thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-13--FBI defender and Nunes critic picked to help with FISA reform oversight

The FISA Court selected a longtime defender of the FBI ’ s Trump-Russia investigation to be its adviser in overseeing the FBI 's implementation of reforms following the Justice Department ’ s watchdog report on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act .
David Kris , a former assistant attorney general with the DOJ ’ s national security division during the Obama administration , is a controversial choice , having spent most of President Trump ’ s term defending the bureau ’ s decision-making , including its use of British ex-spy Christopher Steele ’ s salacious and unverified dossier to obtain surveillance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Page .
Kris also defended the FISA Court itself from accusations it hadn ’ t done its due diligence to ensure the bureau ’ s investigation was conducted properly .
Kris harshly criticized the FISA memo put together by Republican California Rep. Devin Nunes in early 2018 that alleged `` abuses related to the FISA process '' by the FBI , though DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz ’ s report released late last year showed nearly all the claims made by Nunes in his memo were correct , a fact acknowledged even by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released a competing memo at the time .
Kris claimed “ the central irony '' of the Nunes memo `` is that it tried to deceive the American people in precisely the same way that it falsely accused the FBI of deceiving the FISA Court ” and “ the key question going forward is whether the memo ’ s authors and sponsors will face any consequences for their dishonesty ” in one of many articles for Lawfare , a website created by fired FBI Director James Comey ’ s friend , Benjamin Wittes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation was flawed and criticized the DOJ and the FBI for 17 “ significant errors and omissions ” in targeting Page and relying on Steele ’ s dossier , affirming most of the claims Nunes made almost two years prior and criticizing the bureau ’ s “ entire chain of command.
” Horowitz was unable to determine whether the FBI ’ s screw-ups were due to “ gross negligence ” or “ intentional misconduct.
” Horowitz also referred one FBI lawyer to the DOJ for possible criminal prosecution .
“ You can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted of Kris on Sunday .
“ Zero credibility .
THE SWAMP !
” “ The fact that of all the people in the swamp … this is the guy you come up with ?
” Nunes said Sunday on Fox News .
“ The court must be trying to abolish itself … He picks one of the guys who was essentially covering up for the dirty cops.
” James Boasberg , the presiding judge over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court , appointed Kris to serve as the court ’ s amicus curiae @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide impartial advice to the court .
Kris has defended the FISA Court against criticism , claiming , “ FISA applications are subjected to exacting … and serious scrutiny ” and “ the FISA Court is not a rubber stamp.
” Kris did not respond to the Washington Examiner 's request for comment .
Kris claimed “ the Nunes memo looks even worse ” when hundreds of heavily redacted pages from the Carter Page FISA applications were released in July 2018 .
And he went on MSNBC and agreed with host Rachel Maddow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FISA process would make Trump look worse .
“ Yes , I think you are right that these applications already substantially undermine the president ’ s narrative and that of his proxies .
And it seems to me very likely that if we get below the tip of the iceberg into the submerged parts and more is revealed , it will get worse , not better , '' he said .
After the release of Horowitz ’ s report , Kris conceded in late December that Nunes memo had been right about many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the FISA Court Steele wasn ’ t the source of a Yahoo News article they used in the FISA applications , DOJ official Bruce Ohr acted improperly in a multitude of ways , and the Steele dossier formed a central part of the bureau ’ s pursuit of FISA surveillance .
“ Even if the Nunes memo had some of the details wrong , its basic point that this behavior was highly irregular was correct , ” Kris said .
But Kris stood by his contention that the FBI did nothing wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FISA Court that Steele was being paid by the Clinton campaign through cut-outs , and he did not retract his Nunes attacks .
Kris also criticized the decision by Attorney General William Barr and U.S Attorney John Durham to publicly disagree with Horowitz ’ s conclusion that the launch of the Trump-Russia investigation was properly predicated , suggesting both will be the subjects of complaints within the DOJ office which investigates misconduct and seeming to hope for an inspector general investigation into Barr himself , accusing Barr of acting upon political considerations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s claim that Barr is “ unfit to lead the Justice Department.
” And Kris said , “ Nor am I outraged by the FBI ’ s actions ” last January because “ the FBI effectively could not avoid investigating the president.
” Kris claimed the Steele dossier `` has held up quite well ... according to the best and most recent assessment that I have seen '' and was “ properly taken seriously . ''
Kris also repeatedly speculated that Trump would end up being charged by special counsel Robert Mueller or @ @ @

