively pumped into the media two streams of information: one about Russian hacking; the other about about alleged collusion with Trump. The two streams were merged into one by [[mainstream media]] reporters.<ref>https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/the-administration/326331-how-obamas-white-house-weaponized-the-media-against#.WN2IVaoTssw.twitter</ref> The mainstream [[fake news]] rose to an hysterical pitch over "Russian vote hacking."<ref>https://nation.com.pk/30-Dec-2016/us-expels-35-russian-intel-agents-over-vote-hacking</ref>

The following day Obama announced the new sanctions as retribution for alleged hacking activities.  From this date until Trump's inauguration January 20, the White House aggressively pumped into the media two streams of information: one about Russian hacking; the other about about alleged collusion with Trump. The two streams were merged into one by [[mainstream media]] reporters.<ref>https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/the-administration/326331-how-obamas-white-house-weaponized-the-media-against#.WN2IVaoTssw.twitter</ref> The mainstream [[fake news]] rose to an hysterical pitch over "Russian vote hacking."<ref>https://nation.com.pk/30-Dec-2016/us-expels-35-russian-intel-agents-over-vote-hacking</ref>

The ''Washington Post'' falsely reported on a Russian effort to penetrate the electrical grid by hacking into a Vermont utility. The story offers a senior administration official speculating on Russian motives. The infrastructure hack is reported to be part of a broader hacking campaign that includes [[election]] hacking. The story then moves to Trump: “He…has spoken highly of Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]], despite President Obama’s suggestion that the approval for hacking came from the highest levels of the [[Kremlin]].”<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/russian-hackers-penetrated-us-electricity-grid-through-a-utility-in-vermont/2016/12/30/8fc90cc4-ceec-11e6-b8a2-8c2a61b0436f_story.html?utm_term=.619af97ae363</ref> The story is repeated by news organizations throughout America. Only later the false claims about the power grid were retracted, but the speculation and slanders about Trump and innuendo of Russian collusion and "vote hacking" never were retracted.<ref>http://nypost.com/2017/01/01/washington-post-retracts-story-about-russian-hack-at-vermont-utility/</ref>

The ''Washington Post'' falsely reported on a Russian effort to penetrate the electrical grid by hacking into a Vermont utility. The story offers a senior administration official speculating on Russian motives. The infrastructure hack is reported to be part of a broader hacking campaign that includes [[election]] hacking. The story then moves to Trump: “He…has spoken highly of Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]], despite President Obama’s suggestion that the approval for hacking came from the highest levels of the [[Kremlin]].”<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/russian-hackers-penetrated-us-electricity-grid-through-a-utility-in-vermont/2016/12/30/8fc90cc4-ceec-11e6-b8a2-8c2a61b0436f_story.html?utm_term=.619af97ae363</ref> The story is repeated by news organizations throughout America. Only later the false claims about the power grid were retracted, but the speculation and slanders about Trump and innuendo of Russian collusion and "vote hacking" never were retracted.<ref>http://nypost.com/2017/01/01/washington-post-retracts-story-about-russian-hack-at-vermont-utility/</ref>

