I haven't posted much politics lately. Other sites certainly do a better job of dissecting the apparent sleazy antics of the CIA, FBI, DOJ and the Obama administration. What triggered this post was the leaked news that the IG draft report found that James Comey was insubordinate in his handling of Clinton's email server. From Business Insider:
The Department of Justice's inspector general has concluded that James Comey defied authority at times during his time leading of the FBI, ABC News reported Wednesday, citing sources familiar with a draft report on the matter.Needless to say the leak is spin. It neatly places the blame on Comey while insulating his superiors and of course Obama. I suspect the actual report will be more complex than that.
The report, when finished and officially released, will cap Inspector General Michael Horowitz's inquiry into the FBI's handling of its investigation of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. The report is said to focus on senior FBI leadership at the time, like Comey and Attorney General Loretta Lynch, rather than on Clinton.
One source told ABC News the draft report about Comey described his conduct as "insubordinate." Another source reportedly agreed with that characterization but could not confirm that the exact term had been used.
That said, if true one wonders what Comey thinks of being setup as the fall-guy?
3 comments:
If that's the case, fall guy, then I think he's in on it. Taking one for the team, so to speak. And will have a very comfortable retirement.
Keep in mind, though, that there is likely no limit to my cynicism.
Luther
It could be. It struck me that the leak about the report was battlefield prep -- attempting to position him as highest level of any shenanigans with the Clinton Email investigation. They're attempting to implant that narrative so they can spin and obfuscate what the report might actually say (and I guess we'll start to learn that this week).
Comey may be fine with the fall-guy if he thinks he can be protected from any really bad consequences, but -- like Wilma eventually did in the Maltese Falcon -- he may make a break for it if things start going pear-shaped.
We swim in a sea of leaks to the media that give an impression that the cadre in the CIA and FBI are in total control of their turf. We know that's not true. Early on Admiral Rogers of the NSA reportedly warned Trump about the NSA bugs. There are almost certainly others tied into the parallel review of Clapper, Comet, et al.
One final thing -- the timing of last week's arrest of James Wolfe of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the seizing of Ali Watkin's phone records is of interest. It certainly is a shot over the bow of other leakers, and perhaps an encouragement for them to change their stories.
Pressure is being applied in both directions.
Great read of events, Ambi.
Well, if what happens to Comey is the worse that happens to anyone, and that likely only reputation tarnished, then not much is coming of all this. Yes, timing of the Wolfe arrest most interesting. More there than meets the eye I think, as you suggest. How much are the mid-terms affecting these events, and the timing of such. Any?
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