Commentary
Recent developments in the “Russiagate” saga have stirred the pot, suggesting that significant trouble may be brewing for high-ranking officials from the Obama administration, potentially culminating in forthcoming criminal indictments.
Inspector General’s Report on FISA Abuses
On October 24, Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz announced to congressional leaders that his much-anticipated report detailing possible abuses of the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) by Obama-era officials against the Trump campaign during the 2016 election would soon be released, likely with minimal redactions.
Horowitz’s inquiry, initiated in early 2018, was spurred by concerns from lawmakers and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions about whether the FBI had misrepresented information to the FISA court when it sought permission to surveil Carter Page, a former Trump campaign volunteer, amidst the “Russia collusion” investigation. This probe was ultimately deemed a hoax following an exhaustive two-year investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Documents reveal that the FBI’s FISA warrant application relied heavily on the discredited Steele dossier, authored by British ex-spy Christopher Steele, who was commissioned by Fusion GPS—hired by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC)—to dig up dirt on Trump. Crucially, the FBI allegedly failed to disclose the dossier’s political origins to the FISA court.
Moreover, the FBI endorsed the dossier’s allegations concerning Page, despite having already verified that many claims were false. For instance, while the dossier asserted that Page had secret meetings in Moscow with high-ranking Kremlin officials, the FBI investigation revealed that he had only met a lower-level Rosneft official, significantly downplaying the dossier’s dramatic narrative.
The allegations, including those involving Paul Manafort, were ultimately disproven by Mueller, who found no corroborating evidence for any claims made in the Steele dossier, including the notorious assertions about compromising material involving Trump.
The FBI’s prior knowledge of the dossier’s unreliability raises serious questions about the integrity of the intelligence community and the motivations behind its actions during this politically charged period.
Durham’s Probe Becomes Criminal Investigation
Horowitz’s findings on FISA abuses have likely contributed to the escalation of U.S. Attorney John Durham’s investigation into a full-blown criminal inquiry, empowering him to issue subpoenas and convene grand juries. This shift suggests that the scope of inquiry is broadening, potentially unearthing more significant misconduct within the intelligence community.
Recent reports indicate that Durham and Attorney General William Barr traveled to Rome to review evidence related to Joseph Mifsud, the Maltese professor who allegedly informed Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos about Russian “dirt” on Hillary Clinton. Mifsud’s role in the investigation has raised suspicions, particularly regarding the possibility that he may have been an asset of U.S. intelligence.
If Mifsud is indeed found to be an asset, it would dramatically alter the narrative surrounding the Russia investigation, suggesting a more complex entrapment orchestrated by intelligence agencies rather than simple collusion.
‘Sisters Have Begun Leaking Like Mad’
On October 23, Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson reached out to Michael Atkinson, the Inspector General of the intelligence community, probing into the rampant leaks from intelligence sources that plagued the early days of Trump’s presidency. Their inquiry highlighted a text exchange between FBI agents hinting at coordinated leaks from within the agency, aimed at undermining the Trump administration.
Flynn’s Counsel Claims FBI Notes Were Altered
Michael Flynn, former national security adviser, has come under scrutiny for allegedly making false statements to the FBI. His attorney, Sidney Powell, asserts that the FBI conducted an ambush interview designed to ensnare Flynn into making misleading statements, rather than genuinely investigating any criminal wrongdoing.
Powell argues that the FBI altered documentation from the interview and withheld exculpatory evidence, raising significant questions about the legitimacy of the charges against Flynn. She claims that the motivations behind the interview were politically driven, aiming to undermine Flynn and, by extension, Trump.
Are Criminal Indictments Forthcoming?
These developments suggest an intricate web of deception involving the FISA court, coordinated leaks aimed at sabotaging Trump’s presidency, and potential entrapment tactics employed against lower-level campaign aides. The evidence points towards a politically motivated campaign orchestrated by senior Obama-era officials, using the machinery of the federal government to delegitimize Trump’s election.
As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how deep this corruption runs and whether it could implicate figures as high as former President Obama himself. The American public is left grappling with the unsettling reality of alleged misconduct within institutions once regarded as pillars of integrity, raising profound concerns about the state of democracy and the rule of law in the United States.
Stephen Meister is a founding partner of Meister, Seelig & Fein LLP, a law firm headquartered in New York; a published author; and an opinion writer. Twitter @StephenMeister. Opinions expressed here are his own, not his firm’s.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
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