Politics FBI handwritten notes to get Flynn fired

Discussion in 'Blazers OT Forum' started by magnifier661, Apr 29, 2020.

  1. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    UNMASKING EXPLAINED

    WHAT IS UNMASKING?

    During routine, legal surveillance of foreign targets, names of Americans occasionally come up in conversations. Foreigners could be talking about a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident by name, or a foreigner could be speaking directly to an American. When an American's name is swept up in surveillance of foreigners, it is called 'incidental collection.' In these cases, the name of the American is masked before the intelligence is distributed to administration officials to avoid invading that person's privacy.

    Unless there is a clear intelligence value to knowing the American´s name, it is not revealed in the reports. The intelligence report would refer to the person only as 'U.S. Person 1' or U.S. Person 2.' If U.S. officials with proper clearance to review the report want to know the identity, they can ask the agency that collected the information - perhaps the FBI, CIA or National Security Agency - to 'unmask' the name.

    Unmasking requests are common, according to Michael Morell, former CIA deputy director and host of 'Intelligence Matters' podcast.

    'Literally hundreds of times a year across multiple administrations. In general, senior officials make the requests when necessary to understand the underlying intelligence. I myself did it several times a month and NSA adjudicates the request. You can't do your job without it,' he said.

    Morell emphasized that unmasking is not the same as declassification. 'When a name is unmasked, the underlying intelligence to include the name remains classified so leaking it would be a crime.'

    WHEN WOULD AN INTELLIGENCE AGENCY UNMASK A NAME?

    The request is not automatically granted. The person asking has to have a good reason. Typically, the reason is that not knowing the name makes it impossible to fully understand the intelligence provided.

    The name is released only if the official requesting it has a need to know and the 'identity is necessary to understand foreign intelligence information or assess its importance,' according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's latest report, which includes statistics on unmasking. 'Additional approval by a designated NSA official is also required.'

    Former NSA Director Mike Rogers has said that only 20 of his employees could approve an unmasking. The names are shared only with the specific official who asked. They are not released publicly. Leaking a name, or any classified information, is illegal.

    HOW OFTEN ARE NAMES UNMASKED?

    The number of unmasking requests began being released to the public in response to recommendations in 2014 from the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.

    There were 9,217 unmasking requests in the 12-month period between September 2015 and August 2016, the first period in which numbers are publicly available. The period was during the latter years of the Obama administration.

    The number rose during the Trump administration. The 9,529 requests in 2017 grew to 16,721 in 2018 and 10,012 last year.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...answer-questions-Mike-Flynns-prosecution.html
     
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  2. lawai'a

    lawai'a Well-Known Member

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    damn whistlerblowers anyway, got to know who deserves retaliation. it is all about loyalty don'cha know.
     
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  3. julius

    julius Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    So what I'm hearing is, Obama started it, and Trump is only doing it to snuff out Obamas wrong doing.
     
  4. Lanny

    Lanny Original Season Ticket Holder "Mr. Big Shot"

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    He's more like the vice King. Trump is the King, hands down.
     
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  5. yankeesince59

    yankeesince59 "Oh Captain, my Captain".

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    Touche'.
     
  6. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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  7. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

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    Are you gonna stick around when basketball is back? This better not be some one night stand, hit and run, bop the prom queen, type shit.

    Just sayin.
     
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  8. barfo

    barfo triggered obsessive commie pinko Staff Member Global Moderator

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    This is a pretty good, short summary of the unmasking 'scandal' that is being hyped.

    barfo
     
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  9. Lanny

    Lanny Original Season Ticket Holder "Mr. Big Shot"

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    I fail to see the significance.
     
  10. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    The significance that the original 302 was available the same, yet not turned over.
     
  11. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    This entire tweet thread should be read:
     
  12. UncleCliffy'sDaddy

    UncleCliffy'sDaddy We're all Bozos on this bus.

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    Wow, you just post virtually unintelligible static, one burst after another into an echo chamber. The “return” is even more unintelligible. It’s like if you post enough of this misleading and confusing shit we’ll just throw up our hands and declare it the truth. You just like your boy.....grind us down far enough and we’ll capitulate just to get some rest.....
     
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  13. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    So you read it or are you just reflex responding?
     
  14. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    https://unrollthread.com/t/1261447227127599106/

    Here, I unrolled the thread for you.


