IMPORTANT UPDATE: Oh My! Intel Community Whistleblower Hanky Panky?

The IMPORTANT UPDATE is down the page. Please continue that far. This appears to be a fast developing story.

This looks really suspicious. Sean Davis at The Federalist has a very detailed article just out that explains that the previous requirement that an Intel Community complainant who is seeking "whistleblower" status under the IC Whistleblower Protection Act (ICWPA) needs first hand knowledge was stripped out--to allow for hearsay, gossip, scuttlebut, whatever. That means that anyone IC employee can run to to their favorite Congress critter with gossip--or made up stories--and demand whistleblower status with all the attendant legal protections. What kind of a way is that to run and Intel organization? It's custom made for--framing a President?

The article is Intel Community Secretly Gutted Requirement Of First-Hand Whistleblower Knowledge--Federal records show that the intelligence community secretly revised the formal whistleblower complaint form in August 2019 to eliminate the requirement of direct, first-hand knowledge of wrongdoing. It's detailed, but here are some highlights. Note the timing:

Between May 2018 and August 2019, the intelligence community secretly eliminated a requirement that whistleblowers provide direct, first-hand knowledge of alleged wrongdoings. This raises questions about the intelligence community’s behavior regarding the August submission of a whistleblower complaint against President Donald Trump. The new complaint document no longer requires potential whistleblowers who wish to have their concerns expedited to Congress to have direct, first-hand knowledge of the alleged wrongdoing that they are reporting. 

The brand new version of the whistleblower complaint form, which was not made public until after the transcript of Trump’s July 25 phone call with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and the complaint addressed to Congress were made public, eliminates the first-hand knowledge requirement and allows employees to file whistleblower complaints even if they have zero direct knowledge of underlying evidence and only “heard about [wrongdoing] from others.”

Here's how the previous form used to read:

Now That Sue Gordon Is Gone ...

Trump ‘In No Rush’ to Select Permanent Intelligence Chief

President offered no clarity on how long Joseph Maguire would serve as acting national-intelligence director

And why should he be? He likes the acting guy just fine: Joseph Maguire. Was this a brilliant finesse?

“I’m in no rush because we have a great acting [director],” Mr. Trump said. 

Mr. Trump on Thursday ousted Sue Gordon, the No. 2 intelligence official, after his allies urged her removal to block her ascension to acting director of national intelligence following the departure of Dan Coats next week. Mr. Trump announced Mr. Coats’s planned departure last month. 

I find this misuse of the word "ascension" deeply annoying. We're not talking about Jesus here--it's just Sue Gordon. And yet I see this misuse regularly, including not only by journalists but by actually highly educated people. The word they want is accession.

The president initially said he would nominate Rep. John Ratcliffe (R., Texas), a staunch ally who sharply criticized former special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, as his permanent successor, but Mr. Ratcliffe withdrew less than a week later amid scrutiny of his résumé and opposition from key senators. 

Mr. Trump’s critics have warned him against politicizing an intelligence community ...

We'll pause briefly here to laugh our hooha off.

Breaking: Sue Gordon Resigns From ODNI

Nobody's really sure what this is about, but Sue Gordon--whom the Deep State was pushing to succeed Dan Coats as DNI--has resigned, effective August 15, 2019, same day Coats is leaving. They say Trump wasn't expecting this, but definitely wasn't going to make Gordon Acting DNI in any case. Seems like a victory for Trump, even though he had to give up Ratcliffe. He'll be appointing a new acting DNI. h/t GP.



Jonathan Swan [Axios] 

@jonathanvswan 

 On Sue Gordon, per sources familiar, She was never in the Oval. Did drop off a resignation letter. POTUS wasn’t expecting the letter, though he wasn’t ever going to pick her as acting DNI. POTUS statement likely coming shortly.

5:18 PM - Aug 8, 2019

Susan Collins: Ratcliffe Too Hard On Mueller

That's what Maria Bartiromo says her sources are telling her. Susan Collins said: "He [Ratcliffe] was awful hard on Mueller." And McConnell and Burr wouldn't even meet with Ratcliffe.

I won't claim to know everything that might be behind this. Perhaps Trump--and VP Pence--didn't do the necessary preparation? I don't know. But the story seems to be that GOPer senators want Deep State creature Sue Gordon--a close protege of John Brennan--to be DNI.

One thing seems very clear. While the Republican base tends to view this country as remaining in a state of crisis in the aftermath of a coup attempt that is far from over, the GOPe has a different view and a different set of priorities.

Does this tell you something about what Barr has to deal with? Nothing will be easy.

Deep State Interdiction: Ratcliffe Withdraws From DNI Bid

The Hill is reporting that President Trump has advised John Ratcliffe that he will not nominate Ratcliffe for DNI--Trump withdraws Ratcliffe as Intelligence pick:

Trump's abrupt announcement came after days of scrutiny of Ratcliffe's background and past statements critical of former special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Several Republican senators had declined to weigh in on his nomination, as he withstood a barrage of criticism from Democrats.

Trump had not officially nominated Ratcliffe for the role. 

What this may mean is that unless Trump can find a nominee acceptable to "several Republican senators"--unnamed--Deep State operative Sue Gordon may be acting DNI. RINOs acting in concert with Deep State and Dem senators against their President.

Trump famously said: You'll get tired of winning. He knew. Yes, the GOPe is tired of winning.

Techno Fog
‏
@Techno_Fog

Something to watch: 

Lawfare/Swamp efforts to elevate Sue Gordon - their choice DNI, and ally of John Brennan - while they go scorched earth against Ratcliffe.

1:12 PM - 29 Jul 2019


Techno Fog
‏

@Techno_Fog

Case in point: Mark Warner.

Plan: get Sue Gordon (CIA/Swamp Choice) as Acting DNI, stall/defeat Ratcliffe.
Essential for Republicans like @SenatorCollins to recognize this.

9:17 AM - 1 Aug 2019