Stephen Boyd, Assistant AG, has written a letter to Jerrold Nadler in response to Nadler's request for information regarding the "review" that DoJ is conducting into "certain activities" with regard to the 2016 presidential election--"and related matters." You can read the letter here.
Boyd states that
"it is well established that, in 2016, the U.S. government and others undertook certain intelligence-gathering and investigative steps directed at persons associated with the Trump Campaign ... there remain open questions relating to the origins of this counter-intelligence investigation and the U.S. and foreign intelligence activities that took place prior to and during that investigation.”
Boyd goes on to note activities that have been undertaken thus far, mostly to coordinate with other agencies:
1. Preserve relevant records,
2. Ensure the availability of witnesses,
3. Identify and assemble relevant materials.
For my money, however, the key is in the first paragraph. Boyd makes no bones about how broad the scope of the "review" is. The review includes not only the actions of the US intelligence services, it will also seek to illuminate the role of foreign intelligence services as well as non-governmental organizations and individuals:
The Review is broad in scope and multifaced, and is intended to illuminate open questions regarding the activities of U.S. and foreign intelligence services as well as non-governmental organizations and individuals.
The US intel agencies may include not only the FBI and CIA but possibly the DIA (contacts with Papadopoulos in London). The sky's the limit as regards the foreign intel services--Brits, of course, but probably Aussies, Estonians, maybe Italians. The list could well be longer. Individuals and non-governmental organizations? Chris Steele, FBI/CIA/Other informants such as Halper, Mifsud, Downer. Fusion GPS, along with principals such as Glenn Simpson, Mary Jacoby, and Nellie Ohr--plus the DNC lawyers Michael Sussman and Marc Elias. No doubt White House officials fall within this broad scope, as well.
The bottom line is that this looks like the real thing. An additional indication of how big it is may be that "existing office space" has been turned over to Durham and his team. I'd have preferred to hear about "additional" office space being rented for the purpose, but we'll have to give it time.
The enormity of the corruption and criminality that took place during the Obama Administration cannot be overstated, and therein lies the rub. If Barr and Durham actually attempt a comprehensive investigation and utilize standard DOJ procedures and protocols, then this investigation will go on for years (assuming Trump is reelected). As such, an effective Deep State strategy could be to drag everything out as long as possible and hope for a miracle (or stolen) election in 2020. Barr would be wise to get some indictments out sooner rather than later in order to set the tone going forward. We can now see that Huber was a head-fake by Sessions, so another episode of that kind of justice denied could well prompt a civil revolt. The perfect should not be the enemy of the good.
ReplyDeleteYou say "an effective Deep State strategy could be to drag everything out as long as possible" and hope to replace Trump in 2020 (and then of course bury everything for good). I submit there's no "could be" about it. That strategy has been fully in place and vigorously executed since at least January of 2017, and the signs of it are everywhere. I've no time at the moment to present a fair sampling of those signs, but I doubt any of us who follow this site really need me to do that, anyway.
DeleteBrad, I think you can safely bet that, despite Barr's "nice" talk, Wray and Haspel are determinedly dragging their heels.
Delete"Barr would be wise to get some indictments out sooner rather than later"
ReplyDeleteYes. Same reason why I was saying this morning that he should push some new info out ASAP, keep stirring the pot.
Barr has presented himself as determined and serious. Surely he is aware that he does not have unlimited time, and that he will be seen as a fool if he does not indeed actually expose the truth.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you're right, Jim. Mark Meadows was saying again today: indictments this month. The thing is, of course, you need to bring the indictments in a particular order. Barr wants the truth, and the truth is that Obama was involved. That means Barr will need to work the lower level people and move up to the others. Hopefully there will be a rush of people looking to make plea deals.
DeleteThis site is starting to see many new names in the comments section. Also, you are regularly having posts that are hitting in the thirties.
ReplyDeleteThat's a testament to your good work.
Tx. I'm hoping to have a long post tomorrow. Trying to get a handle on how Barr might be looking at this.
