Byron York: The information vacuum deep inside the Trump Russia controversy

[don-o]

Byron York: The information vacuum deep inside the Trump Russia controversy

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/byron-york-the-information-vacuum-deep-inside-the-trump-russia-controversy/article/2616542?platform=hootsuite

Put aside, for a moment, the raging controversies over this or that aspect of Donald Trump, the Russians and the election. And then ask: What do we know about the allegation at the heart of the matter: Did Trump, his campaign aides or his associates collude with Russians to influence the 2016 campaign?

The answer is, we know nothing. After all the investigating, after all the talk, after all the yelling — the public knows nothing. There may be people at the highest levels of U.S. government secrecy who know the answer, but even that is not clear at the moment.

The most definitive statement of the current situation came Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence, admitted that he does not know of any evidence that proves collusion, or even points toward collusion.

"Does intelligence exist that can definitively answer the following question, whether there were improper contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian officials?" NBC's Chuck Todd asked Clapper.

"We did not include any evidence in our report … that had anything, that had any reflection of collusion between members of the Trump campaign and the Russians," Clapper answered. "There was no evidence of that included in our report."

"I understand that, but does it exist?" Todd asked.

"Not to my knowledge," Clapper said.

"If it existed, it would have been in the report?" Todd asked.

"This could have unfolded or become available in the time since I left the government," Clapper responded. "But at the time, we had no evidence of such collusion."

"Well, that's a good question," Clapper said. "I don't know."

Remember that Clapper was head of national intelligence until Jan. 20. There have been reports the Trump Russia hacking investigation was going on last summer, that it accelerated in the fall, and that it has been moving along ever since. So Clapper was there for most of the investigation. And he says he knows of no evidence of collusion.

snip - much more at source

[don-o]

I would imagine that a LOT of reporters are grilling a lot of their anonymous sources.

[LonestarDream]

As Trump takes over the national security apparatus, what is or is not there should come forward.

[don-o]

As Trump takes over the national security apparatus, what is or is not there should come forward.

What concerns me is the track history of Congressional investigations. REF: Benghazi.

Sound and fury. Smoke and mirrors.

That is why I have suggested that IF there IS classified material that has been illegally distributed (and that seems to be in question), then proceed directly to prosecution.

  IF the FISA requests do exist, that is where you find a perp. It gets isolated to the agency that made the request. Then bring in the polygraphs.

[don-o]

Digging for reporting on the reporting of the Russia accusations....props to TGO for getting the ball rollinf.

This former British lawmaker is at the heart of the Trump wiretap allegations

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/the-former-british-lawmaker-at-the-heart-of-the-trump-wiretap-allegations/2017/03/06/9d8c6b94-027c-11e7-9d14-9724d48f5666_story.html?utm_term=.c5d087d4fc50

 LONDON — A former British legislator is at the heart of the Trump administration’s explosive allegation that President Barack Obama was spying on him during the 2016 campaign.

But who exactly is Louise Mensch?

For starters, the politician-turned-journalist is the writer behind an article published on the eve of the election titled: “EXCLUSIVE: FBI ‘Granted FISA Warrant’ Covering Trump Camp’s Ties To Russia.”

The article, published on the right-leaning, libertarian website Heat Street, did not create much of a stir at the time. But it has come under the spotlight after Trump, in a tweetstorm over the weekend, accused Obama of wiretapping his offices during the election campaign. Trump compared the alleged bugging to the Watergate scandal, but he has not offered any evidence to back up his claims.

In tweets on Monday, Mensch emphasized that her reporting does not back up Trump’s wiretapping claim, even though the White House cited her article to justify the allegation. She stressed that her reporting refers to a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court warrant and does not mention anything about wiretapping.

snip
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As Levin said last night,James Clapper's denials on Sunday have cast major doubts on this whole Russia business. Of course, Clapper could be flat out lying. But, if he is,  by logical inference he is accusing the media who have trotted out their stories  based on "folks in the know" of lying.

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning. It smells like, I dunnno....victory."

[LonestarDream]

In tweets on Monday, Mensch emphasized that her reporting does not back up Trump’s wiretapping claim, even though the White House cited her article to justify the allegation. She stressed that her reporting refers to a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court warrant and does not mention anything about wiretapping.

@don-o


Word games .   FISA court warrants ARE wiretapping .  And then there is Flynn.   

[don-o]

In tweets on Monday, Mensch emphasized that her reporting does not back up Trump’s wiretapping claim, even though the White House cited her article to justify the allegation. She stressed that her reporting refers to a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court warrant and does not mention anything about wiretapping.

@don-o


Word games .   FISA court warrants ARE wiretapping .  And then there is Flynn.

Parse the words carefully.



