Lots To Criticize For The DoJ IG

Based on leaks of the nearly-finished report by the Inspector General of the DoJ, there was a lot to dislike about the Comey/Lynch handling of the see-no-evil "investigation" of the Hillary email debacle.

Comments

[Beasts of England]

First

[Extraneus]

That was a surprisingly ok piece by ABC News

Well, it's still ABC News...

A week before the announcement, while the investigation into Hillary Clinton was still underway, a political firestorm erupted in Washington after Lynch happened to run into Bill Clinton in Arizona and briefly met with him inside a plane sitting on a tarmac there.

The inspector general's office seemed to similarly view Lynch's announcement as strange, with the draft report criticizing her for how she handled the impromptu tarmac meeting and its aftermath, according to sources familiar with the findings.

[henry]

but no leak of a criminal referral for anyone. Simply "criticism," and that stops at Comey and does not reach the "buck stops here" level cabal.

[Beasts of England]

A tarmac meeting ensued...

[Extraneus]

Those two sentences shoulda been separated by ...

[Extraneus]

I wouldn't think the criminal referral is included in the draft report. Shouldn't it be confidential, and not given to the targets to review ahead of time?

[boris]

"Comey defied authority as FBI director, sources say"

Comey used abuse of power to protect Hillary and sabotage Trump.

If the report is watered down that much it's useless because Comey will remain Hero of The People Left.

[Old Lurker]

And this "There is no indication the president has seen – or will see – a draft of the report before its release. Horowitz, however, could revise the draft report now that current and former officials mentioned in it have offered their responses to the inspector general's conclusions, according to the sources."

By the time it gets sanitized, Trump will owe Comey an apology.

[Extraneus]

Almost from the start, the long-awaited report was expected to chastise Comey for his handling of the Clinton-related probe. But in apparently describing Comey's defiance of authority, the draft report was criticizing a man who prided himself on his leadership style at the FBI and has since dedicated his post-government life to promoting a new generation of effective leaders.

...

Talking with ABC News about his own firing, Comey said he decided to write a book afterward because, "It occurred to me maybe I can be useful by offering a view to people, especially to young people, of what leadership should look like and how it should be centered on values."

Nice touch, ABC.

[henry]

Maybe the report is delayed because it is embarrasingly wimpy.

[Old Lurker]

You laugh, Henry...

[henry]

An honest question OL. Potemkin's villages were more lifelike.

[Extraneus]

There is no indication the president has seen

Maybe not, but what sort of indication would there be if he has?

[Captain Hate]

Can we hang Ryan for treason along with the GOP megadonors?

[Beasts of England]

Yeah, but this isn't a leak - this is ABC's pre-spin of a leak.

Today's Latin phrase: Cum grano salis.

[narciso]

it's a good start, yes it's a order 6 type of day,

[Dave (in MA)]

ABC is trying a Modified Limited Schlongout.

[Captain Hate]

Dammit, I go outside to do three measly hours of trimming the shrubs, in near perfect weather for it, and all hell breaks loose.

[Eye Doctor]

The Deep State is working overtime. They can not let this house of cards fall.

[Captain Hate]

ABC: the "just the tip" of Fake News.

[Extraneus]

"It occurred to me maybe I can be useful by offering a view to people, especially to young people, of what leadership should look like and how it should be centered on values."

That cracks me up.

[Beasts of England]

I would guess that Trump has read the report. Good grief - he's the president, ABC...

[Eye Doctor]

Where did RG and Tom R go?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

ABC through the Stephie contact trying to pre-spin the report.

[Captain Hate]

Nothing says "leadership" like trying to hide in the drapes.

[Old Lurker]

Ext, you know better than to use that lack of evidence is evidence of the opposite trick here...yes I know you do!

[henry]

Lead by hiding in the curtains?

I don't believe that is in Sun Tzu. Or Clauswitz or Jomini either. But neither was leading from your behind.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Commutation of the sentence of Alice Johnson, not a pardon.

[narciso]

Remember I said mostly, and i mentioned ishmael Jones as an outlier, but meanwhile you have that ridiculous manafort story.

Mifsud met with china catspaw ashton carter, odd behavior for a soviet agent.

[maryrose]

Pagar hit it on the head.
This smells like a whitewash ala Sandy Berger.

[henry]

"defied authority"... it isn't Lynch or ValJar's fault, and don't even look at Obama.

[Eye Doctor]

Horowitz is an Obama appointee. Don't forget that.

[Extraneus]

I know you do!

Heh, but why wouldn't Sessions have given him the report? Neither of them is recused or under any sort of investigation for the handling of Hillary's emails.

Surely he would have demanded it by now if it wasn't offered up immediately.

They've probably snickered about it.

[maryrose]

Henry:
Sounds wimpy to me.
No wonder McCabe wants immunity.
He thinks Comey and Lynch are going to get off with a reprimand after hanging him out to dry.

[Old Lurker]

Beasts "I would guess that Trump has read the report. Good grief - he's the president, ABC..."

Beasts you are just egging me on so I get in trouble all over again. Last night I said that I truthfully do not know if Trump OR Sessions has read the report.