The FISA Court selected a longtime defender of the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation to be its adviser in overseeing the FBI's implementation of reforms following the Justice Department’s watchdog report on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
David Kris, a former assistant attorney general with the DOJ’s national security division during the Obama administration, is a controversial choice, having spent most of President Trump’s term defending the bureau’s decision-making, including its use of British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s salacious and unverified dossier to obtain surveillance warrants against former Trump campaign associate Carter Page. Kris also defended the FISA Court itself from accusations it hadn’t done its due diligence to ensure the bureau’s investigation was conducted properly.
Kris harshly criticized the FISA memo put together by Republican California Rep. Devin Nunes in early 2018 that alleged "abuses related to the FISA process" by the FBI, though DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s report released late last year showed nearly all the claims made by Nunes in his memo were correct, a fact acknowledged even by Democratic California Rep. Adam Schiff, who released a competing memo at the time.
He claimed “the central irony" of the Nunes memo "is that it tried to deceive the American people in precisely the same way that it falsely accused the FBI of deceiving the FISA Court” and “the key question going forward is whether the memo’s authors and sponsors will face any consequences for their dishonesty” in one of many articles for Lawfare, a website created by fired FBI Director James Comey’s friend, Benjamin Wittes.
Nunes told Fox News contributor Sara Carter: “It’s a ridiculous choice. The FBI lied to the FISC, and to help make sure that doesn’t happen again, the FISC chose an FBI apologist who denied and defended those lies. The FISC is setting its own credibility on fire.”
Horowitz concluded the FBI’s investigation was flawed and criticized the DOJ and the FBI for 17 “significant errors and omissions” in targeting Page and relying on Steele’s dossier, affirming most of the claims Nunes made almost two years prior and criticizing the bureau’s “entire chain of command.” Horowitz was unable to determine whether the FBI’s screw-ups were due to “gross negligence” or “intentional misconduct.” Horowitz also referred one FBI lawyer to the DOJ for possible criminal prosecution.
“You can’t make this up!” Trump tweeted of Kris on Sunday. “Zero credibility. THE SWAMP!”
“The fact that of all the people in the swamp … this is the guy you come up with?” Nunes said Sunday on Fox News. “The court must be trying to abolish itself … He picks one of the guys who was essentially covering up for the dirty cops.”
James Boasberg, the presiding judge over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, appointed Kris to serve as the court’s amicus curiae — a position which is supposed to provide impartial advice to the court. Kris has defended the FISA Court against criticism, claiming, “FISA applications are subjected to exacting … and serious scrutiny” and “the FISA Court is not a rubber stamp.”
Kris claimed “the Nunes memo looks even worse” when hundreds of heavily redacted pages from the Carter Page FISA applications were released in July 2018. And he went on MSNBC and agreed with host Rachel Maddow's claims that fuller disclosures about the FISA process would make Trump look worse.
“Yes, I think you are right that these applications already substantially undermine the president’s narrative and that of his proxies. And it seems to me very likely that if we get below the tip of the iceberg into the submerged parts and more is revealed, it will get worse, not better," he said.
After the release of Horowitz’s report, Kris conceded in late December that Nunes memo had been right about many things, including that the FBI incorrectly told the FISA Court Steele wasn’t the source of a Yahoo News article they used in the FISA applications, DOJ official Bruce Ohr acted improperly in a multitude of ways, and the Steele dossier formed a central part of the bureau’s pursuit of FISA surveillance.
“Even if the Nunes memo had some of the details wrong, its basic point that this behavior was highly irregular was correct,” Kris said.
But Kris stood by his contention that the FBI did nothing wrong when it didn’t inform the FISA Court that Steele was being paid by the Clinton campaign through cut-outs, and he did not retract his Nunes attacks.
Kris also criticized the decision by Attorney General William Barr and U.S Attorney John Durham to publicly disagree with Horowitz’s conclusion that the launch of the Trump-Russia investigation was properly predicated, suggesting both will be the subjects of complaints within the DOJ office which investigates misconduct and seeming to hope for an inspector general investigation into Barr himself, accusing Barr of acting upon political considerations and quoting former Attorney General Eric Holder’s claim that Barr is “unfit to lead the Justice Department.”
And Kris said, “Nor am I outraged by the FBI’s actions” last January because “the FBI effectively could not avoid investigating the president.” Kris claimed the Steele dossier "has held up quite well ... according to the best and most recent assessment that I have seen" and was “properly taken seriously."
He repeatedly speculated that Trump would end up being charged by special counsel Robert Mueller or other investigators.
Kris did not respond to the Washington Examiner's request for comment.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-13--'We've been trying to talk to you': Homeless veteran protesters crash Buttigieg town hall

DES MOINES , Iowa — Pete Buttigieg tried to stress the importance of being respectful despite a difference in opinions after demonstrators protesting his record on helping homeless veterans disrupted a town hall .
`` Can I hear it one more time for the idea of respectful , honest , open , and transparent dialogue ? ''
Buttigieg said Sunday in Des Moines , Iowa .
Buttigieg , a top-four contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination , had just slammed President Trump 's handling of escalating tensions with Iran , saying he was risking the lives of U.S. troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an avoidable war .
`` We 've been trying to talk to you , '' one demonstrator said in response to the mayor 's attempts to placate them .
Buttigieg supporters drowned out the shouts of the two main protesters by chanting the former mayor 's name before activists started a competing , `` Black Lives Matter , '' chant .
Buttigieg spokesman Sean Savett defended the candidate 's record as chief executive of South Bend , Indiana .
Savett said homelessness decreased by 33 % over Buttigieg 's two terms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to eradicate veteran homelessness by connecting homeless veterans with housing and other services , and achieved 'functional zero . '
'' Buttigieg was similarly heckled this week during his California swing .
Protesters told the Los Angeles Times , their travel from South Bend to the West Coast was paid for by a third party , but would n't disclose the identity of their financial backer .