“What is this thing, ‘If it happened?’ There’s been reporting in the New York Times that the second time there was some computer in Trump Tower. Then, indeed, Trump was being electronically surveilled or wiretapped, depending on the technique that was used,” she said.

And Toensing said it is vital for lawmakers and reporters to consistently and repeatedly ask if wiretapping or electronic surveillance was used, since referring to one specific method could give witnesses unintended wiggle room.

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2017/03/ex-doj-official-obama-knows-if-feds-got-trump-fisa-warrant/#QhDFQkYMg25UtD05.99

[don-o]

Andrew McCarthy is right there with Levin:

But still, the media and Democrats have always had a serious vulnerability here — one they’ve never acknowledged because they’ve been too swept away by the political success of the fantasy narrative. It is this: At a certain point, if compelling evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to steal the election did not materialize, the much more interesting question becomes “How did the government obtain all this information that has been leaked to the media to prop up the story?”

In short, the media and Democrats have been playing with fire for months. The use of law-enforcement and national-security assets to investigate one’s political opponents during a heated election campaign has always been a potentially explosive story. Let’s not kid ourselves: If the roles were reversed, and a Republican administration had investigated officials tied to the campaign of the Democrats’ nominee, we would be drowning in a sea of Watergate 2.0 coverage.

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/445522/russian-election-hacking-fbi-not-investigating-trump-campaign

 

[don-o]

I think it is important to compile the debunking stories that are gushing out....

Attorney General Lynch Signed Off on ALL FISA Applications to WireTap Trump
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/03/draft-report-attorney-general-lynch-signed-off-on-fisa-applications-to-wiretap-president-trump/

Finally, another very disturbing fact about the wire tapping request of President Trump is that the FISA Court turned down President Obama’s Administration’s first request to wire tap President Trump that was evidently signed off on by Attorney General Lynch.  With only two applications denied out of 10,700 from 2009 through 2015, the fact that the Obama Administration’s application was denied by the FISA Court is very disturbing.  The odds of this happening were 0.02%.

[LonestarDream]

Excellent post @don-o

Andrew McCarthy is right there with Levin:

But still, the media and Democrats have always had a serious vulnerability here — one they’ve never acknowledged because they’ve been too swept away by the political success of the fantasy narrative. It is this: At a certain point, if compelling evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to steal the election did not materialize, the much more interesting question becomes “How did the government obtain all this information that has been leaked to the media to prop up the story?”

In short, the media and Democrats have been playing with fire for months. The use of law-enforcement and national-security assets to investigate one’s political opponents during a heated election campaign has always been a potentially explosive story. Let’s not kid ourselves: If the roles were reversed, and a Republican administration had investigated officials tied to the campaign of the Democrats’ nominee, we would be drowning in a sea of Watergate 2.0 coverage.

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/445522/russian-election-hacking-fbi-not-investigating-trump-campaign

[LonestarDream]

I agree with the .03% point, but there is nothing new in that story.

@don-o , you are so right.  Trump needs to release the FISA orders or whatever evidence he has, to include UK involvement - echelon style.

I think it is important to compile the debunking stories that are gushing out....

Attorney General Lynch Signed Off on ALL FISA Applications to WireTap Trump
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/03/draft-report-attorney-general-lynch-signed-off-on-fisa-applications-to-wiretap-president-trump/

Finally, another very disturbing fact about the wire tapping request of President Trump is that the FISA Court turned down President Obama’s Administration’s first request to wire tap President Trump that was evidently signed off on by Attorney General Lynch.  With only two applications denied out of 10,700 from 2009 through 2015, the fact that the Obama Administration’s application was denied by the FISA Court is very disturbing.  The odds of this happening were 0.02%.

[don-o]

I agree with the .03% point, but there is nothing new in that story.

@don-o , you are so right.  Trump needs to release the FISA orders or whatever evidence he has, to include UK involvement - echelon style.

There is nothing new but, as the "Russian hack of the election" dissolves before our eyes each reporter may have a slightly different angle. As to Trump releasing anything, I believe it is not as simple as it might sound. There is procedure that must be followed, including concurrence of all agencies which have an equity position.

Loretta Lynch should be the first target. She is the gate for all the FISA request that were made on her watch.

There needs to be an internal investigation by DOJ to determine if the alleged FISA requests were in bounds or not (we are told that one was not, but the contents of it contains vital information as to intent.)

It should be a straightforward matter. Request her for a voluntary interview that is focused on the two alleged requests. If she cooperates, good. If she stonewalls,     Grand Jury time.

One question is nagging at me...Can the DOJ select what jurisdiction to use or must it be in DC?

@LonestarDream

[LonestarDream]

There are federal courts in all 57 states.