Porch...sorry...I TRIED to be good, honest! :-)

OK, maybe I didn't try very hard.

[Extraneus]

Seven In Ten Americans Feel "News Fatigue," With 77% of Republicans Feeling News Burnout

Not us!

[Old Lurker]

Ext, my 1:09 to Beasts answers your question...

[Eye Doctor]

All of this stuff is very easy to prosecute. IF you indeed wanted to.

[maryrose]

Sounds like OL has been right all along.
When do the criminal indictments come down?

[Beasts of England]

That was directed at ABC, not you, OL. :)

[narciso]

So they don't know except there is a report.

[Extraneus]

Got it, OL, but any of us would have demanded to see that report by now. What possible justification could there be for Sessions to refuse, and why would he even want to?

"Oh no, sir. There's stuff in there about your enemies, and while it really is a great read..."

What? We're supposed to be independent from you? NFW.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

If you’re interested in making your blood pressure skyrocket here’s the full report about giving Iran an all-access pass to our financial system. https://t.co/RO29KfnvYK pic.twitter.com/RtQfIOk9gc

— Rosie Memos (@almostjingo) June 6, 2018

Includes link to the full report plus some additional tweets with phone call transcripts.

[Old Lurker]

Maryrose gets the bumpersticker award for the year!

"Sounds like OL has been right all along."

Truthfully, I still don't know how this plays out. I told MM & RG & Porch from the beginning that I hope they are right and I am proven wrong.

But until we know for sure, I am casting your words in Bronze for my den wall.

[henry]

Might as well burn down a hotel in London to distract us from this severe threat of a wrist slapping:

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/06/fire-breaks-out-at-mandarin-oriental-hotel-in-central-london.html?__source=twitter%7Cmain

[Old Lurker]

Actually Ext, it IS hard for me to imagine Trump in his CEO suit not demanding it weeks ago.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Old Lurker,

I would remind you that maryrose thinks Trey Gowdy is a stand-up guy.

;-)

[Eye Doctor]

Never mind 4d chess. This is simply a case of the curtain being pulled back.

[Captain Hate]

Not us!

Speak for yourself; I'm sick of this fake news.

[Old Lurker]

MM, the thing about your Iran Bank System Access story is not that we did it, but that the entire Obama team from top to bottom swore exactly the opposite, and the MSM just said "how sweet".

[narciso]

Oh so we see voldermorts renfield and mifsud

https://mobile.twitter.com/The_War_Economy/status/1004368327261806592?p=v

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

1. I think Trump saw the report days ago. He keeps calling attention to it.

2. None of this leaked right away. The fact that we are hearing this from ABC indicates to me that a couple of days were spent going over the report and trying to figure out the best way to get ahead of it.

3. Notice we haven't heard any discussion of Hillary's actions. None. It's all about Comey and making him sound less culpable.

I am optimistic, but then, that is my nature and isn't based on anything except a hunch.

[Old Lurker]

MM "I would remind you that maryrose thinks Trey Gowdy is a stand-up guy."

But but, Maryrose is sometimes an excellent judge of character!

That was funny, MM.

[Porchlight]

I know you didn't try that hard, OL, but I forgive you anyway. ;)

[Old Lurker]

Henry. That fire at the MO-London is a shame.

[Jane]

My goodness - such projection. There will be plenty of time to bitch and complain after it comes out.

Take that with "a grain of salt" Beasts.

[Captain Hate]

Tammy says that the lack of crowing by the MFM about the Crazyfornia primaries means it was a really underwhelming outcome for the commiecrats.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Old Lurker,

Yes, and I am glad to see it out there. The more stuff we discover that Obama did the less he looks like the paragon of virtue that the press tries to paint him as.

They FINALLY have started questioning Clinton. It only took them 20 damn years. I want them to start asking questions about Obama NOW. Too late to do so while he was in office, but if they can spend 5 days making crap up about Melania, they can sure as hell look at a former president who attempted to break the law on behalf of an enemy and sworn terrorist nation.

[narciso]

Sorry it was talbott who renfield in-law, the one who tried to buy magic beans from hackers in Berlin.

[narciso]

Yes they got a very selective primary, just enough for wrong way Newman to torpedo himself.

[Porchlight]

I think Tammy is right about Commiefornia.

I don't know. The leaks seem like fake news. ISTM that ABC, and the people who would leak to ABC, are pretty invested in swamp protection. But we'll see.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Corey R. Lewandowski
‏Verified account @CLewandowski_
1h1 hour ago

Looks like Lying Jim Comey is in some hot water. The IG’s draft report says not only was he “insubordinate” but he exceeded his authority as the Director of the FBI. Will he try to seek immunity like McCabe?

[Old Lurker]

Porch, it is just so hard to play another character after all this time.

MM, I do agree with you that odds are that Trump has seen the report, that he knows the original has the dirt he needs, and that right now he has two goals: scare the IG from watering it down, and teasing it out to fit Trump's schedule.

Note I say "odds are" which is why I get antsy. i am tired of playing the odds in this game.

[pagar, a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

"pass to our financial system. "

I guess pallets of cash were not enough.

