OPINION | This article contains political commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Buckle Up: It’s going to be a long one.
The Federalist originally reported about the FBI document release. Sidney Powell, General Flynn’s attorney, received more documents from the FBI because the “Government has a continuing obligation to provide to the defense all evidence that is exculpatory of General Flynn, establishes misconduct by the Government in its many capacities that contributed to this wrongful prosecution, or otherwise is favorable to the defense.”
The handwritten notes and internal text messages released by the FBI this week prove that General Michael Flynn was targeted by the Obama administration to frame him and damage then-President-Elect Trump.
The court document shows that agents, communicating through the FBI internal text messaging server, along with handwritten notes of former Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok and former Deputy Director Andrew McCabe; and additional text messages between former DAD Strzok and Lisa Page – worked together in the plot to frame Michael Flynn.
According to Sydney Powell, the newly released documents include proof that “agents and others at the highest levels of the Department of Justice and the FBI, knew that the way in which the ‘evidence’ against General Flynn was ‘outrageous [and] deliberate misconduct.'”
Powell says that the FBI and DOJ were “playing games with the life of a national hero.”
The first set of messages provided by Powell show two redacted FBI agents discussing other agents wanting a “Clinton presidency” over a “wild card like Trump.”
This seems benign on the surface, but we all know now this was just the beginning. The FBI is supposed to be a non-partisan investigative agency that helps protect the United States from domestic enemies.
The agents made references to Operation Crossfire Hurricane, saying, “haha, so now [redacted] is trying to work a trip to South Africa, the Crossfire Road show.” The other agent responds, “I’m interested to see how this all plays out.”
They knew it wasn’t going to end well for anyone as one agent stated, “I’m [telling you] man, if this thing ever gets FOIA’d (Freedom Of Information Act), there are going to be some tough questions asked, and a great deal of those will be related to Brian having a scope way outside the boundaries of logic.”
The agents claim that a redacted agent – part of the leadership of the investigation -was “one of the worst offenders of the rabbit holes and conspiracy theories.”
On November 8, 2016, the agents began discussing what they thought would be the end in the investigation into Michael Flynn. One of the agents who attended the meeting regarding Flynn said, “I went [, and] joined the ops pow wow… looks like next Friday is the end.”
This took place four days after Donald Trump was elected President.
The agent continues, “we have some loose ends to tie up, and we all need to meet to discuss what to do with each case (he said to shut down Razor). [Redacted] was silent, though, so who knows what he will want.”
The agent not at the “pow-wow” responds, “so glad they’re closing Razor.”
We know now that “Razor” is the name of the investigation into Flynn.
Something happened between November 8 and November 21 because instead of closing, the investigation into General Flynn was kept open. Trump named Flynn as his National Security Advisor on November 18th. The leaders of the investigation used a national security letter to investigate Flynn’s finances as a stalling tactic to allow the investigation to continue.
The agent asked what the agency expected to get from the “nsl” stall tactic. The agent says, “what do we expect to get from an nsl? He sat next to Putin in Dec; their relationship is overt.” The agents agree that this investigation is a “nightmare.” They “put out traces, tripwires to community and nothing” on Flynn was found.
As the agents discuss the possibility that this investigation “is a nightmare,” they also worry about leaks. On agent says, “If we are concerned about sensitivity/leaks, might not want to send NSLs that we really don’t intend on using. If we’re working to close down the cases, I’m not sure what NSL results would do to help.”
The other agent responds, “I mean, I can’t get DI people, but we have some mope in Jacksonville, Miami, Newark running NSLs and FISA [secondaries].”
The first agent responds, “exactly, that makes no sense. We’d have to read in more people/field offices.”
The agents knew that there was nothing to the investigation. They knew that continuing the investigation under the guise of “Russian spy” would be “way outside the boundaries of logic.”
Then the agents revealed that not only did the leadership within the FBI know about the investigation, but Obama was also briefed.
Agent: “So razor is going to stay open???”
Other Agent: “Yep. Crimes report being drafted.”
Agent: “F. What’s the word on how O’s briefing went?”
Other Agent: “Who is O?”
Agent:”Obama. Our President.”
Other Agent: “Don’t know, but people here are scrambling for info to support certain things and it’s a mad house.”
Agent: “Jesus. Trump was right. Still not put together… why do we do this to ourselves? What is wrong with these people?”
After the meetings with Obama and the realization that they had nothing on Flynn or Trump – we learn that many agents involved with the investigation went out and bought professional liability insurance to protect themselves against their illegal and shoddy work.
Everyone got anxious after there was a “big leak at [the] DOJ, and the NYT, among others, was going to do a piece.” The big worry was that Trump’s new Attorney General at the time, Jeff Sessions, would have questions that they wouldn’t be able to answer safely. The agent says, “We all get screwed.”
Andrew McCabe was the Deputy Director of the FBI during this investigation. His handwritten notes say:
“Flynn-
- Open: nothing
- Closed: everything
- Blackmail: theoretically possible, not the strongest theory”
They had nothing.
Lawfare article, and “F’in Pamela Brown knows there were two phone call memos.” Further, these text messages reinforce how zealously Strzok and Page were working to oppose Trump’s election and subvert the peaceful transfer of power.”
Please follow me on Twitter: @marmee_r and Parler: @marmee