Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

neohippie

(1,267 posts)
16. I found this story but not sure how clear information is
Thu Mar 9, 2017, 03:16 PM
Mar 2017
http://time.com/4682791/fbi-russia-reince-priebus-andrew-mccabe-justice-rules/

FBI Director James Comey and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe may have violated multiple existing Justice Department rules controlling contacts between the bureau and White House officials when they spoke earlier this month with White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus about their ongoing investigation into Russia’s influence operation against the 2016 U.S. presidential election, according to several former senior Justice Department officials.
The first questionable contact came when McCabe spoke with Priebus for five minutes after a 7:30 a.m. meeting at the White House on Feb. 15 on an unrelated intelligence issue. The day before, the New York Times had reported that Trump’s campaign and other Trump associates had multiple contacts with known agents of Russian intelligence in the year before the election.
At the White House meeting, McCabe told Priebus, ‘I want you to know story in NYT is BS," according to senior Administration officials who briefed reporters on Feb. 24.
Priebus asked McCabe what could be done to push back, saying the White House was “getting crushed” on the story. McCabe demurred, and then later called back to say, “We'd love to help but we can't get into the position of making statements on every story.”
FBI Director James Comey later called Priebus himself and repeated McCabe’s statements about the New York Times story. Comey also said he was unwilling to speak publicly about the piece but agreed to let Priebus cite senior intelligence officials in his pushback, the officials said.


and then further down in story

Matt Miller, a Holder aide, says "that memo directs that contacts between the White House and the Justice Department be funneled through the White House counsel's office to the AG or Deputy Attorney General's office precisely so there can be no inappropriate tampering with investigations. If McCabe and Comey told Priebus about what was happening in an ongoing investigation into the president's associates, they clearly violated that guidance and crossed a major line."
Those limits aren't the only rules Comey and McCabe may have violated. There are also longstanding written controls, based on authority given to the Attorney General under an executive order issued by Ronald Reagan in 1981 and on several statutes, that require the Attorney General’s approval for most contacts between the FBI and the White House regarding foreign intelligence matters that involve domestic political activities.
Those rules say that, “Compromising information concerning domestic officials or political organizations, or information concerning activities of United States persons intended to affect the political process in the United States, may be disseminated to the White House only with the approval of the Attorney General, based on a determination that such dissemination is needed for foreign intelligence purposes, for the purpose of protecting against international terrorism or other threats to the national security, or for the conduct of foreign affairs.”
Neither the Justice Department nor the FBI would comment on whether the Attorney General approved the contacts between the FBI’s leaders and the White House. White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters on Feb. 24 that there was a “carve-out” for public affairs communications. The Holder memo does exempt “officials in the communications, public affairs, or press offices of the White House and the Department of Justice from communicating with each other to coordinate efforts.”
But the Holder rules also explicitly say that “pending adversary cases in litigation that may have national security implications” are not exempt from the rules.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

This sounds about right. I heard of this law violation on the day that it happened. Eyeball_Kid Mar 2017 #1
When did Spicer say that? bunnies Mar 2017 #2
I'm looking for a transcript or video, but Louise Mensch blocked me MelissaB Mar 2017 #5
She blocked you? That's harsh! bunnies Mar 2017 #6
Sure did! MelissaB Mar 2017 #11
do you know why? Was it recently? Fast Walker 52 Mar 2017 #12
Today MelissaB Mar 2017 #25
Weird! Unless there's real bullying going on, blocking people on twitter is really lame. Fast Walker 52 Mar 2017 #31
I made a post about how much Trump was an idiot and got blocked by her titaniumsalute Mar 2017 #15
Mensch is a Trumpian, like the Quebec mosque shooter bluedye33139 Mar 2017 #17
That was my thought, too! LOL! MelissaB Mar 2017 #26
I didn't have a photo for awhile titaniumsalute Mar 2017 #33
huh-- I thought she was a never Trumper Fast Walker 52 Mar 2017 #32
Me too, just now. SmartRat Mar 2017 #22
She blocked me too. dixiegrrrrl Mar 2017 #34
Yes she blocked me too. I think she has an auto-blocking feature on because she keeps getting yodermon Mar 2017 #37
this makes sense Native Mar 2017 #39
kick for visibility triron Mar 2017 #3
What crime? i have been hearing all week that if trump wants to find out the info, jmg257 Mar 2017 #4
As far as I can tell he never said it, or I just haven't found a link corroborating. Earth Bound Misfit Mar 2017 #8
Thanks for that! I'll keep my ears out... jmg257 Mar 2017 #9
Oops I meant to reply to OP but you're welcome Earth Bound Misfit Mar 2017 #10
k and r...nt Stuart G Mar 2017 #7
I'm a bit lost as to what's going on here. xor Mar 2017 #13
I think she's saying it was a crime to tweat about an ongoing investigation MelissaB Mar 2017 #27
Trump committed a couple crimes, actually. dixiegrrrrl Mar 2017 #35
His idiocy has never been a question for me xor Mar 2017 #38
OK - so when did he "admit" that?? jmg257 Mar 2017 #14
I found this story but not sure how clear information is neohippie Mar 2017 #16
Thanks! MelissaB Mar 2017 #24
To mellisa b Louise M blocks people who don't have real pix posted on twitter Thekaspervote Mar 2017 #18
Thanks! MelissaB Mar 2017 #23
Blocking for not having a profile pic is harsh. mchill Mar 2017 #29
I agree. MelissaB Mar 2017 #30
Nixon was never impeached Mr. Ected Mar 2017 #19
I've seen stories saying Sean Spicer said on Monday that they got it from the DOJ More_Cowbell Mar 2017 #20
How shall I impeach thee? Let me count the ways wordpix Mar 2017 #21
Has anyone else being Blocked from Louise Mensch's account for simply tweeting to her? mchill Mar 2017 #28
Oh yeah. Just read upthread. MelissaB Mar 2017 #36
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»As soon as The Press Secr...»Reply #16