DES MOINES, Iowa — Pete Buttigieg tried to stress the importance of being respectful despite a difference in opinions after demonstrators protesting his record on helping homeless veterans disrupted a town hall.
"Can I hear it one more time for the idea of respectful, honest, open, and transparent dialogue?" Buttigieg said Sunday in Des Moines, Iowa.
Buttigieg, a top-four contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, had just slammed President Trump's handling of escalating tensions with Iran, saying he was risking the lives of U.S. troops who could be deployed to the region for an avoidable war.
"We've been trying to talk to you," one demonstrator said in response to the mayor's attempts to placate them.
Buttigieg supporters drowned out the shouts of the two main protesters by chanting the former mayor's name before activists started a competing, "Black Lives Matter," chant.
Buttigieg spokesman Sean Savett defended the candidate's record as chief executive of South Bend, Indiana. Savett said homelessness decreased by 33% over Buttigieg's two terms, adding he joined a national effort "to eradicate veteran homelessness by connecting homeless veterans with housing and other services, and achieved 'functional zero.'"
Buttigieg was similarly heckled this week during his California swing. Protesters told the Los Angeles Times, their travel from South Bend to the West Coast was paid for by a third party, but wouldn't disclose the identity of their financial backer.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-14--Booker on pursuing vice presidency: 'Not taking anything off the table'

Sen. Cory Booker said he might be open to the No .
2 spot on a presidential ticket a day after dropping out of the 2020 race .
The New Jersey Democrat said that he had not discussed being the running mate for any of the current candidates but said it was an honor being considered for the spot on Hillary Clinton ’ s 2016 presidential ticket .
“ I have had no conversations , ” Booker said Tuesday on CBS This Morning .
“ I was so pleased that I got to go through the experience and be vetted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s final choices .
It was one of the more thorough examinations in my life that I ’ ve ever been through . ''
“ I ’ m not taking anything off the table , but my focus really is on Jersey and my state , ” he continued , “ and being with my senior Sen. Bob Menendez , the best dynamic duo America has in the Senate.
” [ Read more : Cory Booker exit leaves extensive ground operation up for grabs in Iowa ] Booker , 50 , dropped out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggling to make much headway in the polls .
A RealClearPolitics national average of polls on the day he announced his departure had Booker at just 1.8 % support .
“ It ’ s with a full heart that I share this news—I ’ m suspending my campaign for president , ” he tweeted with a video announcing the decision .
“ To my team , supporters , and everyone who gave me a shot—thank you .
I am so proud of what we built , and I feel nothing but faith in @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Sen. Cory Booker said he might be open to the No. 2 spot on a presidential ticket a day after dropping out of the 2020 race.
The New Jersey Democrat said that he had not discussed being the running mate for any of the current candidates but said it was an honor being considered for the spot on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential ticket.
“I have had no conversations,” Booker said Tuesday on CBS This Morning. “I was so pleased that I got to go through the experience and be vetted to be one of Hillary Clinton’s final choices. It was one of the more thorough examinations in my life that I’ve ever been through."
“I’m not taking anything off the table, but my focus really is on Jersey and my state,” he continued, “and being with my senior Sen. Bob Menendez, the best dynamic duo America has in the Senate.”
[Read more: Cory Booker exit leaves extensive ground operation up for grabs in Iowa]
Sen. @CoryBooker claims he has had no conversations about being a potential Vice Presidential candidate, but says he’s “not taking anything off the table.” https://t.co/DNRPWa8RS2 pic.twitter.com/D3bcpTyEGI — CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) January 14, 2020
Booker, 50, dropped out of the presidential race on Monday after struggling to make much headway in the polls. A RealClearPolitics national average of polls on the day he announced his departure had Booker at just 1.8% support.
“It’s with a full heart that I share this news—I’m suspending my campaign for president,” he tweeted with a video announcing the decision. “To my team, supporters, and everyone who gave me a shot—thank you. I am so proud of what we built, and I feel nothing but faith in what we can accomplish together.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-14--DOJ: Top FBI agent leaked sealed information on Russian hacker