==Obama Oval Office meeting==

==Obama Oval Office meeting==

Susan Rice sent a CYA email to herself about a secret [[Oval Office]] meeting where the ''[[Clinton-Steele dossier]]'' is discussed;<ref>https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/10/politics/donald-trump-intelligence-report-russia/index.html</ref><ref>https://apnews.com/152579d488a740b2a8d39fbe2f34506d</ref><ref>https://apnews.com/a82309544e9e465fa2ad4f83e5a48540</ref> (the email was written and sent to herself 15 minutes after Trump was sworn in on Jan. 20):<ref>https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-graham-uncover-unusual-email-sent-susan-rice-herself-president-trump-s </ref> {{Quotebox|"On January 5, following a briefing by [[IC]] leadership on Russian hacking during the 2016 Presidential election, [[President Obama]] had a brief follow-on conversation with FBI Director [[Jim Comey]] and Deputy Attorney General [[Sally Yates]] in the Oval Office. [[Vice President Biden]] and I were also present.<br><br>President Obama began the conversation by stressing his continued commitment to ensuring that every aspect of this issue is handled by the Intelligence and law enforcement communities "by the book". The President stressed that he is not asking about, initiating or instructing anything from a law enforcement perspective. He reiterated that our law enforcement team needs to proceed as it normally would by the book.<br>From a national security perspective, however, President Obama said he wants to be sure that, as we engage with the incoming team, we are mindful to ascertain if there is any reason that we cannot share information fully as it relates to Russia.<br><br>[Redacted section]<br><br>The President asked Comey to inform him if anything changes in the next few weeks that should affect how we share classified information with the incoming team. Comey said he would."<ref>https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2018-02-08%20CEG%20LG%20to%20Rice%20(Russia%20Investigation%20Email).pdf</ref>}}At the conclusion of the briefing, Obama asked Sally Yates and James Comey to remain. Together with Susan Rice, is where the “by the book” CYA comment comes into play. The 90-day surveillance period under the FISA warrant had just a bit over two weeks left to run — it was set to expire just as Trump was to take office. (Reporting suggests that there may also have been a FISA warrant on Paul Manafort around this time.) The Obama administration was confronting a deadline if the FISA warrant was to be renewed while Obama was still in power. The officials in the meeting needed to figure out how the investigation could continue despite the fact that its central focus, Trump, was about to be sworn in as president. Rice’s “by the book” bunkum is transparent: Obama officials claimed to adhere to a book that forbade consultations between political leaders and investigators. But here they were consulting. So Rice tried to cover their tracks in her email: She revises history such that the consultation morphs into a mere friendly reminder that Obama wanted everything done by the book.<ref>https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/02/susan-rice-email-president-obama-russia-investigation/</ref>

Susan Rice sent a CYA email to herself about a secret [[Oval Office]] meeting where the ''[[Clinton-Steele dossier]]'' is discussed;<ref>https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/10/politics/donald-trump-intelligence-report-russia/index.html</ref><ref>https://apnews.com/152579d488a740b2a8d39fbe2f34506d</ref><ref>https://apnews.com/a82309544e9e465fa2ad4f83e5a48540</ref> (the email was written and sent to herself 15 minutes after Trump was sworn in on Jan. 20):<ref>https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-graham-uncover-unusual-email-sent-susan-rice-herself-president-trump-s </ref> {{Quotebox|"On January 5, following a briefing by [[IC]] leadership on Russian hacking during the 2016 Presidential election, [[President Obama]] had a brief follow-on conversation with FBI Director [[Jim Comey]] and Deputy Attorney General [[Sally Yates]] in the Oval Office. [[Vice President Biden]] and I were also present.<br><br>President Obama began the conversation by stressing his continued commitment to ensuring that every aspect of this issue is handled by the Intelligence and law enforcement communities "by the book". The President stressed that he is not asking about, initiating or instructing anything from a law enforcement perspective. He reiterated that our law enforcement team needs to proceed as it normally would by the book.<br>From a national security perspective, however, President Obama said he wants to be sure that, as we engage with the incoming team, we are mindful to ascertain if there is any reason that we cannot share information fully as it relates to Russia.<br><br>[Redacted section]<br><br>The President asked Comey to inform him if anything changes in the next few weeks that should affect how we share classified information with the incoming team. Comey said he would."<ref>https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2018-02-08%20CEG%20LG%20to%20Rice%20(Russia%20Investigation%20Email).pdf</ref>}}At the conclusion of the briefing, Obama asked Sally Yates and James Comey to remain. Together with Susan Rice, is where the “by the book” CYA comment comes into play. The 90-day surveillance period under the FISA warrant had just a bit over two weeks left to run — it was set to expire just as Trump was to take office. (Reporting suggests that there may also have been a FISA warrant on Paul Manafort around this time.) The Obama administration was confronting a deadline if the FISA warrant was to be renewed while Obama was still in power. The officials in the meeting needed to figure out how the investigation could continue despite the fact that its central focus, Trump, was about to be sworn in as president. Rice's “by the book” bunkum is transparent: Obama officials claimed to adhere to a book that forbade consultations between political leaders and investigators. But here they were consulting. So Rice tried to cover their tracks in her email: She revises history such that the consultation morphs into a mere friendly reminder that Obama wanted everything done by the book.<ref>https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/02/susan-rice-email-president-obama-russia-investigation/</ref>

