"the decision to dismiss [Boente]came from high levels of the Justice Dept. rather than directly from FBI Director Wray."
I think it's safe to say that this was AG Bill Barr's decision, and that Barr saw no reason to consider anything Wray had to say on the matter. If Barr took that attitude toward firing Wray's right hand man for all things legal pertaining to the FBI, it's hard to see how Wray himself is not on thin ice--despite Barr's typical supportive statements. That's just Barr's style--everything's fine until suddenly they're not fine.
Monica Showalter has a nice summary of the firing and its possible implications for Wray: Bell tolling for FBI Director Christopher Wray? As a reminder of who Boente is, she quotes sundance:
Dana Boente is enmeshed in all of it: the Wolfe case and cover-up, the Assange case and cover-up, and the hiding of documents in the Flynn case and cover-up. Boente’s role as a manipulative fixer to protect the ongoing corrupt action of the Mueller probe was exactly why FBI Director Chris Wray hired him.
Boente also signed off on one of the Carter Page FISA renewals, so that could be another thing hanging over his head.
Sundance, of course, has to aim one of his trademark dumb-ass asides at Barr, but I think Showalter gets it exactly right:
Attorney General Bill Barr is a tough player. And the Trump team has already demonstrated that 'you're fired' is a thing.
Trump could have cleaned house before Barr took over. He didn't do it, presumably for good reasons. Barr is doing his housecleaning at his own pace and in his own style. His style is apolitical--actions speak louder than words. Barr's views are well known. He has no need to convince anyone that he's in charge. When the time is right he pulls the trigger, and he doesn't back down. For example, Barr apparently thought Tim Shea was the right guy for the USAO in DC, but when Shea screwed up he was quickly removed, without fanfare. Wray may be about to find out all about Barr's approach to managing.
Saw the doting comments shared by Wray. More deep state stuff. I'm not sure Wray gets how narrow his work is being viewed. Maybe he doesn't care. Wonder how he worked his way up in the FBI over the years.
ReplyDelete"Wonder how he worked his way up in the FBI over the years."
DeleteNeither worked their way up in the FBI--they were both parachuted in during the last few years with no prior experience in the FBI. Both former DoJ. Contrary to accounts by people who should know better.
Get your frustration. sorry for taking you there with the question.
DeletePass the popcorn, Please.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I can't be the only one who thinks that the Bureau is damaged goods. The loss of trust is bound to play out in front of a jury as well. "How can you claim any integrity when you knew, or should have known, about these shenanigans and did nothing about it? At the least, you could have resigned."
What was Tim Shea's screw-up?
ReplyDeleteSeems nomination as DEA Administrator is a promotion to greater responsibility, i.e. a federal agency w/10,000 employees.
He screwed up the Roger Stone sentencing recommendation, allowing himself to be rolled by the Team Mueller prosecutors and forcing Barr to handle it himself the next day--which he shouldn't have had to do. Major screw up showing he wasn't up to handling liberal political operatives disguised as prosecutors.
DeleteSo in this case, the USA for DC is a prestige job with high profile, while the DEA admin is a DOJ backwater filled with few, if any, days in the sun.
DeleteI sure did enjoy Mark's explanation of Shea's reassignment. We get so many mamby-pamby blowhard "analyses" these days that it sure is nice to see something important torn right down to its bare essence - in two sentences flat.
DeleteIt's even nicer to think our nation's AG knows just what's up and isn't screwing around.
Good riddance to Boente, who has been a conspirator since Day 1.
ReplyDeleteI'll add my voice to the chorus wondering when Wray goes.
Not if...when.
FBI Director seems tailor made for a "cleaner" like Grenell.
ReplyDeleteTom S.
Barr does not want to have any sitting member of the FBI undergo indictment while on staff. Very bad optics for the already heavily damaged FBI reputation. Plus, Boente has been actively undermining investigations by Durham and Jensen, and is the likely source of ongoing leaks to the Lawfare group that is preparing the defense strategy for the coup conspirators. This is the clearest indication yet that indictments will drop very soon.
ReplyDeleteI had the same suspicion. Boente has an indictment with his name on it, or at the very least, is going to be named as an unindicted co-conspirator.
DeleteAnd the timing suggests indictments are imminent.
It does seem that a lot of decisive action is going on.
DeleteMost people that don't follow this topic closely won't even know who Dana Boente is. Of course WE do. He's one of the big dirty swamp creatures in all this. So while this will be below the radar for many, I like the message it sends to the co-conspirators. More reason for them to begin to worry. The DOJ and FBI conspirators in particular.
ReplyDeleteOn another matter, isn't Judge Sullivan's 10 days up today? I've barely heard a word on that front, and you better believe I've been looking. Ha!
Response should be due later today.
DeletePosted on a later thread. Here is his response:
Deletehttps://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/michael-flynn-judge-just-told-the-d-c-circuit-why-he-refused-to-immediately-dismiss-prosecution/