The Justice Department ’ s watchdog accused a former top FBI counterterrorism official of leaking information to the media in October 2016 about the arrest of a Russian hacker , a Washington Examiner review revealed .
The DOJ inspector general ’ s investigation alleged that Bryan Paarmann , 53 , improperly disclosed court-sealed and law enforcement sensitive information to the media in violation of FBI rules .
Even though the watchdog report blacked out details about the reporters and stories in question , an assessment of the heavily redacted 21 pages on the former FBI official shows one of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identity of Yevgeniy Aleksandrovich Nikulin , a prolific Russian hacker .
Nikulin was quietly arrested in Prague in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election , when the Russian government 's hacking of Democratic email systems and subsequent dissemination of the information by WikiLeaks dominated the campaign trail .
Nikulin 's hacking efforts do not appear to have been part of Russia 's election interference efforts .
The DOJ revealed Nikulin ’ s arrest two weeks later , but DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz alleged Paarmann , the former deputy assistant director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ division from 2016 to 2017 , revealed details about the Russian days before to a journalist while the indictment against Nikulin was still under seal .
The Washington Examiner subsequently concluded the reporter was Del Wilber of the Los Angeles Times .
Nikulin was charged with successfully hacking computers and accounts associated with professional networking site LinkedIn , cloud storage service Dropbox , and Formspring , a question-based social media site .
He is currently being held in the United States awaiting trial .
Wilber published a story two days before the FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cited “ one U.S. law enforcement official , '' believed to be Paarmann , who said that the case wasn ’ t connected to Russia ’ s hacking of the Democratic National Committee .
The DOJ inspector general report also pointed to an online news story that cited “ one U.S. law enforcement official.
” The DOJ ’ s watchdog concluded Paarmann violated multiple FBI policies as well as a part of the U.S. criminal code related to contempt of court , although the DOJ declined to prosecute .
The inspector general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office that he believed the information had been unsealed and wrongly believed it had been released to the public before the press release .
“ I ’ m quite sure it was , ” Paarmann was quoted as saying .
But , when DOJ investigators told him the information on Nikulin “ was not released to the public prior to Paarmann ’ s disclosure ” to Wilber , Paarmann admitted his mistake .
“ OK , may have worked that one up , then , but if I did , would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my position as deputy assistant director of the international operations division , ” Paarmann told the DOJ ’ s watchdog .
“ So , I may have dorked that one up .
That may have been a mistake on my part.
” Paarmann told investigators he thought Nikulin ’ s name was “ open-source knowledge ” and claimed he had a “ vague recollection ” of asking permission from the deputy director or assistant deputy director of the FBI 's Cyber Division to provide Nikulin ’ s name to the media , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ does not find these points persuasive '' because Nikulin ’ s case was still under seal and neither of those officials had the authority to green light such a leak .
Details of the accusations about Paarmann were obtained through a successful Freedom of Information Act request that revealed his hundreds of texts , calls , emails , and other interactions with at least six reporters , and the former FBI official likely spent thousands of dollars to boost his online reputation ahead of the watchdog report 's release .
The Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alleged source of 2016 article by Wilber about Orlando Pulse nightclub mass shooter Omar Mateen and another piece that year about Dallas cop killer Micah Johnson .
These incidents are part of what Horowitz 's June 2018 report called the FBI ’ s “ culture of unauthorized media contacts .
”

The Justice Department’s watchdog accused a former top FBI counterterrorism official of leaking information to the media in October 2016 about the arrest of a Russian hacker, a Washington Examiner review revealed.
The DOJ inspector general’s investigation alleged that Bryan Paarmann, 53, improperly disclosed court-sealed and law enforcement sensitive information to the media in violation of FBI rules. Even though the watchdog report blacked out details about the reporters and stories in question, an assessment of the heavily redacted 21 pages on the former FBI official shows one of these alleged leaks revealed secret details about the identity of Yevgeniy Aleksandrovich Nikulin, a prolific Russian hacker.
Nikulin was quietly arrested in Prague in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election, when the Russian government's hacking of Democratic email systems and subsequent dissemination of the information by WikiLeaks dominated the campaign trail. Nikulin's hacking efforts do not appear to have been part of Russia's election interference efforts.
The DOJ revealed Nikulin’s arrest two weeks later, but DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz alleged Paarmann, the former deputy assistant director of the FBI’s international operations division from 2016 to 2017, revealed details about the Russian days before to a journalist while the indictment against Nikulin was still under seal. The Washington Examiner subsequently concluded the reporter was Del Wilber of the Los Angeles Times. Nikulin was charged with successfully hacking computers and accounts associated with professional networking site LinkedIn, cloud storage service Dropbox, and Formspring, a question-based social media site. He is currently being held in the United States awaiting trial.
Wilber published a story two days before the FBI released Nikulin's name about his arrest and cited “one U.S. law enforcement official," believed to be Paarmann, who said that the case wasn’t connected to Russia’s hacking of the Democratic National Committee. The DOJ inspector general report also pointed to an online news story that cited “one U.S. law enforcement official.”
The DOJ’s watchdog concluded Paarmann violated multiple FBI policies as well as a part of the U.S. criminal code related to contempt of court, although the DOJ declined to prosecute.
The inspector general report stated Paarmann told the inspector general’s office that he believed the information had been unsealed and wrongly believed it had been released to the public before the press release.
“I’m quite sure it was,” Paarmann was quoted as saying.
But, when DOJ investigators told him the information on Nikulin “was not released to the public prior to Paarmann’s disclosure” to Wilber, Paarmann admitted his mistake.
“OK, may have worked that one up, then, but if I did, would have felt authorized to do so in my position as deputy assistant director of the international operations division,” Paarmann told the DOJ’s watchdog. “So, I may have dorked that one up. That may have been a mistake on my part.”
Paarmann told investigators he thought Nikulin’s name was “open-source knowledge” and claimed he had a “vague recollection” of asking permission from the deputy director or assistant deputy director of the FBI's Cyber Division to provide Nikulin’s name to the media, but the DOJ’s watchdog said it “does not find these points persuasive" because Nikulin’s case was still under seal and neither of those officials had the authority to green light such a leak.
Details of the accusations about Paarmann were obtained through a successful Freedom of Information Act request that revealed his hundreds of texts, calls, emails, and other interactions with at least six reporters, and the former FBI official likely spent thousands of dollars to boost his online reputation ahead of the watchdog report's release. The Washington Examiner previously determined that Paarmann was also the alleged source of 2016 article by Wilber about Orlando Pulse nightclub mass shooter Omar Mateen and another piece that year about Dallas cop killer Micah Johnson. These incidents are part of what Horowitz's June 2018 report called the FBI’s “culture of unauthorized media contacts.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-14--Barr and Wray agree: Investigations into presidential campaigns must be approved