The following day DNI James Clapper released a public version of the ''Intelligence Community Assessment'' (ICA, also referred to as the ''Joint Analysis Report''), a joint Brennan, Clapper and Comey document consisting of recycled reports on [[RT]] with two pages of sexual innuendo from the ''[[Clinton-Steele dossier]]''. NSA Dir. Adm. Mike Rogers dissented from the conclusions and did not attend the day prior meeting in the Oval Office.<ref>[https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICA_2017_01.pdf ]</ref> ''WaPo'' was assured by Obama intelligence bosses that "the sources involved in the [Clinton-Steele dossier's] reporting were credible enough to warrant inclusion in the highly classified [presidential] report.”<ref>http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-russia-allegations-20170110-story.html</ref> Brennan however, in public testimony months later, said the dossier and its sources ''were not'' credible enough to incorporate in the Joint ''Intelligence Community Assessment'' on Russian election interference publicly leaked by the administration. Brennan swore the ''Clinton-Steele dossier'' did not “in any way” factor into the CIA's assessment that Russia interfered in the election to help Trump. Congressional investigators suggest a classified version of the ''Intelligence Community Assessment'' contradicts Brennan's sworn testimony.  

The following day DNI James Clapper released a public version of the ''Intelligence Community Assessment'' (ICA, also referred to as the ''Joint Analysis Report''), a joint Brennan, Clapper and Comey document consisting of recycled reports on [[RT]] with two pages of sexual innuendo from the ''[[Clinton-Steele dossier]]''. NSA Dir. Adm. Mike Rogers dissented from the conclusions and did not attend the day prior meeting in the Oval Office.<ref>[https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICA_2017_01.pdf ]</ref> ''WaPo'' was assured by Obama intelligence bosses that "the sources involved in the [Clinton-Steele dossier's] reporting were credible enough to warrant inclusion in the highly classified [presidential] report.”<ref>http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-russia-allegations-20170110-story.html</ref> Brennan however, in public testimony months later, said the dossier and its sources ''were not'' credible enough to incorporate in the Joint ''Intelligence Community Assessment'' on Russian election interference publicly leaked by the administration. Brennan swore the ''Clinton-Steele dossier'' did not “in any way” factor into the CIA's assessment that Russia interfered in the election to help Trump. Congressional investigators suggest a classified version of the ''Intelligence Community Assessment'' contradicts Brennan's sworn testimony.  

The first 90-day renewal of the [[FISA]] warrant alleging the soon-to-be inaugurated Trump administration was an agent of a foreign power occurred on January 12; former NSA official John Schindler tweeted, "When [[David Ignatius|@IgnatiusPost]] speaks, Langley's 7th floor lips are moving. They are taking [[traitor]] Trump out now."<ref>https://mobile.twitter.com/20committee/status/819764059096678402?lang=en</ref> Langley's 7th floor is John Brennan's office.

The first 90-day renewal of the [[FISA]] warrant alleging the soon-to-be inaugurated Trump administration was an agent of a foreign power occurred on January 12; former NSA official John Schindler tweeted, "When [[David Ignatius|@IgnatiusPost]] speaks, Langley's 7th floor lips are moving. They are taking [[traitor]] Trump out now."<ref>https://mobile.twitter.com/20committee/status/819764059096678402?lang=en</ref> Langley's 7th floor is John Brennan's office.

David Ignatius of the ''[[Washington Post]]'' published a [[felon]]ious leak with the unmasked details of [[Michael Flynn]]'s phone call with the Russian Ambassador which was obtained by the Obama DOJ abuse of the [[FISA court]]. "What did Flynn say, and did it undercut the U.S. sanctions?" Ignatius asked. "The [[Logan Act]] (though never enforced) bars U.S. citizens from correspondence intending to influence a foreign government about 'disputes' with the United States."<ref>http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/byron-york-in-trump-russia-probe-was-it-all-about-the-logan-act/article/2642434</ref> [[Susan Rice]] “unmasked” Flynn’s name and it was leaked to Ignatius.<ref>https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/the-administration/326331-how-obamas-white-house-weaponized-the-media-against#.WNvlVh1HfDU.twitter</ref> The leaking of the unmasked identity of a US citizen's name gathered in a foreign intelligence operation is a [[criminal]] and [[civil rights]] violation.<ref>https://www.superstation95.com/index.php/world/3216</ref>  

