MULTIPLE UPDATES: Sunday Morning: FBI Taking Action?

Thanks to commenter EZ for bringing Matt Braynard's tweets to my attention, as I've been out of pocket as usual. As EZ remarks in his comment, it definitely appears that the FBI is getting involved, based on clear indications of fraud. This may be a salutary caution to those who assume that because they don't receive regular text/email updates from AG Barr that no action is under way. At the same time Braynard takes a cautious approach--the request he documents here is not a guarantee of effective action. Nevertheless, for the time being it's a positive step:

Matt Braynard

@MattBraynard

Update: 

- The @FBI  has proactively and directly requested from me the VIP findings that indicates illegal ballots. 

- By Tuesday, we will have delivered to the agency all of our data, including names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.

- While there has been legit criticism of the actions of leaders of the agency over the last several years, I can personally attest to the many patriots within the rank-and-file who are fighting on the side of the Constitution and Law and Order.

Note: everything I pass on to local/state/fed law enforcement, litigants, legislatures, journalists, etc, is always a copy. 

And despite sharing it with individuals from all of those groups, there's never guarantee of a productive result.

UPDATE: OK, so what does this mean?

First, context. We know that within a few days of the election two things happened at DoJ/FBI. 

First, AG Barr's Deputy AG--to whom Director Wray answers on a day to day basis--issued a policy clarification that stated that FBI agents are allowed to carry firearms inside election centers. That was a clear indication that the FBI had received complaints about election fraud or violations of federal election laws and was attempting to respond. That response might have been to simply seek further information to determine whether a federal violation was in play, but the fact that there was an early FBI response to complaints is the important point.

Second, shortly thereafter AG Barr took action that forced the head of the Election Fraud Branch at DoJ to "resign". The situation was that this official, Richard Pilger (linked to past Dem scandals), had clearly been obstructing DoJ/FBI response to the election related complaints that were coming in. Once again, this was a clear indication of action being taken.

The significance of this action is almost certainly that Pilger had been seeking to block investigations that local FBI and US Attorney offices wanted to set in motion. Pilger, through his guidelines, was in a position to block requests to obtain subpoenas. Barr's prompt action allowed the local USA/FBI offices to take the action they deemed appropriate and necessary based on their own knowledge, without having to clear their actions through Pilger.

In addition to those early indicators, we know that there have been criminal referrals to the FBI from private parties. Certainly this occurred in Clark County, Nevada, but I believe it has taken place in other jurisdictions, as well.

With that context in mind, here's my best guess.

My best guess is that the FBI, in consultation with local US Attorneys and, most likely, DoJ, has made the determination that there is a basis for believing that criminal violations of election laws have occurred and that a Full Investigation is warranted. That determination was most likely made some time ago. Exactly what violations are being looked at is a matter for speculation, but the request for Braynard's best information tells us what some of those violations are.

My belief regarding why the request was made to Braynard is fairly simple. Braynard, with his past expertise in election data gathering, was able to quickly amass an enormous amount of relevant data--including identifying data for numerous witnesses and indications of whether those witnesses would likely be cooperative. The FBI would naturally want to contact relevant witnesses to the violations they were investigating so, rather than reinvent the wheel, they decided in the interests of time saving, to obtain Braynard's information. The next step is to set out leads to all FBI offices to contact witnesses in their jurisdictions. Investigative work can't be confined simply to the contested states, since witnesses may have moved, literally, anywhere in the world.

The other factor here is important to keep in mind. We know about these developments because the FBI has been in touch with private parties. It's entirely possible, even likely, that the FBI has also received information from other government entities--local, state, federal. In most cases we would not be aware of that, so we can only speculate. Where this will all lead is also a matter for speculation. One thing is for sure--no matter how much Braynard and others have accomplished (and it is hugely impressive), the FBI and DoJ totally dwarf private investigators in investigative capabilities.

For what it's worth, let me point out that Trump--who has not been shy about deploring lack of public action on the Russia Hoax--has NOT called out either DoJ or the FBI with regard to the election. At least not that I'm aware of. Not institutionally, and not by personal names--such as Bill Barr.

UPDATE: Shipwreckedcrew has learned that the agent who contacted Braynard is from the FBI'S Los Angeles Field Office (h/t commenter atxnfo):

So, what are we to make of that?
LAFO is a large office with a ton of manpower available.
The investigation has been centered there on purpose since no elections in Calif are in question. It is likely assigned to a large squad, and there are lots of bodies involved.

— shipwreckedcrew (@shipwreckedcrew) November 29, 2020

My take on that is a bit different than SWC's. My guess is that this relates to the referral from Las Vegas. As I recall, that referral was based on the issue of double voting--numerous CA residents were found to have voted in both CA as well as NV (where they had second residences). It would make sense for FBI LA to acquire Braynard's information in order to locate and interview those CA residents. For info, here is the territory covered by FBI LA:

Along with our main office in Los Angeles, we have 10 satellite offices, known as resident agencies, in the area.

• Lancaster
  • County covered: Northeastern Los Angeles 
• Long Beach
  • County: Southern Los Angeles
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  • County: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Orange County
  • County: Orange
• Palm Springs
  • County: Eastern Riverside
• Riverside
  • Counties: Riverside and San Bernardino
• Santa Maria
  • Counties: Santa Barbara (partial jurisdiction) and San Luis Obispo
• Ventura
  • County: Santa Barbara (partial jurisdiction) and Ventura
• Victorville
  • County: San Bernardino
• West Covina
  • County: Eastern Los Angeles