Attorney General William Barr revealed that he and FBI Director Christopher Wray agreed that , in the future , agents must get approval from the heads of the DOJ and the bureau before launching investigations into presidential candidates .
Barr announced the significant investigative reform during a Monday press conference about Saudi national Mohammed Alshamrani ’ s terrorist attack at a Pensacola air base that killed three U.S. service members in December .
Barr ’ s comments during a question-and-answer session come in the wake of DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz ’ s report on the Trump-Russia investigation that found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act .
“ We ’ re considering a number of additional things , and Chris Wray and I have discussed a number of possibilities , ” Barr told reporters .
“ One of the things that we have agreed on is that the opening of a counterintelligence investigation of a presidential campaign would be something that the director of the FBI would have to sign off on and the attorney general would have to sign off on.
” Before now , no such green light from agency leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not find evidence that political bias influenced the decisions to open the investigations into Carter Page , former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos , former national security adviser Mike Flynn , and former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort in the summer of 2016 .
William Priestap , then the assistant director of the FBI ’ s counterintelligence division , made the decision to open the Trump-Russia inquiry , dubbed Crossfire Hurricane , and Horowitz said its launch was adequately predicated .
`` The inspector general ’ s report now makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation of a U.S. presidential campaign on the thinnest of suspicions that , in my view , were insufficient to justify the steps taken , '' Barr said last month .
“ It is also clear that , from its inception , the evidence produced by the investigation was consistently exculpatory.
” Horowitz concluded the FBI ’ s investigation of Page was flawed and criticized the DOJ and the FBI for 17 “ significant errors and omissions ” in targeting the Trump campaign associate and relying on British ex-spy Christopher Steele ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bureau ’ s “ entire chain of command.
” Horowitz was unable to determine whether the FBI ’ s flaws were due to “ gross negligence ” or “ intentional misconduct.
” The watchdog also referred one FBI lawyer to the DOJ for possible criminal prosecution .

Attorney General William Barr revealed that he and FBI Director Christopher Wray agreed that, in the future, agents must get approval from the heads of the DOJ and the bureau before launching investigations into presidential candidates.
Barr announced the significant investigative reform during a Monday press conference about Saudi national Mohammed Alshamrani’s terrorist attack at a Pensacola air base that killed three U.S. service members in December. Barr’s comments during a question-and-answer session come in the wake of DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s report on the Trump-Russia investigation that found serious investigative missteps by investigators and abuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
“We’re considering a number of additional things, and Chris Wray and I have discussed a number of possibilities,” Barr told reporters. “One of the things that we have agreed on is that the opening of a counterintelligence investigation of a presidential campaign would be something that the director of the FBI would have to sign off on and the attorney general would have to sign off on.”
Before now, no such green light from agency leaders was needed.
Horowitz’s team did not find evidence that political bias influenced the decisions to open the investigations into Carter Page, former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, former national security adviser Mike Flynn, and former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort in the summer of 2016. William Priestap, then the assistant director of the FBI’s counterintelligence division, made the decision to open the Trump-Russia inquiry, dubbed Crossfire Hurricane, and Horowitz said its launch was adequately predicated.
But Barr disagreed.
"The inspector general’s report now makes clear that the FBI launched an intrusive investigation of a U.S. presidential campaign on the thinnest of suspicions that, in my view, were insufficient to justify the steps taken," Barr said last month. “It is also clear that, from its inception, the evidence produced by the investigation was consistently exculpatory.”
Horowitz concluded the FBI’s investigation of Page was flawed and criticized the DOJ and the FBI for 17 “significant errors and omissions” in targeting the Trump campaign associate and relying on British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s salacious and unverified dossier, criticizing the bureau’s “entire chain of command.” Horowitz was unable to determine whether the FBI’s flaws were due to “gross negligence” or “intentional misconduct.” The watchdog also referred one FBI lawyer to the DOJ for possible criminal prosecution.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-14--Top FBI man who leaked secrets spent thousands of dollars to boost online reputation before name rev

Top FBI man who leaked secrets spent thousands of dollars to boost online reputation before name revealed