David Ignatius of the ''[[Washington Post]]'' published a [[felon]]ious leak with the unmasked details of [[Michael Flynn]]'s phone call with the Russian Ambassador which was obtained by the Obama DOJ abuse of the [[FISA court]]. "What did Flynn say, and did it undercut the U.S. sanctions?" Ignatius asked. "The [[Logan Act]] (though never enforced) bars U.S. citizens from correspondence intending to influence a foreign government about 'disputes' with the United States."<ref>http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/byron-york-in-trump-russia-probe-was-it-all-about-the-logan-act/article/2642434</ref> [[Susan Rice]] “unmasked” Flynn's name and it was leaked to Ignatius.<ref>https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/the-administration/326331-how-obamas-white-house-weaponized-the-media-against#.WNvlVh1HfDU.twitter</ref> The leaking of the unmasked identity of a US citizen's name gathered in a foreign intelligence operation is a [[criminal]] and [[civil rights]] violation.<ref>https://www.superstation95.com/index.php/world/3216</ref>  

On January 15 famed [[Watergate]] reporter [[Bob Woodward]] criticized [[Jake Tapper]], James Clapper, John Brennan and CNN for false statements and politicization of the intelligence community. Four political operatives at CNN Jake Tapper, [[Jim Sciutto]], Evan Perez and Woodward's former colegue [[Carl Bernstein]], colluded with two highly politicized top level Obama administration intelligence officials, ODNI James Clapper and CIA Director John Brennan, under the auspices of leaks from “anonymous senior intelligence officials” – on the construct of Russian narrative to undermine the incoming presidency of Donald Trump."<ref>https://youtu.be/s9QSiw0l_nE</ref>

On January 15 famed [[Watergate]] reporter [[Bob Woodward]] criticized [[Jake Tapper]], James Clapper, John Brennan and CNN for false statements and politicization of the intelligence community. Four political operatives at CNN Jake Tapper, [[Jim Sciutto]], Evan Perez and Woodward's former colegue [[Carl Bernstein]], colluded with two highly politicized top level Obama administration intelligence officials, ODNI James Clapper and CIA Director John Brennan, under the auspices of leaks from “anonymous senior intelligence officials” – on the construct of Russian narrative to undermine the incoming presidency of Donald Trump."<ref>https://youtu.be/s9QSiw0l_nE</ref>

===FusionGPS===

===FusionGPS===

Chuck Ross of the ''Daily Caller'' identified [[FusionGPS]], Christopher Steele's employer, and Glenn Simpson its founder as the same group that illegally lobbied on behalf of the [[Kremlin]] in July 2016 for efforts to repeal Russian sanctions - the [[Magnitsky Act]], to remove the name “Magnitsky” from the Global Magnitsky Act, delay the bills passage, and to cast doubt on the Justice Department’s version of events prior to the passage of the Magnitsky Act.<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2017/01/13/exclusive-oppo-researcher-behind-trump-dossier-is-linked-to-pro-kremlin-lobbying-effort/</ref> The defrauded complaintant referred to Simpson, who was hired by the Clinton campaign and DNC, as "a professional smear campaigner.” “Glenn Simpson knowingly spread false information on behalf of people connected to the Russian government to try to protect Russian torturers and murderers from consequences.”<ref>Ross's article expounds: The main proponent of that law, a British-American businessman named [[Bill Browder]], tells DC..."Glenn Simpson’s job was to knowingly and dishonestly change the narrative of how Sergei Magnitsky came to die from murder to natural causes, and to change the narrative that Sergei Magnitsky was a criminal and not a whistleblower," ... Magnitsky, who helped Browder investigate many of the corrupt Russian firms, was arrested in Nov. 2008 and accused of engaging in fraud and tax evasion.