    A readable Thread by @JohnWHuber Says Flynn’s original FD-302 is so impor
    Undercover Huber
    Flynn’s original FD-302 is so important, the Special Counsel had to leak a prosecution threat against Flynn’s son just to avoid turning it over to his original lawyers Covington THREAD

    Wed Nov 1, 2017: Flynn’s original lawyers Covington ask for a copy of his FD-302: “We don’t think he has committed a felony offense” Fri Nov 3, 2017: Covington ask for the FD-302 AGAIN: “We don’t think there’s a FARA violation. We don’t think he made false statements”

    The Special Counsel refused to turn over Flynn’s original FD-302 both those times. Instead, they schedule a follow up conference call with Covington for the following week and subtly threaten Covington that they might be a fact witness against Flynn for preparing his FARA filings

    Flynn hasnt pled guilty to anything at this point. His lawyers are adamant he’s *innocent*. And the SCO won’t even turn over the edited FD-302, never mind the original one, for them to look at

    The SCO claimed they couldn’t turn over the FD-302 because it would “reveal” parts of their overall Russia interference investigation. But even the edited version of the Jan 24, 2017 interview shows Flynn wasn’t asked about Russian interference or anything remotely like Collusion

    And we now know that the FBI itself wanted to close its Crossfire Razor investigation of Flynn for potential links to Russian interference long before that Jan 24, 2017 interview

    And that investigation of Flynn should never have been opened in the first place, given its laughably weak predicate lacking any articulable factual basis for believing he could have been colluding or conspiring with Russia

    We also now know that the Dec 29 Flynn-Kislyak call changed nothing with regards to any Collusion. And the FBI never opened a Logan Act criminal probe (which would also have been ridiculous)

    And in the Mueller report, the SCO itself admits Flynn merely asked Russia not to “escalate” in response to Obama’s sanctions or only respond “reciprocally”. There’s nothing wrong with that. What should he have said, go ahead nuclear armed Russia, please escalate?

    So the SCO wouldn’t be “revealing” anything legitimate about its Russian interference investigation by turning over Flynn’s FD-302 - any of them, even the heavily edited versions filed weeks after the interview

    Of course, what turning over the 302 would have really revealed is likely a document stating that the agents didn’t believe Flynn was lying, and metadata proving that it went through weeks of editing and polishing in violation of FBI policies

    If even Covington (never mind @SidneyPowell1) got their hands on any version of the 302, given their adamant position that Flynn was “innocent”, Flynn almost certainly would have fought the charges vigorously

    And if the SCO tried to indict Flynn anyway, that would have meant discovery, pre-trial depositions etc. Given what we now know 2.5 years later, that would have blown a gaping hole in the SCO’s case

    So back to Fri Nov 3, 2017. The SCO has been asked for the 302, twice. White shoe Covington say their guy is “innocent” of all charges. How do the SCO change the dynamic? They leak to the press that they’re going to charge his son with a felony unless he gives in and plead guilty

    Sun Nov 5, 2017: “Three sources” close to the Flynn investigation leak this to NBC news: “If the elder Flynn is willing to co-operate with investigators in order to help his son, two of sources said, it could also change his own fate, potentially limiting any legal consequences”

    In case @GenFlynn didn’t get this “message”, look at the photo ABC news use to highlight the story. Flynn with his son. “Three” sources “close to the investigation” leaked this, to Collusion/Fusion GPS friendly reporters. An investigation that at the time almost nobody knew about

    [​IMG]
    By the time Covington follow up with the SCO after this weekend of light reading of veiled threats for the Flynn family, they’ve already agreed to bring Flynn in for a “proffer” - a prelude to pleading guilty to the false statements offense

    This is despite Covington circulating in internal memos at the time talking points that “We are firmly of the view that he did not commit any felony offenses. There are no circumstances under which he would plea to a felony offense”

    Remember: Covington - not @SidneyPowell1 - are on record here REPEATEDLY saying their guy is *innocent*. They are “firmly” of this belief. And they’ve been representing him for months. This isn’t something they dreamed up after 5 minutes talking to the General

    The SCO turned over zero documents to Covington that would make them change their assessment of Flynn’s innocence. In fact, had the SCO turned *anything* over, it would have strengthened the view that Flynn could mount a strong defense against any false statement charge

    Examples: —Comey’s testimony that both agents didn’t think Flynn lied —302 - likely says the same thing —Closing EC for “Razor”, showing the FBI wanted to close its own case —Kislyak transcript —That no Logan Act EC existed opening a new case —Strzok/Page texts showing bias

    Any or all of those would blow a hole in *both* mandatory elements of the 1001 false statements charge - that any lie was “knowing” and “willful” (Flynn lied, deliberately) and “material” - i.e. could influence a genuine predicated FBI investigation

    The only thing that changed - the only thing - is that the SCO leaked to the press that they were deadly serious about going after Flynn’s son. And after the elder Flynn had racked up millions in legal bills himself, who can blame him for wanting to avoid that for his family too?