A former top FBI official found by the Justice Department ’ s watchdog to have leaked secretive investigation details to journalists likely spent thousands on online reputation services just before an inspector general ’ s report about him was released .
Bryan Paarmann , 53 , former deputy assistant director of the FBI ’ s international operations division from 2016 to 2017 , likely paid more than $ 5,000 to Net Reputation , which says its purpose is to help customers “ take control of your online reputation ” by “ working with the most trusted team in the reputation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears to have paid the business to build him a website that praises him for his decadeslong career at the FBI and to write and promote a similarly effusive article about him .
A Net Reputation sales representative told the Washington Examiner a basic website similar to Paarmann ’ s , with blog posts , a contact page , and a place for photos , would likely cost $ 3,500 to $ 4,500 and would take one or two months to build .
Another sales representative estimated a ghost-written article and press release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid for would likely cost an additional $ 1,000 .
Paarmann ’ s identity was revealed in a 21-page report obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request last Friday .
DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz determined Paarmann “ improperly disclosed court-sealed and law enforcement sensitive information to the media , ” in violation of FBI rules .
The incident is part of what Horowitz 's lengthy June 2018 report called the FBI ’ s “ culture of unauthorized media contacts.
” Although the new report is heavily redacted , the Washington Examiner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalists Paarmann allegedly leaked to — Del Wilber of the Los Angeles Times — and three articles by the reporter about Orlando Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen , Dallas cop killer Micah Johnson , and Russian hacker Yevgeniy Nikulin .
The DOJ decided not to prosecute Paarmann .
“ I gave 35 years of faithful and devoted service to this nation , and never did I give classified or investigatively sensitive information to the press , ” Paarmann told the Washington Examiner .
“ I never endangered a prosecution and only did what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with.
” After initially agreeing to talk , Paarmann then declined to answer the Washington Examiner , saying : “ I do not wish to speak further .
That chapter is over in my life.
” Paarmann ’ s website , BryanPaarmannFBI.com , states it was designed and developed by Net Reputation in 2019 .
Its blog archives include posts from as late as last November and as recently as Monday .
The posts , written in third person , include sentences such as , “ Bryan Paarmann is protective of his country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many ways , he has faithfully and honorably served his homeland , ” and , “ Bryan Paarmann has excellent leadership skills and a steadfast allegiance to the United States.
” The post from Monday says , “ Although he has more than done his part to selflessly serve his nation and people , he is committed to a lifetime of service.
” Many of the blog posts were also posted on Parmann ’ s recently created Medium page .
The photo section of his website includes pictures of Paarmann smiling with President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Romney of Utah , as well as a photo of him as a younger , much slimmer , man in uniform , when Paarmann was a West Point graduate and U.S. Army officer .
Paarmann also appears to have paid Net Reputation to write a positive article about him and to promote it on Access Wire , an online press release service .
The early November press release says it was authored by “ Caroline Hunter ” at Web Presence , which is one of the names Net Reputation operates under .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website 's posts , including , “ After three decades of selfless service to the nation , Bryan Paarmann nobly retired from his FBI role as an expert counterterrorism practitioner and a leader in the effort to keep America safe.
” It was picked up by several websites , including Maryland-based WBOC-TV in late November and two separate Yahoo Finance pieces , one in early November and another just days ago , which was given the headline , `` Bryan Paarmann , Retired FBI Agent , Served As a Crisis Manager in Major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' By Monday evening , the third item about him on Google News was a Presswire article by `` Caroline Hunter '' with the headline : `` Bryan Paarmann FBI Continues to Serve His Country Through Educational Engagements and Professional Networks . ''
Horowitz ’ s team reviewed Paarmann ’ s communications from 2012 through 2017 , which showed “ extensive contacts ” with members of the media , especially in 2016 and early 2017 , laying out interactions with at least six reporters .
These contacts included hundreds of texts , calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rounds of golf ; private drinks and dinners ; a media member ’ s housewarming party where Paarmann brought wine as a gift ; and a $ 225-ticket dinner free of charge thanks to a member of the media , in violation of FBI rules .

