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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFBI More Out of Control Than We Knew
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/fbi-more-out-of-control-then-we-knewIt is worth noting that not only is Schweitzer a former Bush-era operative, the book was funded by one of the organizations Steve Bannon runs inside the Breitbart media empire. Yes, it really was - Bannon, who ran Breitbart News and is now on leave to run the Trump campaign.
It's complicated to make sense of just what's going on in this article. As I wrote earlier, I think the agents pushing these probes have the reporter's, Barrett's era. But certainly both sides get a hearing in this story. Regardless, given what we've seen with the emails probe, the backstory to the Comey letter, this pretty iffy would-be Clinton Foundation investigation and even the weirdness two days ago with the sudden release of the Marc Rich documents (though that may be nothing), there's very little to shake Democrats of their longheld belief that the rank and file of the FBI has a strong Republican lean (like most law enforcement, to be fair) and that that not infrequently bleeds out in high profile public corruption probes - especially when it comes to the Clintons.
If investigations remain confidential, the damage of politicized probes is limited. But you seem to have a pretty toxic situation with FBI agents pursuing probes prosecutors believe have little merit, leaking to congressional Republicans and finding various ways to force their probes into the public.
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)FarPoint
(12,437 posts)How do we fix it?
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)can't do their jobs without being partisan and make their names known.
Republicans are a disease that digs deep into our Gov't and it needs to be rooted out - but that's pretty difficult when Republicans lie their way into powerful seats in our Congress who block any nominee of any DoJ they feel threatens their privileged positions.
napi21
(45,806 posts)all the laws & guidelines of the FBI! That person may have to get rid of some current agents, but after the first hundred or so have been dismissed, the rest will fall in line.
FBI agents are federal employees. They are protected by federal civil laws among others things. Almost impossible to fire without being convicted of a felony.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)I think most law and order types are. They see things in black and white, while the real world is more shades of gray.
napi21
(45,806 posts)with an election! They can believe in and support whoever they choose. That's what I meant by a "hardass" to lead that agency. They by nature are strong willed people and they need someone who is stronger to keep them in line with the rules.
ThoughtCriminal
(14,049 posts)It's a dangerous magnet, and Comey has thrown out the rule book that kept it in check.