Chuck Ross of the ''Daily Caller'' identified [[FusionGPS]], Christopher Steele's employer, and Glenn Simpson its founder as the same group that illegally lobbied on behalf of the [[Kremlin]] in July 2016 for efforts to repeal Russian sanctions - the [[Magnitsky Act]], to remove the name “Magnitsky” from the Global Magnitsky Act, delay the bills passage, and to cast doubt on the Justice Department's version of events prior to the passage of the Magnitsky Act.<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2017/01/13/exclusive-oppo-researcher-behind-trump-dossier-is-linked-to-pro-kremlin-lobbying-effort/</ref> The defrauded complaintant referred to Simpson, who was hired by the Clinton campaign and DNC, as "a professional smear campaigner.” “Glenn Simpson knowingly spread false information on behalf of people connected to the Russian government to try to protect Russian torturers and murderers from consequences.”<ref>Ross's article expounds: The main proponent of that law, a British-American businessman named [[Bill Browder]], tells DC..."Glenn Simpson’s job was to knowingly and dishonestly change the narrative of how Sergei Magnitsky came to die from murder to natural causes, and to change the narrative that Sergei Magnitsky was a criminal and not a whistleblower," ... Magnitsky, who helped Browder investigate many of the corrupt Russian firms, was arrested in Nov. 2008 and accused of engaging in fraud and tax evasion.

Magnitsky was tortured for months in a Russian prison and deprived of medical treatment, all in order to elicit a false confession that he and Browder were engaged in fraud and tax evasion, Browder has alleged. After Magnitsky’s health deteriorated, he was transferred to another jail. There, the lawyer was allegedly beaten with blunt objects by prison guards. He died on Nov. 16, 2009 at the age of 37.

Magnitsky was tortured for months in a Russian prison and deprived of medical treatment, all in order to elicit a false confession that he and Browder were engaged in fraud and tax evasion, Browder has alleged. After Magnitsky’s health deteriorated, he was transferred to another jail. There, the lawyer was allegedly beaten with blunt objects by prison guards. He died on Nov. 16, 2009 at the age of 37.

Soon after his friend’s murder, Browder began lobbying American lawmakers — Maryland Sen. [[Ben Cardin]] and Arizona Sen. John McCain, in particular — to pass a law that would provide a mechanism to punish Kremlin-linked Russian criminals.

Soon after his friend’s murder, Browder began lobbying American lawmakers — Maryland Sen. [[Ben Cardin]] and Arizona Sen. John McCain, in particular — to pass a law that would provide a mechanism to punish Kremlin-linked Russian criminals.

https://dailycaller.com/2017/01/16/think-tank-appears-to-cut-ties-with-oppo-researcher-behind-trump-dossier/#ixzz4d5c0xHTC</ref> Ross stated that part of Simpson’s work involved passing stories to his deep network of [[journalism]] contacts in order to undermine Russian sanctions.

https://dailycaller.com/2017/01/16/think-tank-appears-to-cut-ties-with-oppo-researcher-behind-trump-dossier/#ixzz4d5c0xHTC</ref> Ross stated that part of Simpson's work involved passing stories to his deep network of [[journalism]] contacts in order to undermine Russian sanctions.

===IG launches investigation===

===IG launches investigation===

Simultaneously Inspector General (IG) [[Michael Horowitz]] began a review of the [[Hillary Clinton email scandal]] and [[Andrew McCabe]]'s [[conflict of interest]].<ref>https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2016-01-12%20DOJ%20OIG%20to%20CEG%20et%20al%20-%20Review%20of%20Clinton%20Investigation%20Process.pdf</ref><ref>https://theconservativetreehouse.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/doj-oig-investigation.jpg</ref> McCabe, who assisted in writing the bogus Benghazi talking points for Susan Rice, is married to a candidate for the Virginia state Senate who took $700,000 from [[Terry McAuliffe]]'s PAC during the ongoing Clinton email investigation. McAuliffe himself was under FBI investigation by McCabe's office at the time for pay-to-play schemes involving a Chinese businessman and donations to Clinton, yet the investigations were never merged.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/embed/video/1294661.html</ref> McAuliffe ran [[Bill Clinton]]'s [[United States presidential election, 1996|1996 presidential campaign]] which was marred by a foreign influence peddling scheme known as [[Chinagate]]. McAuliffe was [[Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign|Hillary's 2008 campaign manager]].  

