Saturday, September 26, 2020

The FBI's Bad Intelligence

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham on Thursday released newly declassified FBI documents that contain this stunner: The bureau relied on a suspected Russian agent for the information it used to obtain a secret surveillance warrant against former Trump adviser Carter Page.

The latest disclosures show that Mr. Danchenko was the subject of an FBI counterintelligence investigation from 2009 to 2011, based on concerns he was a Russian agent and "a threat to national security."

Further FBI investigation found Mr. Danchenko was an associate of two other "FBI counterintelligence subjects." He also had contact with "The Russian Embassy and known Russian intelligence officers," and the FBI went so far as to apply for a warrant to surveil Mr. Danchenko.

The investigation ended because he left the country in September 2010, though the FBI said "Consideration would be given to re-opening the investigation" if he returned.

Here's the kicker: The FBI identified Mr. Danchenko as Mr. Steele's source in December 2016, when senior bureau officials also became aware of the prior FBI investigation.

Instead and incredibly, the FBI failed to disclose this information to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in all three of its subsequent renewal applications against Mr. Page.

The process, he said, was upside down, with investigators treated as a "Speed bump" by attorneys who "Wanted to be part of something 'big.'" These "All stars" called the shots, and "There was a lack of letting the evidence lead the investigation." He closed the interview by saying he believed the Mueller team brought a charge that Mr. Flynn lied to the FBI as another "Means to 'get TRUMP.'".

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-fbis-bad-intelligence-11601075142?mod=hp_opin_pos_2 

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