How a classified four-page Russia memo triggered a political firestorm

By AmericanDreamer on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 10:55am |

Matt Zapotosky, Karoun Damirjian, Robert Costa, Ellen Nakashima, WashPost today.

I thought this was interesting:

William Kristol, editor at large of the Weekly Standard and a conservative Trump critic, said: “It’s pretty astonishing to have members of Congress and fairly serious commentators clamoring for the release even as Trump’s Justice Department says they should wait for a full review. It’s a distressing sign that the irresponsibility and conspiracy theorizing on the right is not just on the far right but among top people.”

Some criticizing release of the memo are doing so on the grounds that other highly relevant information necessary for context to assess the memo's contents and draw appropriate conclusions, is not being released by the Committee majority.

URL:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/how-a-classified-four-page-russia-memo-triggered-a-political-firestorm/2018/01/29/42f94628-0516-11e8-94e8-e8b8600ade23_story.html?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_memohistory-820pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.6b91feeaea0f

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clarification: The "other highly relevant information necessary for context" noted in the comment above includes classified underlying information upon which the memo was based, referenced by Senator Warner's comments quoted in artappraiser's 6th comment in her story link at: http://www.dagblog.com/link/trumps-war-russia-probe-reaches-new-peak-243...

Whether there is other relevant information necessary for context in assessing the 4-page memo that is not classified, and therefore does not generate the same concerns about its potential release, is unclear, to me, at least.

by AmericanDreamer on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 11:11am

here's a direct link to the comment

appreciate the updates

by artappraiser on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 1:56pm

More on this from Greg Sargent in his Plum Line column piece, "The GOP's new tactic to protect Trump from Mueller is a transparent ruse", today's WashPo at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/01/30/gops-new-ta...

by AmericanDreamer on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 11:21am

Ryan defends release of memo on alleged surveillance abuses but warns against tying it to Mueller probe

@ WaPo

by artappraiser on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 2:45pm

and Politico: Ryan urges Republicans to take caution with FBI memo

He also urged them not to connect the memo's findings to Robert Mueller's probe.

Updated 01/30/2018 01:56 PM EST

by artappraiser on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 2:33pm

Washington Post's lead editorial yesterday on the Nunes memo matter: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/releasethememo-is-nothing-but-a-...

graf 2, much more Marty Baron and Jennifer Rubin than, say, George Will or Fred Hiatt (they make a muted appearance in graf 3):

This looks instead like a mischievous attempt to discredit the institutions responsible for assisting special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and any connection Donald Trump’s campaign might have had to it. Promoted by the actions of committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), the “#ReleaseTheMemo” campaign is not just partisan but hyperpartisan, a pet cause of GOP House ultras and their media cheering section that appalls more sober Republicans in the Senate and executive-branch agencies.

by AmericanDreamer on Wed, 01/31/2018 - 10:01am

"FBI challenges accuracy of GOP's surveillance memo", Devlin Barrett, Karoun Demirjian and Elise Viebeck, WaPo, about an hour ago: https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/trump-wants-to-release-memo-100...

Jennifer Rubin's latest on the Nunes matter, about 2 hours ago: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/01/31/rosenstein...

by AmericanDreamer on Wed, 01/31/2018 - 2:42pm

FBI chief has 'grave concerns,' clashes with Trump over GOP memo

By Shimon Prokupecz, Laura Jarrett, Jim Sciutto, Abby Phillip and Kevin Liptak, CNN

Updated 6:02 PM ET, Wed January 31, 2018

by artappraiser on Wed, 01/31/2018 - 7:03pm

Schiff says that his rebuttal is not to be released. So much for sunshine and disinfectants that Ryan referred to.

But why can’t Schiff just respond personally to the points, once released? His memo would not have secret info in it or he wouldn’t have requested its release. This whole thing is so worrisome...it seems there is no place too low to go.

