President Trump & the Spy That Wasn’t

Over the last month we’ve watched as the DOJ/FBI have battled with the House intelligence committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) over the release of sensitivity material about an informant who may or not have been outed, thanks to the same Republicans. A timeline of the potential informant @ The News Blender.

Last week we watched as this fight reached the top with President Trump tweeting almost daily since May 17th, about a “spy” inside his campaign.

The timeline of the last week…

May 16th The New York Times publishes an article titled, “Code Name Crossfire Hurricane: The Secret Origins of the Trump Investigation” The article line that seems to have sparked the Presidents hashtag Spygate, “And at least one government informant met several times with Mr. Page and Mr. Papadopoulos, current and former officials said.”

May 17th President Trump tweets about the spy ,“SPIED ON THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN WITH AN EMBEDDED INFORMANT.”  his source was Andrew McCarthy writer and contributing editor for National Review. President Trump added in his tweet, “if so this is bigger than Watergate.”

May 18th, President Trump tweets about the spy, this time citing a Fox News segment from Lou Dobbs, which on May 17th, was hosted by David Asman, who says in part, “This has never been done before and by any means necessary, they are out to frame Donald Trump for crimes he didn’t commit.”

May 18thThe New York Times publishes the article titled, “F.B.I. Used Informant to Investigate Russia Ties to Campaign, Not to Spy, as Trump Claims” the article goes into detail about the purpose of the informant. 

May 18th, Rudy Giuliani the Presidents Personal Attorney handling the Russian Probe,  tells CNN’s Chis Cuomo, that “We are told there was an informant, but we don’t know for sure.”

May 20th President Trump after a slew of tweets issues a demand.

The tweet leads the Department of Justice spokesperson, Sarah Flores, to issue a statement which explains that the Inspector Generals office, who currently is investigating any wrong doing on the part of DOJ/FBI in applying for and receiving the FISA warrant, has now been asked to expand their investigation to include, “determining whether there was any impropriety or political motivation in how the FBI conducted its counterintelligence investigation of persons suspected of involvement with the Russian agents who interfered in the 2016 presidential election.”

May 21stThe Washington Post names Stefan A. Halper as the informant who assisted with Russian investigation.

May 21st, President meets with, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and National Intelligence Director Daniel Coats. Sarah Sanders, the Press Secretary tells the press, “it was a routine meeting.” After the meeting she releases a statement.

The statement’s first part mirrors that of DOJ spokesperson Sarah Flores, the statement adds, “White House Chief of Staff John Kelly will immediately set up a meeting with the FBI, DOJ, and DNI together with Congressional Leaders to review highly classified and other information they have requested.

May 22 President Trump meets with President Moon of South Korean.

May 22nd after the meeting between President Trump and Moon, President Trump tweets for us to “Follow the Money,” once again stating the spy was planted inside the campaign “early on.”

May 22ndThe Washington Post publishes a time of line of events centered around the Informant and the Trump campaign.

May 23rd President Trump’s tweets that James Clapper has said, “Trump should be happy the FBI was spying on his campaign.”  On Tuesday James Clapper was on the View, and is asked by Joy Behar if the CIA or FBI had a spy inside Trump’s Campaign:

“Did you have a spy inside the campaign?”

Clapper replies, “No. They were not they were spying, a term I don’t particularly like, but, on what the Russian’s were doing, Trying to understand were the Russian’s trying to infiltrate, trying to gain access, trying to gain influence and leverage, which is what they do…”

Joy Behar interrupts and says, “So why doesn’t he like that he should be happy with them…”

Clapper replies, “Well he should be, I mean Russia, one of the reason I wrote my book, was the threat Russia poses they are bent on undermining our system.”

May 24th President Trump tweets once again misquoting James Clapper. President Trump also tweets in reference to an article that appeared @ The Daily Caller titled “Sources: FBI Agents Want Congress To Issue Them Subpoenas So They Can Reveal The Bureau’s Dirt.”

May 24th a select a group of lawmakers meet with the DOJ for a classified session to go over documents requested earlier in the month. Rep Devin Nunes (R-CA), who after the meeting did not give a statement to the press. Adam Schiff (D-CA) was also in attendance and told the press present, via CBS news, “Today’s Gang of 8 briefing was conducted to ensure protection of sources and methods. Nothing we heard today has changed our view that there is no evidence to support any allegation that the FBI or any intelligence agency placed a spy in the Trump campaign or other wise to failed follow appropriate procedures and protocols.” Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) attended the second meeting, offered these words, “I cannot and will not comment on a classified session.”

May 24th Politifact publishes a Punditfact statement detailing the amount of money starting in 2013 to 2018 that Halper, the outed informant, has made while working for the Department of Defense’s Office of Net Assessment.

May 25th the President once again mentions the spy that wasn’t via twitter.

Why it matters: 

Donald J. Trump is the President of the United States of America. He is not some nobody. His words, be they spoken, written, or in Tweet form, matter and carry the weight of the Federal Government behind them.

*Authors note*
Unless otherwise stated the links take you to The News Blender articles.

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About Tiff 2521 Articles
Member of the Free Press who is politically homeless and a political junkie.