It’s Friday.
So far the President has tweeted 2 times.
In response to last nights tweets, I’m doing it a little different today.
Friday’s Tweets.
1. @LindseyGrahamSC
“If they try to Impeach President Trump, who has done nothing wrong (No Collusion), they will end up getting him re-elected” @LindseyGrahamSC Impeachment is for High Crimes and Misdemeanors. There were no High Crimes and Misdemeanors, except for those committed by the other side!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2019
Based on what he said in this video we should impeach Trump now pic.twitter.com/pHipViPvxp #LindseyGrahamResign
— Corey (@UltraJ21) May 14, 2019
@LindseyGrahamSC seems your own words are coming back to haunt you!Maybe you would like to explain your double standards to The Ppl!
— Graeme (@gmangeegee) May 14, 2019
Your constituents are turning against you & want you out!Looks like it’s time to plan for retirement!#LindseyGrahamResign
pic.twitter.com/ap99eaTAob
“He doesn’t have to say ‘go lie for me,’ for it to be a crime. You don’t have to say ‘let’s obstruct justice’ for it to be a crime. You judge people on their conduct, not magic phrases” Senator Lindsey Graham #LindseyGrahamResign pic.twitter.com/niLnLYhbyI
— leftiees (@Leftiees) May 14, 2019
2. Dems are just looking for trouble and a Do-Over!
I don’t know why the Radical Left Democrats want Bob Mueller to testify when he just issued a 40 Million Dollar Report that states, loud & clear & for all to hear, No Collusion and No Obstruction (how do you Obstruct a NO crime?) Dems are just looking for trouble and a Do-Over!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2019
This tweet plays right into last nights announcement that Attorney General William Barr will be reviewing the Oranges Origins of the Counterintelligence investigation that led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
“Today, at the request and recommendation of the Attorney General of the United States, President Donald J. Trump directed the intelligence community to quickly and fully cooperate with the Attorney General’s investigation into surveillance activities….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2019
….during the 2016 Presidential election. The Attorney General has also been delegated full and complete authority to declassify information pertaining to this investigation, in accordance with the long-established standards for handling classified information….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2019
….Today’s action will help ensure that all Americans learn the truth about the events that occurred, and the actions that were taken, during the last Presidential election and will restore confidence in our public institutions.” @PressSec
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2019
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement last night that explained at the recommendation of AG Barr, the President has “directed the intelligence community to quickly and fully cooperate with the Attorney General’s investigation into surveillance activities during the 2016 Presidential election.”
The White House memorandum directs the “heads of elements of the intelligence community, as defined in 50 U.S.C. 3003(4), and the heads of each department or agency that includes an element of the intelligence community shall promptly provide such assistance and information as the Attorney General may request in connection with that review.”
It goes on to say that AG Barr will allowed to declassify and downgrade classified material. It goes on to say that AG Barr “Before exercising this authority, the Attorney General should, to the extent he deems it practicable, consult with the head of the originating intelligence community element or department. This authority is not delegable and applies notwithstanding any other authorization or limitation set forth in Executive Order 13526.”
From the Mueller Report.
Introduction to Volume 1 page 1-2 PDF page 9-10.
Footnote from Mueller’s Report Volume 1 page 89 PDF page 97.
Footnote 465 states, This information is contained in the FBI case-opening document and related materials. (Struck out text reads, the information is law enforcement sensitive (LES) and must be treated according in any external dissemination.) The foreign government conveyed this information to the U.S. government on July 26, 2016, a few days after WikiLeak’s release of Clinton-related emails. The FBI opened its investigation of potential coordination between Russia and the Trump Campaign a few days later based on the information.
On May 1st, speaking before the Senate Judiciary Committee when asked if AG Barr reviewed the underlying evidence, such as the evidence related to footnote 465, Barr said no. [they were speaking of Obstruction of Justice, however, Barr said he did not review the underlying material provided by Mueller and his team.
Barr admits he did no work of his own before deciding to clear Trump of possible obstruction of justice charges pic.twitter.com/6bBQj90rru
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 1, 2019
Why it Matters.
While President Trump bemoans Congressional Oversight, reviewing and questioning what is contained in the damaging Mueller Report, as a do-over, he is in fact calling for his own do-over, only this time he is using our Department of Justice to do it. Last summer, the DOJ Inspector General issued a report that reviewed at length the handling of both the Hillary Clinton and the start of the Russian Investigation by the FBI. The Carter Page FISA Application is public record.
I’m not opposed to investigations, I’m not opposed to holding wrong doers accountable, I am opposed to abusing the office of the President, and pitting those agencies deemed to protect us against each other.
For What it’s Worth one year ago almost to the day, #SpyGate was debunked here and here.
This post will be updated within reason.
