Changes

*Obama signs Executive Order removing US Attorney [[Dana Boente]] from the line of succession to be acting Attorney General placing Sally Yates in his stead.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/10/trump-executive-order-obama-justice-department-succession/97752898/</ref>

*Obama signs Executive Order removing US Attorney [[Dana Boente]] from the line of succession to be acting Attorney General placing Sally Yates in his stead.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/10/trump-executive-order-obama-justice-department-succession/97752898/</ref>

*'''14 January.''' Flynn-Kislyak Dec. 29, 2016 conversation leaked to the ''Washington Post'', likely by McCabe. The leak was about establishing the framework for a preexisting investigation, based on a false premise, that would protect the DOJ and FBI.  

*'''14 January.''' Flynn-Kislyak Dec. 29, 2016 conversation leaked to the ''Washington Post'', likely by McCabe. The leak was about establishing the framework for a preexisting investigation, based on a false premise, that would protect the DOJ and FBI. {{quotebox JOHN DICKERSON: ]D]id any advisor or anybody in the Trump campaign have any contact with the Russians who were trying to meddle in the election?<br>MIKE PENCE: Of course not. And I think to suggest that is to give credence to some of these bizarre rumors that have swirled around the candidacy.}}

*Former Clinton era DOJ Inspector General [[Michael Bromwich]] welcomes Inspector General Michael Horowitz's investigation of Andrew McCabe and the DOJ. Bromwich later is hired as McCabe's attorney. 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]] welcomes Inspector General Michael Horowitz's investigation of Andrew McCabe and the DOJ. Bromwich later is hired as McCabe's attorney. 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>}}

*'''15 January.''' Flynn-Kislyak leak led to Vice-President [[Mike Pence]] being hammered during a [[CBS]] ''Face the Nation'' interview about Trump campaign officials in contact with Russians.  Pence was unprepared to answer the questions. The media blended questions about campaign contacts with necessary transition team contacts.

*'''15 January.''' Flynn-Kislyak leak led to Vice-President [[Mike Pence]] being hammered during a [[CBS]] ''Face the Nation'' interview about Trump campaign officials in contact with Russians.  Pence was unprepared to answer the questions. The media blended questions about campaign contacts with necessary transition team contacts. {{quotebox|[D]id any advisor or anybody in the Trump campaign have any contact with the Russians who were trying to meddle in the election?<br>MIKE PENCE: Of course not. And I think to suggest that is to give credence to some of these bizarre rumors that have swirled around the candidacy.}}

*Famed [[Watergate]] reporter [[Bob Woodward]] criticizes CNN, [[Jake Tapper]], John Brennan and James Clapper 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>

*Famed [[Watergate]] reporter [[Bob Woodward]] criticizes CNN, [[Jake Tapper]], John Brennan and James Clapper 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>