Just want to point out Strzok did not 'start the Russia collusion investigation." That's incorrect given the actual scope and number of people that were involved. There were leads coming in from several independent sources, including the dossier from the former MI5 operative, which is still under investigation. Regardless how badly Trump wanted it disappeared and discredited. The dossier is just one of many parts of what I presume the Mueller team is looking at. It includes mention of most, if not all of the alleged collusion activity with Russia. It's a piece of the puzzle. The end of Mueller's investigation needs to answer clearly if there were criminal acts committed, if Trump or his associates were compromised. Mueller either has evidence of that or he doesn't.
Incorrect. Strzok was the lead investigator and it was he who recommended that the investigation go forward or not. The AG and the Director of the FBI do not investigate **** and decide to move ahead - they assign the investigation to a lead investigator, who is the arbiter as to whether or not there is reason to proceed with an investigation.
Further, there were NOT multiple sources in the first 6 months of 2016. There was oppo research and the fact that Manafort had dealings in the Ukraine. That was it, Tibs. The rest of the information implicated Russia, not any American citizen. Was there reason to look into the issue? Sure, I guess.
Was there enough to launch a counter-intelligence probe on American citizens and repeatedly approach members of the Trump team to offer information? No. No, there was not. And lest you forget, it was Comey - somebody you have labeled a hero - who stated that but for the oppo research, the FBI would not have sought a warrant, would not have eavesdropped on Flynn, etc.
See, we're on opposite sides of the spectrum. When you say governments rig the game, to me that's what Trump's trying to get away with. Manipulating the media, his supporters and the general public to look away from the Russian investigation, it's all a hoax, fake news. What responsible government official, much less the President, speaks like that of his own federal agencies? I may need to touch up on my history when we've seen a President in a stare-down with his own Department of Justice and the FBI. It's not a good look right now in 2018, regardless how many times it may have happened in the past.
The lead investigator as to Russia, Trump, etc. wrote these:
“[Trump’s] not ever going to become president, right? Right?!” Page texted Strzok in August 2016. “No. No he won’t. We’ll stop it,” Strzok responded.
He whitewashed Hillary, gave the go-ahead on an investigation of the Trump team on the flimsiest of evidence, and repeatedly wrote about his hate of Trump. Who the hell would trust his investigation or decisions??
Would you trust a judge who told you before the beginning of the trial, "Hey, look, I just want it known I hate your guts, find you a vile person, and will do everything in my power to stop you"??
See, we're on opposite sides of the spectrum. When you say governments rig the game, to me that's what Trump's trying to get away with. Manipulating the media, his supporters and the general public to look away from the Russian investigation, it's all a hoax, fake news. What responsible government official, much less the President, speaks like that of his own federal agencies? I may need to touch up on my history when we've seen a President in a stare-down with his own Department of Justice and the FBI. It's not a good look right now in 2018, regardless how many times it may have happened in the past.
I see fundamental issues with his persistent attacks on the press and media. Who is he yelling at? The journalists, tv crews, people watching at home? The owners of the cable news channels, the businesses that advertise? To me it's all part of an attempt to distract from what I think he knows Mueller must have on him, especially now that they have the doc's and phone/email records from the the Michael Cohen raids.
If I'm Trump, and I'm innocent, all I'd be doing is cooperating with the investigation from the word 'Go' and keeping my mouth shut. You have respect for the process, particularly if you're the President, and you're truly innocent. First thing you do is you walk in and give oral and written testimony, under oath. Put it in paper that you didn't collude with the Russians. Explain a few fundamental questions, clear your name. If you didn't do anything wrong yet you're being accused of it, you'd run to clear your name as soon as you could. There is no other explanation for Trump's belligerent behavior than the fact he may be neck deep in all of it. Trump's feeling the heat from the fed's.
Oh bunk. No possible explanation for his reaction to being called a traitor, and colluding with an enemy to affect the election?? How about the fact that he was not treated fairly, ever, at all, in any respect and where the lead investigator and his girlfriend wrote, “[Trump’s] not ever going to become president, right? Right?!” Page texted Strzok in August 2016.
