Heads are about to roll, can you feel it? House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz along with Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) have submitted a letter to the Justice Department’s inspector general, Michael Horowitz, requesting a formal investigation into both the surveillance and subsequent leaks of classified communications “of or regarding” former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn – citing the highly inappropriate release of information.
Generally, collection activities by intelligence agencies are classified, as are the products that result from those activities. This is to ensure the continued integrity of the sources and methods used. Therefore, it seems probable that the fact that an intelligence agency monitored the call, if it did, as well as any recording of the call, would also be classified.
Chaffetz and Goodlatte’s letter cite “serious concerns” about mishandling of classified information, stating the release of which would, by definition, “have grave effects on national security.”
In a discussion with Fox’s First 100 Days, Chaffetz also made clear that he’s concerned about both the Flynn leaks and President Trump’s conduct, following a letter the congressman to the White House over Trump’s public discussion at Mar-a-Lago with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regarding North Korea’s recent missile launch.
“no matter where you are on the political spectrum, you cannot have classified information migrating out into a non-classified setting.”
While it’s perhaps to be expected that our intelligence agencies might monitor an incoming administration’s communications, using those obviously classified conversations as a weapon for the purposes of propaganda designed to undermine a sitting US President is absolutely beyond the pale.
“How does that information end up at the news media? The President has made some very serious allegations in his description in the movement of this information.
See text of the Chaffetz / Goodlatte letter here (with Fox interview below):
None of this matters after Trump’s boys are called to testify under oath.. take the Fifth or lie..are threatened with jail.. and eventually spill the truth about election shenanigans. There will be coverups and indictments per usual. Trump’s popular and Congressional support will disappear. Of course we will see Trump go after journalists as a sideshow.
BTW, a Russian intelligence ship is now a few miles off the coast of my town and was prowling close to a submarine base in CT. This NEVER happened under Obama or any other president. Curious.
There is a bigger problem. It is obvious that Trump and Obama were both briefed on the Russia dossier which included the Trump campaign’s constant contact with the Kremlin. He categorically denied that allegation on camera. Now remember these words “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms Lewinsky.” You can do the math from there.
I also want you to remember that Obama is as smart at strategy as he is bad at foreign policy. Long term, I agree we should have good relations with Russia. The problem is that it should be for moral and political reasons, not because there will be 8 Trump hotels magically appearing there by 2022.
What’s your position on this? You seemed to delight in leaks a while ago.
How do you feel about Jason’s priorities?
Longview, there’s a big difference between wikileaked DKIM verified emails that haven’t been refuted / denied, and which paint a pretty clear picture of malfeasance, and the Flynn “leak” – which the FBI reviewed and said showed no collusion between Trump and Russia. Rumors of contacts prior to December are all based on CNN anonymous sources, the existence of which hasn’t been confirmed. If they *are* and Trump lied about it, then there’s going to be some shit.
Trump’s comment on the plane however was ambiguous. He was asked whether or not he knew of reports of the call which he said he wasn’t aware of. So, not aware of the call(s) or the reports?
What should Jason’s priorities be? To refute the FBI?