A former top FBI official found by the Justice Department’s watchdog to have leaked secretive investigation details to journalists likely spent thousands on online reputation services just before an inspector general’s report about him was released.
Bryan Paarmann, 53, former deputy assistant director of the FBI’s international operations division from 2016 to 2017, likely paid more than $5,000 to Net Reputation, which says its purpose is to help customers “take control of your online reputation” by “working with the most trusted team in the reputation industry.”
The former counterterrorism special agent appears to have paid the business to build him a website that praises him for his decadeslong career at the FBI and to write and promote a similarly effusive article about him.
A Net Reputation sales representative told the Washington Examiner a basic website similar to Paarmann’s, with blog posts, a contact page, and a place for photos, would likely cost $3,500 to $4,500 and would take one or two months to build. Another sales representative estimated a ghost-written article and press release of the sort Paarmann appears to have paid for would likely cost an additional $1,000.
Paarmann’s identity was revealed in a 21-page report obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request last Friday. DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz determined Paarmann “improperly disclosed court-sealed and law enforcement sensitive information to the media,” in violation of FBI rules.
The incident is part of what Horowitz's lengthy June 2018 report called the FBI’s “culture of unauthorized media contacts.” Although the new report is heavily redacted, the Washington Examiner was able to identify one of the journalists Paarmann allegedly leaked to — Del Wilber of the Los Angeles Times — and three articles by the reporter about Orlando Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen, Dallas cop killer Micah Johnson, and Russian hacker Yevgeniy Nikulin.
The DOJ decided not to prosecute Paarmann.
“I gave 35 years of faithful and devoted service to this nation, and never did I give classified or investigatively sensitive information to the press,” Paarmann told the Washington Examiner. “I never endangered a prosecution and only did what I believed my superiors had tasked me with.”
After initially agreeing to talk, Paarmann then declined to answer the Washington Examiner, saying: “I do not wish to speak further. That chapter is over in my life.”
Paarmann’s website, BryanPaarmannFBI.com, states it was designed and developed by Net Reputation in 2019. Its blog archives include posts from as late as last November and as recently as Monday.
The posts, written in third person, include sentences such as, “Bryan Paarmann is protective of his country and is a proud American. In many ways, he has faithfully and honorably served his homeland,” and, “Bryan Paarmann has excellent leadership skills and a steadfast allegiance to the United States.” The post from Monday says, “Although he has more than done his part to selflessly serve his nation and people, he is committed to a lifetime of service.” Many of the blog posts were also posted on Parmann’s recently created Medium page.
The photo section of his website includes pictures of Paarmann smiling with President George W. Bush and Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, as well as a photo of him as a younger, much slimmer, man in uniform, when Paarmann was a West Point graduate and U.S. Army officer.
Paarmann also appears to have paid Net Reputation to write a positive article about him and to promote it on Access Wire, an online press release service.
The early November press release says it was authored by “Caroline Hunter” at Web Presence, which is one of the names Net Reputation operates under. The article contains nearly identical language as the website's posts, including, “After three decades of selfless service to the nation, Bryan Paarmann nobly retired from his FBI role as an expert counterterrorism practitioner and a leader in the effort to keep America safe.”
It was picked up by several websites, including Maryland-based WBOC-TV in late November and two separate Yahoo Finance pieces, one in early November and another just days ago, which was given the headline, "Bryan Paarmann, Retired FBI Agent, Served As a Crisis Manager in Major Terrorism Events for Nearly 10 Years."
By Monday evening, the third item about him on Google News was a Presswire article by "Caroline Hunter" with the headline: "Bryan Paarmann FBI Continues to Serve His Country Through Educational Engagements and Professional Networks."
Horowitz’s team reviewed Paarmann’s communications from 2012 through 2017, which showed “extensive contacts” with members of the media, especially in 2016 and early 2017, laying out interactions with at least six reporters. These contacts included hundreds of texts, calls, and emails; over a dozen rounds of golf; private drinks and dinners; a media member’s housewarming party where Paarmann brought wine as a gift; and a $225-ticket dinner free of charge thanks to a member of the media, in violation of FBI rules.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-13--William Barr: Mass shooting by Saudi national was an act of terrorism

Attorney General William Barr announced Monday that the December mass shooting by a Saudi national that left three American sailors dead in Pensacola , Florida , was an act of terrorism .
Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani , a second lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force , allegedly shot and killed three U.S. Navy sailors — Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson , 23 , Airman Mohammed Haitham , 19 , and Airman Apprentice Cameron Walters , 21 — and wounded at least eight others at the Naval Air Station Pensacola .
Haitham and Walters received posthumous promotions , and acting Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ displaying “ the finest warrior ethos and quick decision-making that undoubtedly saved many lives.
” Alshamrani was shot and killed by responding deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff 's Office .
The FBI had quickly announced its investigation was treating the mass shooting as a possible act of terrorism .
Barr said that “ the evidence shows that the shooter was motivated by jihadist ideology.
” On Sept. 11 , the Saudi national posted on social media that “ the countdown has begun , ” and over his Thanksgiving break , he visited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Barr said early reports about other Saudi cadets somehow aiding in the attack were untrue .
“ There is no evidence of assistance or preknowledge of the attack by the Saudis , ” Barr said .
“ The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gave complete and total support to our counterterrorism investigation , ” Barr said .
“ They ordered all Saudi trainees to fully cooperate.
” Barr said that during the investigation , “ we did learn of derogatory material possessed by 21 Saudi trainees , ” including 17 people who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 15 people , including some of the 17 , who had contact with child pornography .
“ None of them would , in a normal course , result in federal prosecution , ” Barr said .
Barr said that , after consultation with the Saudi government , “ the 21 cadets have been disenrolled from their training program and will be returning to Saudi Arabia today ” and that Saudi Arabia will review them under its code of military justice .
The Pentagon had said Alshamrani began his U.S.-based courses in English @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 and was supposed to finish this August .
He was one of more than 850 Saudi nationals in the United States for military training as part of a security agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
Overall , there were more than 5,100 foreign students from 153 different countries in the U.S. as part of the specialized military training program .
Last spring , Alshamrani filed a complaint against one of his instructors , who jokingly referred to him by the nickname “ Porn Stache.
” Alshamrani showed mass shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the shooting , and a Twitter account believed to belong to Alshamrani expressed extremist and stridently anti-American views , including a tweet which echoed Osama bin Laden : “ The security is a shared destiny ... You will not be safe until we live it as reality in [ Palestine ] and American troops get out of our land.
” In the wake of the shooting , President Trump tweeted that “ King Salman of Saudi Arabia just called to express his sincere condolences and give his sympathies to the families and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wounded in the attack ” and “ the Saudi people are greatly angered by the barbaric actions of the shooter.
” Sen. Rick Scott , a Florida Republican , called for “ a full review of the US military programs to train foreign nationals on American soil ” in the wake of the shooting , saying , “ we should n't be providing military training to people who wish us harm.
” And Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , also a Republican , said , “ the government of Saudi Arabia needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ they ’ re going to owe a debt here.
” The massive Pensacola air base houses thousands of sailors and airmen and , in addition to the Naval Education and Training Command as well as the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute , is the home of the Navy 's Flight Demonstration Squadron , the Blue Angels .

