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Why publicly release the FISA application? After all, even with the voluminous redactions, it is very unusual and it would have been exceptionally easy to deny any FOIA request under the auspices of national security. To highlight this question, consider how stunned Fran Townsend was at the release: Having run The Justice Dept office responsible for #FISA The release of these documents is irresponsible & will irreversibly weaken counterintelligence & Counterterrorism investigations going forward.
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You see, it was July 17th (a few days ago)
when the Comey, Brennan, Yates, Carter criticisms were on full boil (due to the Trump/Putin presser), when I began to wonder when DNI Coats would reach the point AGAIN of saying enough is enough? My suspicions were that something was soon to happen
because the ridiculousness of it all was nearing the apex. Me thinks this FISA release is in line with that general disposition.
Anyone who thinks this FISA application release is not a big deal has not followed the details, and does not comprehend what is attested to within the FISA application. But thats in the granular
. for now, lets stick to the 30,000 ft review.
The overall FISA application is ridiculously short on substance, and generally is a long way from providing the evidence needed for Title-1 surveillance authority over a U.S. person.
In fact, the FISA application is very sloppy
almost as if it wasnt a priority to have a solid and defensible document. I think theres a simple reason for that.
After all, the DOJ and FBI never thought anyone would ever be looking at this issue; they thought Hillary Clinton was going to win. To quote the disposition of FBI Counterintelligence Agent Peter Strzok: I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andys office that theres no way he gets elected but Im afraid we cant take that risk. Its like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before youre 40. Key word: unlikely, they never contemplated -until later- the full scope of justification that would be needed
. they were setting up something no-one really thought would need to be utilized
. all of the legal apoplexy and ass-covering came in hindsight.
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Why? Likely because the DOJ-National Security Division (DOJ-NSD) and FBI Counterintelligence needed to find a legal way to spy on the Trump campaign. The 2016 FISA Title 1 surveillance of former FBI employee Carter Page became that legal way. [The Insurance Policy]
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♦ Page #2: The initiating information came from the U.S. State Dept:
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♦ Page #5: The instigator was ODNI James Clapper:
The funny thing is,
James Clapper didnt even know he was in the FISA application
. and you know what,
I believe him. Why? Because
hes a complete doofus and the people pulling off this FISA fraud/scheme wouldnt want him to actually be a part of it. Secondly, Clapper published this in January, 2017:
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♦ Page #8 The FISA application shows surveillance started March 2016, referencing a meeting with George Papadopoulos -sourced from Christopher Steele- NOT with the official opening of Crossfire Hurricane on 7/31/16.
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♦ Page #53 verified in accordance with FBI 4/5/2001 policy.
No, actually, the FBI did not review this verified application for accuracy. Quite the contrary: Both James Comey and Andrew McCabe testified under oath to congress the content of the Steele Dossier, Chris Steele, FBI source #1, was never verified for accuracy.
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On page #15 they attest
the FBI is unaware of any derogatory information about Source #1 Christopher Steele. However, they knew when they filed this application that Chris Steele was shopping the information to the media and talking to Fusion GPS, his employer, and to media outlets.
The FBI knew the Clinton Campaign was paying for the dossier yet they never informed the court of the political motive behind Christopher Steele.
The FBI knew they were using media articles (page 21, 22, 24) that were entirely the outcome of their own leaks to the media. On page #23 the FBI correctly states their opinion that Chris Steele was *not* the source of one of the articles; however, they only knew that because the FBI *was* the source of the article. They cited their own leaks as confirmation for the original application.
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