Simultaneously Inspector General (IG) [[Michael Horowitz]] began a review of the [[Hillary Clinton email scandal]] and [[Andrew McCabe]]'s [[conflict of interest]].<ref>https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2016-01-12%20DOJ%20OIG%20to%20CEG%20et%20al%20-%20Review%20of%20Clinton%20Investigation%20Process.pdf</ref><ref>https://theconservativetreehouse.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/doj-oig-investigation.jpg</ref> McCabe, who assisted in writing the bogus Benghazi talking points for Susan Rice, is married to a candidate for the Virginia state Senate who took $700,000 from [[Terry McAuliffe]]'s PAC during the ongoing Clinton email investigation. McAuliffe himself was under FBI investigation by McCabe's office at the time for pay-to-play schemes involving a Chinese businessman and donations to Clinton, yet the investigations were never merged.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/embed/video/1294661.html</ref> McAuliffe ran [[Bill Clinton]]'s [[United States presidential election, 1996|1996 presidential campaign]] which was marred by a foreign influence peddling scheme known as [[Chinagate]]. McAuliffe was [[Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign|Hillary's 2008 campaign manager]].  

The Inspector General looked into the Obama FBI's misconduct, and allegations that DOJ “policies or procedures were not followed in connection with, or in actions leading up to or related to”Comey’s announcement that Democratic presidential nominee [[Hillary Clinton]] would not be charged in her use of a private email server while secretary of state. The investigation uncovered the conspiratorial Strzok-Lisa Page text messages.<ref>http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/doj-provides-congress-with-hundreds-of-texts-between-peter-strzok-and-lisa-page/article/2643321</ref>

The Inspector General looked into the Obama FBI's misconduct, and allegations that DOJ “policies or procedures were not followed in connection with, or in actions leading up to or related to” Comey's announcement that Democratic presidential nominee [[Hillary Clinton]] would not be charged in her use of a private email server while secretary of state. The investigation uncovered the conspiratorial Strzok-Lisa Page text messages.<ref>http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/doj-provides-congress-with-hundreds-of-texts-between-peter-strzok-and-lisa-page/article/2643321</ref>

Former Clinton era DOJ Inspector General [[Michael Bromwich]] welcomed Inspector General Horowitz's investigation of Andrew McCabe and the DOJ. Bromwich later was hired to defend McCabe. Bromwich writes in a ''WaPo'' op-ed:{{Quotebox|The announcement by the Justice Department’s inspector general that his office will look into FBI Director James B. Comey’s handling of Hillary Clinton’s emails reopens painful questions about the 2016 election, but it is also welcome news. The country needs this — an objective, independent and thorough investigation of issues that have roiled the country for months and continue to stir heated debate.<br><br>The investigation will address allegations that Comey violated established Justice Department and FBI policies and procedures in his July 5, 2016, public announcement concerning the Hillary Clinton email investigation. And it will explore allegations that Comey’s Oct. 28 and Nov. 6 letters to Congress, which jolted the presidential election — and may have changed its outcome — were improper. The impact of Comey’s actions can never be definitively known. But it is important, for the Justice Department and for the country, to obtain a detailed accounting of what happened and why; to assign blame where it is warranted; and to understand how similar situations can be prevented.<br><br>In addition to looking into the actions of the FBI director regarding the email investigation, the probe will look into whether the FBI’s deputy director [McCabe] should have recused himself from the investigation because of his wife’s political involvement; whether a high-ranking Justice Department official or others improperly disclosed non-public information to both the Clinton and Trump campaigns; and whether the timing of the FBI’s election eve [[Freedom of Information Act]] disclosures relating to Bill Clinton’s 2001 pardon of [[Marc Rich]] was based on inappropriate considerations.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-investigation-of-james-comey-is-exactly-what-the-country-needs/2017/01/14/83a558b0-da97-11e6-b8b2-cb5164beba6b_story.html?utm_term=.5ac388d812cc</ref>}}

