OK, wow - the NY Times tells us that after Comey was fired the FBI complemented their criminal investigation of Trump with a counterintelligence probe. No reporting on whether the FBI sought, or found probable cause for, FISA warrants for folks other than Carter Page.
Why the revelation? Who knows? But a Trump-philic spin would be that Team Mueller is shifting the goalposts and trying to let The Resistance down gently. Note this deeply buried explanation of the two types of investigations:
The F.B.I. conducts two types of inquiries, criminal and counterintelligence investigations. Unlike criminal investigations, which are typically aimed at solving a crime and can result in arrests and convictions, counterintelligence inquiries are generally fact-finding missions to understand what a foreign power is doing and to stop any anti-American activity, like thefts of United States government secrets or covert efforts to influence policy. In most cases, the investigations are carried out quietly, sometimes for years. Often, they result in no arrests.
No arrests, no indictments, just a deeper understanding - well, that might cover the last two years. Hard news for The Resistance, if that is where this is headed.
PILING ON: Paul Mirengoff unloads.
OH, PLEASE: Benjamin Wittes of Lawfare is providing an example of the Power of Positive Rationalization. Or I am. Or both. His theme is that this investigation was about Russian interference in our election, not Trump per se. Supporting Congressional ass-covering testimony:
I have been authorized by the Department of Justice to confirm that the FBI, as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia's efforts (emphasis added).
And for emphasis:
It was about Russia. Full stop. It was always about Russia. And it still is about Russia.
The "full stop" is important so the reader can catch his breath after laughing out loud. Just off-hand, we know Team Hillary paid Steele (through cutouts) for dirt on Trump peddled by Russian government officials, some of which hit the US press before the election. Were the Russians hoping to aid both sides with the idea that the eventual loser of the election would scream "Collusion" and undermine the winner? Crafty!
Now, some people know that could not have been happening because US intel concluded that the Russkies started out helping both sides and fomenting division but eventually threw in behind Trump. Of course, many of those same people believe the intel behind Saddam's WMDs was politicized, but they know that didn't happen here. Whatever.
So how hard has Mueller pushed the Steele/Fusion GPS people? How many Facebook folks have been brought in to determine whether Russian moles are operating from the inside there? How deep an understanding has he tried to develop?
As an alternative to the "Always about Russia" paradigm, let's imagine this was always about the (bipartisan) Washington establishment rejecting the Trump insurgency. In that model, Hillary gets a pass, Facebook gets a pass, and yes, the investigation is all about Trump.
LAST LAUGH: From the Times, the FBI knows best:
A vigorous debate has taken shape among some former law enforcement officials outside the case over whether F.B.I. investigators overreacted in opening the counterintelligence inquiry during a tumultuous period at the Justice Department. Other former officials noted that those critics were not privy to all of the evidence and argued that sitting on it would have been an abdication of duty.
So if we knew what the FBI knew we would be reassured. This, from the same folks who resisted many oversight subpoenas just to spare themselves embarrassment. Strangely unconvincing, and where is the trust?
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