I honestly thought that the Jeff Flake speech was going to be momentous, but it wasn’t. Maybe the fact that he fell in line with Trump when it came to voting, diluted his message. Or maybe no one was really listening.

by CVille Dem on Wed, 01/31/2018 - 3:44pm

Perhaps Schiff can revise the memo to ensure it is not, in fact, a security breach? If the GOP majority votes to decline its release or denies a vote they should and will take another big hit on the media. And the revised memo perhaps should be leaked. And/or, following that House GOP partisan knavery, Schiff might hold a press conference offering a verbal rebuttal that also would not be a breach. Preferably joined by Sen. Burt and Sen. Warner, who seem both to be on Schiff's side on this matter.

by AmericanDreamer on Wed, 01/31/2018 - 5:10pm

I’m pretty surprised that both (GOP and Democratic) memos haven’t been leaked. What’s that about?

by CVille Dem on Wed, 01/31/2018 - 6:06pm

No idea. Speculating, it would be premature for anyone bothered about the Nunes memo to leak the Schiff memo before the Nunes memo is public. Among Nunes memo sympathizers it sure looks as though it will be made public soon anyway, so why risk it? But these thoughts only pertain to some of the motivations that can exist for leaking.

by AmericanDreamer on Wed, 01/31/2018 - 6:24pm

Nunes isn’t sure if he worked with the White House on the anti-FBI memo.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/devin-nunes-wont-say-if-he-worked-with-white-house-on-anti-fbi-memo

by rmrd0000 on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 10:47am

Had even more difficulty when asked if any of his staff did.

by AmericanDreamer on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 11:34am

This is interesting because while it's advocacy against what's going on, they are trying to redirect to the legal and ethical, not the political:

Trump’s Saturday Night Massacre Is Happening Right Before Our Eyes

The aim of the campaign against the Mueller investigation and the FBI is clear: Obstructing justice.

By NORMAN EISEN, CAROLINE FREDRICKSON and NOAH BOOKBINDER

January 31, 2018 @ Politico.com

Norman Eisen, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, is the chairman of CREW.

Caroline Fredrickson is president of the American Constitution Society (ACS).

Noah Bookbinder is the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).

the summary:

[....] Rosenstein’s failure to provide sufficient answers has put his head on the chopping block, with the president reportedly preparing to use the memo as a pretext. This targeting of the deputy attorney general also makes clear the larger motivations of the smear campaign. It is plainly obstructive of the Russia investigation. From Trump on down, the hope seems to be that the best defense will prove to be a good offense. This is exactly the playbook Trump used to run when he was a slick up-and-coming Manhattan developer taking advice from the late Roy Cohn: attack, attack attack. But this is the presidency, and Trump has failed to learn the lesson of Cohn’s previous client and patron, Joe McCarthy. It’s not going to go the way he thinks.

by artappraiser on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 3:50pm

3 White House leakers to Jonathan Swan @ Axios.com, published 2 hrs. ago: Rising White House fear: Nunes memo is a dud; clearly trying to lower expectations?

by artappraiser on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 6:57pm

Maggie Haberman's sources more than agree:

More than fear for a number of folks who have been told of its contents https://t.co/2Re07wLZCp
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) February 1, 2018

by artappraiser on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 7:14pm

Pretty amazing tweet I just saw on "Hardball":

I had many fights with Congressional Dems over the years on national security matters. But I never witnessed the type of reckless partisan behavior I am now seeing from Nunes and House Republicans. Absence of moral and ethical leadership in WH is fueling this government crisis. https://t.co/KEUrsgtqhp
— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) February 1, 2018

by artappraiser on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 7:07pm

Brennab is certainly high on the list of co-conspirators up to his neck in this corruption. He's showing his fear by projecting his crimes out towards the people who are exposing him as part of this plot.

by Peter (not verified) on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 7:26pm

Hmmm. Seems to depend upon, to paraphrase another president, what your definition of "corruption" is:

Trump is telling associates he believes the Nunes memo will help discredit the Russia investigation --> https://t.co/RoQTQaG8mZ
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) February 1, 2018

by artappraiser on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 7:39pm

What went out as NBC's "first read" this morning

No, the GOP’s public war with the FBI is not normal

First Read is your briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter

Probably will be no surprise what they do for tomorrow, it is after all "Groundhog Day."

by artappraiser on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 7:29pm

Jennifer Rubin's column this morning:

The Nunes fiasco grows more preposterous by the hour

it's actually a good step-by-step of recent developments for those who haven't kept up.