Former Clinton era DOJ Inspector General [[Michael Bromwich]] welcomed Inspector General Horowitz's investigation of Andrew McCabe and the DOJ. Bromwich later was hired to defend McCabe. Bromwich writes in a ''WaPo'' op-ed:{{Quotebox|The announcement by the Justice Department’s inspector general that his office will look into FBI Director James B. Comey’s handling of Hillary Clinton’s emails reopens painful questions about the 2016 election, but it is also welcome news. The country needs this — an objective, independent and thorough investigation of issues that have roiled the country for months and continue to stir heated debate.<br><br>The investigation will address allegations that Comey violated established Justice Department and FBI policies and procedures in his July 5, 2016, public announcement concerning the Hillary Clinton email investigation. And it will explore allegations that Comey’s Oct. 28 and Nov. 6 letters to Congress, which jolted the presidential election — and may have changed its outcome — were improper. The impact of Comey’s actions can never be definitively known. But it is important, for the Justice Department and for the country, to obtain a detailed accounting of what happened and why; to assign blame where it is warranted; and to understand how similar situations can be prevented.<br><br>In addition to looking into the actions of the FBI director regarding the email investigation, the probe will look into whether the FBI’s deputy director [McCabe] should have recused himself from the investigation because of his wife’s political involvement; whether a high-ranking Justice Department official or others improperly disclosed non-public information to both the Clinton and Trump campaigns; and whether the timing of the FBI’s election eve [[Freedom of Information Act]] disclosures relating to Bill Clinton’s 2001 pardon of [[Marc Rich]] was based on inappropriate considerations.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-investigation-of-james-comey-is-exactly-what-the-country-needs/2017/01/14/83a558b0-da97-11e6-b8b2-cb5164beba6b_story.html?utm_term=.5ac388d812cc</ref>}}

<!--*'''18 January.''' ''McClatchy News Service'' headlined a story that the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, the [[Justice Department]], the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and representatives of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) collaborated for months in an investigation of Donald Trump, according to two anonymous sources.<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article127231799.html#storylink=cpy</ref>-->

<!--*'''18 January.''' ''McClatchy News Service'' headlined a story that the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, the [[Justice Department]], the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and representatives of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) collaborated for months in an investigation of Donald Trump, according to two anonymous sources.<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article127231799.html#storylink=cpy</ref>-->

On the eve of inauguration the ''[[New York Times]]'' carried a frontpage headline, ''Wiretapped Data Used in Inquiry of Trump Aides''. The article stated "investigators have accelerated their efforts in recent weeks but have found '''no conclusive evidence of wrongdoing''', the officials said. One official said intelligence reports based on some of '''the wiretapped communications had been provided to the White House'''.<ref>https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1bc_1488948943</ref> The headline has been changed for its online version.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/politics/trump-russia-associates-investigation.html?_r=0</ref> ''WaPo'' reported Obama’s top intelligence and law-enforcement deputies met to talk about [[Mike Flynn]]'s conversation with Amb. Sergei Kislyak.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/justice-department-warned-white-house-that-flynn-could-be-vulnerable-to-russian-blackmail-officials-say/2017/02/13/fc5dab88-f228-11e6-8d72-263470bf0401_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.48798d79df70 </ref> Trump was sworn in the next day.

On the eve of inauguration the ''[[New York Times]]'' carried a frontpage headline, ''Wiretapped Data Used in Inquiry of Trump Aides''. The article stated "investigators have accelerated their efforts in recent weeks but have found '''no conclusive evidence of wrongdoing''', the officials said. One official said intelligence reports based on some of '''the wiretapped communications had been provided to the White House'''.<ref>https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1bc_1488948943</ref> The headline has been changed for its online version.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/politics/trump-russia-associates-investigation.html?_r=0</ref> ''WaPo'' reported Obama's top intelligence and law-enforcement deputies met to talk about [[Mike Flynn]]'s conversation with Amb. Sergei Kislyak.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/justice-department-warned-white-house-that-flynn-could-be-vulnerable-to-russian-blackmail-officials-say/2017/02/13/fc5dab88-f228-11e6-8d72-263470bf0401_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.48798d79df70 </ref> Trump was sworn in the next day.

==See also==

==See also==