    So Flynn ended up pleading guilty, and he’s been on the hook ever since And the media once again played a crucial role in making it happen. That’s why much of the media can’t cover the Flynn case properly. They were willing and eager participants in his prosecution /ENDS

    UPDATE. So I had a few requests for the receipts and sources backing up this thread. Included below. References to “C&B” are to Covington & Burling and “SCO” to the Special Counsel’s Office (usually Brandon Van Grack). Pls look at the linked court exhibits for full context?

    Wed Nov 1, 2017 (1/2) C&B: “Would you be willing to give us the [FD]302?” SCO: “We’re not currently in a posture where we’re providing that” C&B: “We don’t think [Flynn] has committed a felony offense” (the “[SCO] made a note of this point”)

    Rosenstein’s appointment letter for Mueller calls out a specific DOJ Special Counsel regulation in section (b)(iii): 28 CFR § 600.4. This authorizes investigation of “obstruction of justice”

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Wed Nov 1, 2017 (2/2) SCO: “One of the charges we mentioned was false statements under FARA. Because C&B prepared the FARA registration, that would make you (Rob[ert Kelner, C&B]) a fact witness. It isn’t something we are considering...Let’s plan on talking on Tue [Nov 7, 2017]”

    Calling out this specific regulation is duplicative as Rosenstein identifies *all* the applicable Special Counsel regulations in section (d). So why mention this one specifically?

    Fri Nov 3, 2017 (1/3) C&B: “We don't think there's a FARA violation. We don't think [Flynn] made false statements [we] feel we have strong defenses across these issues” C&B: “We had also asked about seeing the 302. You said that you would think about it”

    Well, we now know (but didn’t at the time the appointment letter was released), that before writing this letter Rosenstein had been told by Andy McCabe that the FBI had opened an obstruction of justice case against President Trump (around May 10-12, 2017)

    Fri Nov 3, 2017 (2/3) C&B: “We would like to renew that request...We have not thought of the [White House] FBI interview as being a significant point of exposure. If we are wrong about that it would be clarifying to see why you think we'e wrong. That's why the 302 is important”

    That the FBI had already opened an obstruction case into Trump before the Special Counsel was appointed was also later confirmed in previously sealed testimony in court from Mueller’s top lawyer Michael Dreeben

    Fri Nov 3, 2017 (3/3) SCO: “The answer right now is not at this time in terms of sharing the 302 because it might reveal more about our investigation & other investigative priorities” “before we leave. I would still like to set a time on Tue [Nov 7] to talk [about a proffer]”

    That’s why Rosenstein added that specific reference to 28 CFR § 600.4. He wanted the SCO to be on safe legal ground investigating the president for obstruction of justice from day one

    Flynn sworn declaration to the court: “The [SCO] created sudden and intense time-pressure on me to plead guilty. On [Sat] Nov 4, 2017, I believe, my [C&B] attorney’s told my wife and me that the [SCO] wanted to conduct a proffer session with me”

    And that’s why President Trump is probably not under the last redacted portion of the scope memos - he doesn’t need to be. He was already in there. /ENDS

    Sun Nov 5, 2017. NBC News prints leak sourced to *three sources* close to the Flynn investigation

    Oh and I reported this nearly a year ago and clearly forgot it



    [​IMG]
    Undercover Huber@JohnWHuber

    · May 24, 2019

    Replying to @JohnWHuber
    Oh and if it turns out that McCabe opened that obstruction investigation on May 10 2017, then the later excuse that the FBI did it because of what Trump said to Lester Holt is a lie, because that interview wasn't until May 11. Can someone ask Mueller this if he ever testifies? [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    Undercover Huber@JohnWHuber


    It's also now obvious in retrospect that Rosenstein's appointment order letter to Mueller made specific reference to regulation 20 CFR 600.4 to cover obstruction of justice since it would have been easier just to say all the regulations applied to the Special Counsel

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

    373

    11:13 AM - May 24, 2019
    Twitter Ads info and privacy

    159 people are talking about this



    “Flynn's son, Michael G. Flynn, who worked closely with his father, accompanied him during the campaign and briefly worked on the presidential transition, could be indicted separately or at the same time as his father, according to three sources familiar with the investigation…”

    ...”If the elder Flynn is willing to cooperate with investigators in order to help his son, two of the sources said, it could also change his own fate, potentially limiting any legal consequences”

    To recap, as late as Fri Nov 3, 2017, Covington are adamant Flynn is innocent & will NOT plead guilty They’ve asked for the 302 TWICE & the SCO won’t turn it over Then SCO subtly threaten C&B that they’d be a “fact witness” to the FARA charges And the NBC leak drops Sun 5 Nov

    Flynn: “[On Sun Nov 5, 2017] I agreed to do the proffer” https://t.co/c5oPEC6Ye6 (Note: I’ve implicitly connected Flynn’s agreement to a proffer to the NBC story in this thread, it’s not presented that way in Flynn’s declaration. Read & decide for yourself if it was a key factor)