Here's her summary:

If Democrats ever needed proof for the midterms that the GOP is a threat to national security and is unfit to govern, this should do it. The Republicans cannot with a straight face claim to be the party of national security while carrying on in such fashion. And even if a congressman in Iowa or Michigan were to say he played no part in Nunes’s conduct, his or her reelection by definition would help return Nunes to the intelligence committee chairmanship and Ryan to the speakership. In short, Democrats can argue that if you vote for anyone with an “R” after his or her name, you are voting to hobble the FBI, expose our secrets to our enemies and help Trump escape the consequences of possible wrongdoing. Talk about a winning message.

Reminds me of what I like about getting her p.o.v. She seems to be mostly just a classic conservative Republican, not a elite neo-con like Kristol. She cares about having a party that has classic Republican values and everything's going all wack on that front.

by artappraiser on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 8:27pm

And here we go...: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-approve...

1248 comments in the first 12 minutes at WaPo...

Will Rosenstein be fired? Will Wray be fired? Will either resign? Will Republican Sen. Burr join with Dem. Sen. Warner and Dem. Rep. Schiff to hold the necessary bipartisan press conference rebutting the memo and explaining to the public why its release is highly inappropriate and why its contents reflect the also highly inappropriate partisan bias its authors accuse its targets of?

If people are fired, will they be fired on Saturday night?

by AmericanDreamer on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 12:52pm

"The Nunes memo is out. It's a joke and a sham.", Greg Sargent and Paul Waldman analysis, WaPo, earlier this afternoon:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/02/02/the-nunes-m...

The whole point of the Nunes memo was always to create a pretext for President Trump to try to take control of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s probe, and it remains to be seen whether Trump will convince himself that it does give him this pretext.

But this is going to take a lot of self-deception on Trump’s part (not that he won’t rise to the occasion), and a lot of aggressive goading from his favorite cable news personalities — that is, if reality even matters in the least anymore. Because the memo itself is really just a bad joke.

The memo from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) has now been released, and its contents are almost comically thin in comparison with the great scandal Trump’s media allies have been hyping for weeks and weeks and weeks.

.............

by AmericanDreamer on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 3:08pm

We are finally beginning to see how the corruption, coullusion and crimes of the Clintonite deep, and not so deep, state operated. All the snowflake sandbagging and diversions will not stop the exposing of these real crimes. The Clintonites were too sure of themselves and didn't bother to cover their trail of misdeeds so AG Sessions has many operatives from the administration of the FBI and DOJ to target for a perp-walk. Trump doesn't have to do anything about the bogus Russia collusion witch-hunt, it grew from poisioned ground, a partisan smear campaign and organized partisan crime.

by Peter (not verified) on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 4:20pm

Thanks, I needed a laugh today.

by rmrd0000 on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 4:30pm

Here's Comey just shaking in his boots about the possibilities of the deep state being revealed:

That’s it? Dishonest and misleading memo wrecked the House intel committee, destroyed trust with Intelligence Community, damaged relationship with FISA court, and inexcusably exposed classified investigation of an American citizen. For what? DOJ & FBI must keep doing their jobs.
— James Comey (@Comey) February 2, 2018

by artappraiser on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 4:44pm

There's a lot more work to do, the deep state has clearly infiltrated the GOP:

A Republican operative explains the hypocrisy of the Nunes memo Former Jeb Bush aide reacts to memo: “Hahahahaha.”

@ Vox.com, Feb 2, 2018, 1:28pm EST

As far as Republican operative Tim Miller, who was formerly on Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign and advised the anti-Trump Super PAC Our Principles, is concerned, the highly anticipated Republican “memo” on the FBI’s Russia investigation into Donald Trump’s campaign was much ado about nothing [....]

Hahahahaha this is the whole memo? The big deep state scandal to take down Trump was about surveillance of Carter Page who had been an FBI target for years before the dossier? https://t.co/haDePJrcYb
— Tim Miller (@Timodc) February 2, 2018

[.....]

by artappraiser on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 4:56pm

This is great, the Enemies of the People are lining up to identify themselves.

by Peter (not verified) on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 5:38pm

Agreed. Although we might be talking about different ones.

by barefooted on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 5:42pm

Hah! Just when I was starting to think some people simply cannot "get along"!