[Eye Doctor]

Don't forget Comey was Deputy AG when the Obama cover-up/Blago "investigation began.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Old Lurker,

Note Corey Lewandowski's tweet that I posted at 1:31. From what Corey says it looks like ABC watered down some of what was said.

Lewandowski maintains contact with people in the White House, so it isn't unreasonable to think he has heard something about the report.

[rse]

Anyone else see ryan's comment, that the nyt is highlighting in a news alert, as essentially trying to kneecap trump?

Honestly if he were a child the brat would deserve to have his butt swatted.

[Captain Hate]

The platform changes but the bitter whine continues:

https://quillette.com/2018/06/02/redstate-firings-decline-viewpoint-diversity-right/

[henry]

Ryan's comment:

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/ryan-gowdys-initial-assessment-is-accurate-on-fbi-doing-its-job-in-campaign-season-probe/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[narciso]

Yes this was a rather sad exercise in category error,

[narciso]

Burrow is the medicis creature, he picks up the cue card from lankford.

[Neo]

WASHINGTON – For the first time on record, the number of job openings in the United States exceeds the number of unemployed Americans — a trend that may soon give workers more leverage to demand pay raises.

[narciso]

Some actual 'speaking truth to power'

http://tabletmag.com/scroll/263504/after-tracey-ullman-roasts-corbyn-in-bbc-sketch-anti-semitic-conspiracy-theories-abound

[Extraneus]

I suppose you guys already discussed this (from 6/2).

Nancy boy Patrick Frey whines about...

The RedState Firings and the Decline of Viewpoint Diversity on the Right

[Extraneus]

Ooops. I guess I got that from you, Captain.

What a pathetic piece.

[Beasts of England]

Not sure I understand your comment, Jane...

[Beasts of England]

I do now - never mind! :)

[daddy]

Good Morning!

I am so happy we never joined FaceBook since I now see that FaceBook gave access to the Chinese to all FaceBook's info on their billions of customers. Nice job Zuckerberg!

[Captain Hate]

No problem, Ext; welcome to the ridicule Patterico team.

[narciso]

Lets see what's itpn the report before going all waldorf and statler.

[henry]

the new soylent is out: (Tyson foods)

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/tyson-is-betting-that-consumers-will-eventually-crave-lab-grown-meat-2018-05-09?mod=mw_share_twitter

[Captain Hate]

Eh, the Feds already didn't protect my security data, which is much more detailed than anything I put on Zuckerberg; and didn't offer a fucking thing in compensation or restitution.

[daddy]

Reposting from Miss M for when I start catch-up. Please excuse me.

Paul Sperry
‏ @paulsperry_

BREAKING: McCabe & Comey cleared Sally Yates to use Strzok's 302 summary of interview with Gen. Flynn to brief WH counsel & pressure Flynn's firing, because Flynn was no longer under active investigation. Trump could not have "obstructed" an investigation that was no longer open.

[matt - deplorable me]

Not sure how to take the WaPo headline that Dems are still alive in House races. I din't think with the results here in the OC much is going to change, nor much of the rest of the country.

I was surprised that Cox was closer to Newsome than I thought. If we can push the Leftist dynasty aspect (he is Pelosi's SIL, I believe) and his complete incompetence, maybe there is a chance.

Sn Francisco crazies aren't very popular across most demographics even in California.

[James D.]

he exceeded his authority as the Director of the FBI.

"It's beginning to look as though General Ripper may have exceeded his authority..."

[narciso]

Its mostly python, re holy grail, only 22% turned out.

[Extraneus]

Leaker McCabe “Outraged” by DOJ Leaks About His Criminal Referral to US Attorney’s Office – Demands Investigation

[maryrose]

Trey Gowdy and Paul Ryan are stand up guys.

[maryrose]

They are not being blackmailed or held hostage as some on this blog would have you believe.

[jimmyk]

Speak for yourself; I'm sick of this fake news.

That's why I started talking about "Groundhog Day."

[Eye Doctor]

Who are they standing up for?

[henry]

They are standing up for the Chamber of Commerce, not we serfs.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

maryrose,

What exactly are they standing up for?

[Old Lurker]

Maryrose, just when I thought you were the best judge of Character ever!

:-)

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Jacob Wohl
‏Verified account @JacobAWohl
13h13 hours ago

The two Republicans running for Governor in California received more votes than the top Democrat, Gavin Newsom.

The dems have got to be pretty nervous right about now.

[Extraneus]

Why the lame excuses for retiring at the height of their careers?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Of course, the above tweet leaves off Villagarosa's votes, so not sure what the point it. (Sorry, I didn't look at the chart before I posted that.)

[maryrose]

After first IG on McCabe almost right away a recommendation for criminal prosecution was issued.
Should we expect that today for Comey and zLynch.
If not, why not?

[GUS]

John Chisholm and Paul Ryan. 2 men that I used to think were honorable.

[maryrose]

When all of Spygate is revealed I will judge each person according to the facts.
Meanwhile Podesta is free as a bird writing articles for the Washington Post after trying to steal the election for Hillary Clinton.