    Mon Nov 6, 2017 (1/2) C&B talking points for Tue Nov 7 proffer call with SCO: “We do want to reiterate that we are firmly of the view that he did not commit any felony offenses. There are no circumstances under which he would plea to a felony offense”

    Mon Nov 6, 2017 (2/2), C&B talking points continued: ...”Regardless, even without any commitment by the SCO regarding charging decisions, [Flynn] is prepared to be interviewed [as part of a proffer]”

    C&B then agreed on the Tue Nov 7 call with the SCO to bring Flynn in for a proffer session, despite repeatedly acknowledging their view he was innocent of any charges & without receiving a copy of the FD-302 of the interview or the statements from the agents on whether Flynn lied

    The SCO finally turned over the (heavily Strzok/Page edited) Feb 15, 2017 302 on Nov 22, 2017 to C&B, AFTER Flynn had already held *four* proffer sessions with the SCO which gave him significant legal exposure (particularly day two, where Flynn alleges C&B coached his testimony)

    Flynn does not appear to have even been shown the FD-302 by C&B until Nov 30, 2017, the same day he signed the plea agreement admitting guilt. Even then, before signing the plea, he asked one last time if the FBI agents who conducted his interview really thought he “lied” to them

    Flynn alleges he was told the FBI agents “stand by their statements”, which he took to mean they did think he lied, which is false. Neither Strzok or Pientka felt Flynn showed any indicators of lying in the interview at the time and reported as much. *Flynn then signed the plea*

    Flynn: “I agreed to plead guilty...because of the intense pressure from the Special Counsel’s Office, which included a threat to indict my son Michael…C&B assured me [on Nov 30, 2017], that if I accepted the plea, my son Michael would be left in peace”

    By the way, that statement of Flynn’s saying he only pled guilty because of threats against his son was made under penalty of perjury. Funny how the same media parroting that “he pled guilty!” and “perjury!” keep wilfully ignoring that fact.

    And the media that gleefully reported these leaks threatening Flynn’s family have yet to report a single word of anything in this thread, despite 99% of it being based on publicly available court documents (plus 1% is only joining the dots & speculating on Gen Flynn’s motives) ??‍♂️

    And if mainstream media outlets do ever report any of this, I can tell you *exactly* what the talking point will be, ahead of time: “The Special Counsel turned over the FD-302 *before* Flynn signed the plea agreement & pled guilty. Nothing to see here! Conspiracy theory!” ??‍♂️?
     
  15. UncleCliffy'sDaddy

    UncleCliffy'sDaddy We're all Bozos on this bus.

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    Yeah, I waded through it. Not particularly compelling. The man lied to the FBI, period. The man lied to the Vice President, period. He deserves the sentence he got, period. Like the Bible, the FBI’s handwritten notes are open to wide interpretation, period. And I don’t really give a shit either way. Just as Trump’s followers forgive any and all of his many transgressions, I’ll forgive Obama (not that he actually...or factually...had anything personally to do with it) any and all of his transgressions. See how that works?

    Obfuscate the current reality all you want with conspiracy theories, you still can’t escape the current reality, i.e.; Trump fucked up the Covid response and made the economy (built by the Obama administration) even worse than it should have been. Denying that is a waste of effort. Now he’s going to gamble even more American lives in a desperate bid for reelection. All this Flynn shit is a distraction from the real issues. I really don’t think either party should be pointing fingers as to what is “fair”, “ethical” or “legal”. It all nothing more than gamesmanship, with us as the losers. And let’s don’t be pointing out the FBI’s “dishonesty” when you blindly support a man who has been proven to lie like the rest of us breath. Time for you to take a breath of your own and start living in the same reality that has been forced on the rest of us (the reality being we are so fucked regardless of who sits in the White House or whichever party is in power). You’re gonna give yourself a stroke if you’re not careful.......
     
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  16. CupWizier

    CupWizier Well-Known Member

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    i think the poor guy is going to have a stroke posting all his right wing propaganda in the forum. He is definitely determined, for what, I have no idea as he has likely caused more to vote the other way. For that, we should thank him. Thanks mags.
     
  17. yankeesince59

    yankeesince59 "Oh Captain, my Captain".

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  18. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    Fail. The precursor “entrapment” which I clearly posted earlier supersedes the plea. Also, the original 302 was never brought forward, so your lame attempt to assume he lied to the fbi has no merit.

    Thankfully a 9-0 Supreme Court decision, lead by RBG will overrule this rogue judge’s new antics and Flynn will be exonerated.

    https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/cert/19-67

    Thanks for playing
     
  19. julius

    julius Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I think you've cracked the code.
     
  20. julius

    julius Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Some people are so deep in denial about something, that their subconscious has to reach for any and everything to rationalize why they are so far off from what most people believe.
     
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