DeleteOne very bright ray of hope, at least to me, is the historic weakness of the Dem candidate lineup.
ReplyDeleteBiden is no longer capable of physically fluent speech or movement; his candidacy will be shorter lived than anyone is willing to admit today.
Once Biden self destructs, Bernie & Liz will get to duking it out. America is not at all ready to vote for a real, live, card-carrying Socialist, at least not as long as the economy doesn't collapse; and a minute or two of hearing Liz's whiny voice will convince all but the true believers that she too is no Trump slayer.
The rest are pikers, with two sort of dark horse exceptions in Tim Ryan and Tulsi Gabbard. They come across as not totally insane, which is a decided liability at present but could become an asset should the Party get sufficiently desperate, which is totally possible. Gabbard is no Russia hoaxer, which is bad now but, once again, this could change.
I swear I'm not counting my chickens or anything like that, as I'm a huge believer in that whole "Events, dear boy, events" thing. But it is often said in whatever words that God has a soft spot for the good ol' US of A, and I'm seeing right now a real blessing in the fact that 44 built no farm team at all. None.
The Biden candidacy is a measure of how desperate the Deep State must be. He's the only guy they could come up with that they figure they can rely on to protect them.
DeleteBarr is a career attorney, and therefore he thinks like an attorney. What I mean by that is he views the coming battle in terms of legal maneuvering and prevailing in a court of law. The Deep State, however, views Trump as an existential threat and views the coming battle in terms of actual warfare, which they are waging on many fronts. Pelosi and her minions are conducting a political offensive and fully intend to exploit their power to impeach. The national news media effectively functions as the propaganda, disinformation, and psyops wing. There will be a very active lawfare component rolling in very soon, which likely will include suing Barr and others in civil court in order to muddy the water. The Fifth Columnists in the Executive Branch still include many senior power players that will doing everything they can to sabotage Barr's investigation. And let's not forget the duplicitous RINOs waiting in the wings to stab Trump in the back at the first opportunity. Last, but not least, they have plans for an Armageddon type false flag OP to distract everyone from the seeing the elephant in the room.
ReplyDeleteIf Barr hopes to prevail in this war, he should hire an XO with some actual combat experience and start thinking outside the box. The bad guys are clearly playing for keeps (as manifest in the recent attempts to do grievous harm to Manafort). If the good guys don't fight back soon, the nation will begin to assume that evil has won the day.
I would have to disagree--although obviously Barr will no doubt welcome any help he can get.
DeleteBarr is NOT merely a career attorney. He started out in the CIA and got his law degree on the side. He cut his teeth as a CIA lawyer for 4 years, then worked on the WH policy staff in the Reagan admin--constantly under attack. Under Bush 1 he helped handle the Panama invasion, then Iraqgate and finally Iran-Contra and the Weinberger pardon.
Barr knows DC power politics and he knows playing for keeps. He also understands an entrenched Deep State and what it will take to overcome it or neutralize it. He's been out of it for years, true, but he's been watching and waiting and has insider friends to inform him before he ever came on board.
My chief concern is that both Barr and Trump are anomalies. There is no backup. God help us come 2024.
DeleteI have to admit that I'm not aware of anyone else with Barr's stature as well as willingness to serve.
DeleteI don't know, either. But I know this.
DeleteGenesis 22:14 the LORD will provide
Even though we don't deserve it.
Heh. That calls to mind one respect in which the made for TV version of Tinker Tailor improves on the book. Jumbo in the closing called on to do the scripture reading and stumbles over "shewed" in this passage:
DeleteAnd Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
I think that you and I have outed ourselves as "bitter clingers." Either that or "deplorables."
ReplyDelete"Last, but not least, they have plans for an Armageddon type false flag OP to distract everyone from the seeing the elephant in the room."
ReplyDeleteAs today's developments in the Hormuz Strait demonstrate, the Deep State will stop at nothing in it's fight to prevail over Trump. Barr cannot afford to wait indefinitely before counterattacking. Delay comes at a price, and that price will only go up the longer this drags out.