And then both comments taken together, this brings to my mind the vision of a GOP Congress "lining up" to form a circular firing squad.

by artappraiser on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 6:04pm

I can easily see that happening now that the "memo" has been released (like some sort of caged animal?). It's a simplistic piece of text written as if to placate a boss who demanded something they couldn't actually provide. Facts. So now that it's out there, and obviously thin, which ones continue to sound the alarm bells and which ones go mute?

by barefooted on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 6:18pm

Well, there is also the reminder that several White House leakers were certainly worried that it would fall flat and were trying to tamp down expectations.

I have this intuition, admittedly not based on anything real, of Trump insisting, against most advice, because the whole "lock her up" chant is part of his gut, one of his major memes, and that red herring is what he feels comfortable using when accused of wrongdoing. Like a little kid saying to mom about his sister: but how come you're not punishing her? She did worse!

by artappraiser on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 6:30pm

Because it works for him, period. He has an infinite line of credit.

by PeraclesPlease on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 6:34pm

I was referring to Nunes, since it was his staff (and others, apparently) who put it together. Remember, he was recused until recently, and reportedly didn't read the classified documents - which is bizarre on top of bizarre - though his staff was in on everything committee-wise. But the bottom line is that you're right. The "boss" is always Trump.

by barefooted on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 6:54pm

In the News

Russia plays weak hand in Palestine
Russia plays weak hand in Palestine

submitted by PeraclesPlease 10 months ago

The intra-Palestinian meeting in Moscow has precedent

Russia's hosted such meetings in the past, most recently Feb 2019

Russia has long lamented the US' "monopolization" of the peace process & tried to carve out a niche for itself: mediating among the disunited Palestinians/2
— Hanna Notte (@HannaNotte) February 29, 2024

Read the article at https://twitter.com/HannaNotte/status/1763116222256701787

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Mother Jones is Reaching out to Alternative Party Voters
Mother Jones is Reaching out to Alternative Party Voters

submitted by HSG 10 months ago

Here's what I told them: https://halginsberg.com/vote-for-jill-stein-again/

Read the article at https://halginsberg.com/vote-for-jill-stein-again/

2 comments

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Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes...
Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes into force

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes into force https://t.co/pCoDg05irX
— Gareth Harris (@garethharr) December 28, 2023

Read the article at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/28/brazil-law-indigenous-land-rights-claim-time-marker?CMP=share_btn_tw

1 comment

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Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti (...
Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti (December 25, 2023)

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

Location: U.S. Embassy and residential compounds

Events: Heavy gunfire is occuring around the area of the U.S. Embassy and residential compounds adjacent to the Trutier area of Tabarre. All Embassy personnel have been instructed to remain indoors and shelter-in-place until further notice. All others should avoid the area.

Actions to take:

Avoid the area;

Avoid demonstrations and any large gatherings of people;

Do not attempt to drive through roadblocks; and

If you encounter a roadblock, turn around and get to a safe area.

Read the article at https://ht.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-port-au-prince-haiti-december-25-2023/

3 comments

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Pakistan Is Creating the World’s Next Refugee Crisis
Pakistan Is Creating the World’s Next Refugee Crisis

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

By The Editorial Board @ Bloomberg.com, December 8, 2023

A mass expulsion of Afghan migrants could destabilize the region and fuel radicalization. The West should pressure Islamabad to change course.

Read the article at https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-12-08/pakistan-s-expulsion-of-afghan-refugees-risks-another-crisis

6 comments

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Internet shut down in Chad
Internet shut down in Chad

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

All eyes on #Chad right now
Chad has two internet trunks coming into the country: One from the Red Sea via Sudan; the other from Cameroon. Not possible for the totality of the country's internet network to be shut unless done centrally. A lot of rumors swirling; few facts. https://t.co/N6bDJZ2ixO