“No. No he won’t. We’ll stop it,” Strzok responded.
I don't suggest that Strzok was saying he would falsify the investigation, but his adamant hatred of Trump - and he wrote several times how much he hated Trump - made him clearly ineligible to be the lead investigator. The FBI has specific protocols on this. It's why Strzok is no longer an active FBI agent, Tibs.
Are you suggesting that Strzok's well-documented bias played no role in his investigation and recommendations? If so, why was he suspended? Why did he fail to answer questions yesterday after promising to cooperate? Strzok has a lot to answer for.
Tibs said:
If I'm Trump, and I'm innocent, all I'd be doing is cooperating with the investigation from the word 'Go' and keeping my mouth shut. You have respect for the process, particularly if you're the President, and you're truly innocent. First thing you do is you walk in and give oral and written testimony, under oath. Put it in paper that you didn't collude with the Russians. Explain a few fundamental questions, clear your name. If you didn't do anything wrong yet you're being accused of it, you'd run to clear your name as soon as you could. There is no other explanation for Trump's belligerent behavior than the fact he may be neck deep in all of it. Trump's feeling the heat from the fed's.
In an ordinary investigation, sure. Where the FBI has already demonstrated blatant bias in favor of Hillary and is playing extremely fast and loose with the law as to Trump? No freaking way. Mueller is looking to justify the year-long probe. Ask Trump a thousand questions. He testifies falsely on three? PERJURY.
It's a set-up. Was Hillary subjected to this process? No. Why not? Because the game is rigged. Was Hillary prosecuted for destroying subpoenaed evidence? No. Why? The game is rigged. Would Trump be allowed to destroy tens of thousands of subpoenaed e-mails? Of course not. Be honest here.
And you believe Trump should just "trust these guys"? **** that. The independent counsel is now a group of climate scientists, looking for evidence of global warming. Oh, yeah, I'd trust those findings, right, you bet.
Further, look at the known "facts" as to collusion. Russians bought ads on Facebook. Russians presented anti-Hillary ads. Why? They, like everybody else, thought she would win and were trying to impugn her before she took office. Trump's role in this? NOTHING.
Meanwhile, Hillary's camp paid a foreign operative, Steele, for salacious allegations against Trump. Credible evidence shows that the Hillary people paid millions for the information. The FBI used this information to obtain a warrant from a FISA judge to spy on ... well, Trump staff members. Remember when we were told that the spying was "on the Russians" and Flynn was just caught in the draft? Yeah, that was false. The spying was directed at Manafort, Papadopolous, and others yet to be named, apparently including Flynn.
Did the FBI tell the FISA judge that the allegations were paid-for oppo research? No. Did the FBI (Strzok) tell the judge that the allegations came from a source (Steele) no longer used by the FBI based on suspicions of leaking information? No. Did the FBI tell the FISA judge that the allegations were multiple hearsay from a foreign source who was paid to conduct political opposition research? NO.
Meanwhile, Hillary is not put under oath, Huma is not put under oath, Hillary destroys subpoenaed materials, Hillary lies to the FBI, Huma lies to the FBI, and ... nothing. Not one goddamn thing. Not a single charge, not even for obstruction for destroying subpoenaed materials or for lying to the FBI - the only allegation against Flynn and Papadoupolis, by the way.
And Trump should just rely on the FBI to be fair?!? Are you serious?
The "just go under oath and tell the truth" meme is a schtick, Tibs. ******* Strzok said he thought Flynn was truthful and had minor misrecollections.
His life is ruined.
Seriously, Trump should just testify for 7 hours and rely on the investigators to be fair? Yeah, that sounds good.
How about this, Tibs. He be given the same deal as Hillary - not under oath, followed by an immediate whitewashing. What, that's not fair?
Well neither is a blatantly biased, skewed investigation powered by leaks, untruths and misrepresentations.