Read the article at https://x.com/_hudsonc/status/1732891968709992511?s=20

2 comments

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[Economy] where Joe's success falls short
[Economy] where Joe's success falls short

submitted by PeraclesPlease 1 year ago

Read the article at

3 comments

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[CRIME News] 3 loss-prevention employees in Macy’s across...
[CRIME News] 3 loss-prevention employees in Macy’s across the street from Philadelphia City Hall stabbed

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

BREAKING: Three loss prevention employees in Macy’s across the street from Philadelphia City Hall stabbed, one of them has died from stab wounds, @PhillyPolice sources tell me. Police converged on the store as the three workers were rushed to Jefferson Hospital. pic.twitter.com/4U1eKycL4W

Read the article at https://x.com/KeeleyFox29/status/1731713272942940365?s=20

38 comments

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Former U.S. Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As...
Former U.S. Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As Secret Agent For Cuba

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

Former US Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As Secret Agent For Cuba https://t.co/LDwo4ZJI1K
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) December 4, 2023

Read the article at https://www.huffpost.com/entry/manuel-rocha-ambassador-arrested-cuba_n_656d1e2ae4b028b0f3d07478

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[War in Israel, Chapter II] UNRWA under scrutiny
[War in Israel, Chapter II] UNRWA under scrutiny

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

[Chapter I news is HERE, Oct. 7 til today]

You don’t get it.
It’s not about an UNRWA teacher who held an Israeli kid hostage in his house.
It’s all about how for 75 years you have destroyed the future of generations of Palestinians, including my family.
My cousins in Arab countries are still not citizens - not even the… https://t.co/nv6anubGhc
— George Deek (@GeorgeDeek) December 2, 2023

Note 'Community Notes' attached to UNWRA's statement.

Read the article at https://x.com/GeorgeDeek/status/1731020551328579863?s=20

58 comments

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Maduro, Under Pressure, Holds Vote to Annex Territory From...
Maduro, Under Pressure, Holds Vote to Annex Territory From a Neighbor

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

Imperialism for me but not for thee?

It's wild that Venezuela is now holding a vote on whether 2/3 of Guyana actually belongs to them! Analysts suggest that Modoru may want military action to pump up his sinking popularity.

Could we have a war in South America?!?

"The people who live in Essequibo are largely… pic.twitter.com/QvMEjkkgwy

Read the article at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/03/world/americas/maduro-vote-essequibo-guyana.html

6 comments

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[Where is the GOP headed?] Divisions leave Florida’s House...
[Where is the GOP headed?] Divisions leave Florida’s House Republicans powerless

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

The lack of a cohesive delegation has allowed attention-seeking lawmakers to act on their own.

McCarthy: “You have [Rep. Matt] Gaetz, who belongs in jail…”

Gaetz: “Tough words from a guy who sucker punches people in the back. The only assault I committed was against Kevin’s fragile ego.”https://t.co/LctPuz6Pcf

Read the article at https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/29/divisions-leave-floridas-house-republicans-powerless-00129200

10 comments

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‘She got so mad at me’: book on the ‘Squad’ details AOC-...
‘She got so mad at me’: book on the ‘Squad’ details AOC-Pelosi clashes

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

By Martinn Pengelly in Washington DC for TheGuardian.com, Nov. 30

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tells Ryan Grim life in Congress ‘completely transformed’ after Democratic leader stepped down

Read the article at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/nov/30/squad-book-aoc-nancy-pelosi?CMP=share_btn_tw

15 comments

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US health insurers Humana, Cigna in talks to merge -source
US health insurers Humana, Cigna in talks to merge -source

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

@ Reuters, Nov. 29

Read the article at https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/us-health-insurers-humana-cigna-talks-merge-wsj-2023-11-29/

3 comments

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Central Africa’s dinosaur regimes and the art of coup-...
Central Africa’s dinosaur regimes and the art of coup-proofing

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

"Both the AU and the intl community place more weight on whether elections are held than whether they are free and fair. Sanctions/expulsions occur when there is a coup but not necessarily when elections are rigged or if an “institutional coup” occurs." https://t.co/m9dNimJP0D
— Cameron Hudson (@_hudsonc) November 28, 2023

Read the article at https://africanarguments.org/2023/11/central-africas-dinosaur-regimes-and-the-art-of-coup-proofing/

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