Attorney General William Barr announced Monday that the December mass shooting by a Saudi national that left three American sailors dead in Pensacola, Florida, was an act of terrorism.
Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, a second lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force, allegedly shot and killed three U.S. Navy sailors — Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson, 23, Airman Mohammed Haitham, 19, and Airman Apprentice Cameron Walters, 21 — and wounded at least eight others at the Naval Air Station Pensacola. Haitham and Walters received posthumous promotions, and acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly praised them for displaying “the finest warrior ethos and quick decision-making that undoubtedly saved many lives.”
Alshamrani was shot and killed by responding deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff's Office. The FBI had quickly announced its investigation was treating the mass shooting as a possible act of terrorism.
Barr said that “the evidence shows that the shooter was motivated by jihadist ideology.”
On Sept. 11, the Saudi national posted on social media that “the countdown has begun,” and over his Thanksgiving break, he visited the 9/11 memorial in New York City.
Barr said early reports about other Saudi cadets somehow aiding in the attack were untrue. “There is no evidence of assistance or preknowledge of the attack by the Saudis,” Barr said.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gave complete and total support to our counterterrorism investigation,” Barr said. “They ordered all Saudi trainees to fully cooperate.” Barr said that during the investigation, “we did learn of derogatory material possessed by 21 Saudi trainees,” including 17 people who had shared “jihadi or anti-American content” and 15 people, including some of the 17, who had contact with child pornography.
“None of them would, in a normal course, result in federal prosecution,” Barr said. Barr said that, after consultation with the Saudi government, “the 21 cadets have been disenrolled from their training program and will be returning to Saudi Arabia today” and that Saudi Arabia will review them under its code of military justice.
The Pentagon had said Alshamrani began his U.S.-based courses in English, aviation, and basic pilot training in 2017 and was supposed to finish this August. He was one of more than 850 Saudi nationals in the United States for military training as part of a security agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Overall, there were more than 5,100 foreign students from 153 different countries in the U.S. as part of the specialized military training program.
Last spring, Alshamrani filed a complaint against one of his instructors, who jokingly referred to him by the nickname “Porn Stache.” Alshamrani showed mass shooting videos during a dinner party the week of the shooting, and a Twitter account believed to belong to Alshamrani expressed extremist and stridently anti-American views, including a tweet which echoed Osama bin Laden: “The security is a shared destiny ... You will not be safe until we live it as reality in [Palestine] and American troops get out of our land.”
In the wake of the shooting, President Trump tweeted that “King Salman of Saudi Arabia just called to express his sincere condolences and give his sympathies to the families and friends of the warriors who were killed and wounded in the attack” and “the Saudi people are greatly angered by the barbaric actions of the shooter.”
Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican, called for “a full review of the US military programs to train foreign nationals on American soil” in the wake of the shooting, saying, “we shouldn't be providing military training to people who wish us harm.” And Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, also a Republican, said, “the government of Saudi Arabia needs to make things better for these victims” and “they’re going to owe a debt here.”
The massive Pensacola air base houses thousands of sailors and airmen and, in addition to the Naval Education and Training Command as well as the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, is the home of the Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-13--Media declare Cory Booker the ‘unity' and 'love’ candidate, even though he wanted to punch Trump

The media really wants you to think that Cory Booker , , was the candidate of love and unity all along .
After Booker of the 2020 presidential race on Monday , CNN ’ s Chris Cillizza , “ Cory Booker ran a campaign based on the need for positivity , love and unity .
It did n't ever take off .
Which says something about the times we live in.
” The Associated Press , a supposedly unbiased deliverer of truth , echoed Cillizza ’ s love for the candidate .
The first sentence of its story on Booker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Booker dropped out of the presidential race Monday , ending a campaign whose message of unity and love failed to resonate in a political era marked by chaos and anxiety.
” This is an AP report , not a Booker press release .
“ Unity ” and “ love ” are likely not the first two words that come to mind for most of those who have followed — that is , unless they ’ ve been replaced by empty pandering .
Booker is the candidate who his “ testosterone sometimes makes me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
But , of course , he would refrain because that would be a Trump tactic .
What a powerful expression of love and unity .

The media really wants you to think that Cory Booker, not Marianne Williamson , was the candidate of love and unity all along.
After Booker dropped out of the 2020 presidential race on Monday, CNN’s Chris Cillizza tweeted , “Cory Booker ran a campaign based on the need for positivity, love and unity. It didn't ever take off. Which says something about the times we live in.”
Cory Booker ran a campaign based on the need for positivity, love and unity.
It didn't ever take off. Which says something about the times we live in. — Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) January 13, 2020
The Associated Press, a supposedly unbiased deliverer of truth, echoed Cillizza’s love for the candidate. The first sentence of its story on Booker dropping out reads, “Democrat Cory Booker dropped out of the presidential race Monday, ending a campaign whose message of unity and love failed to resonate in a political era marked by chaos and anxiety.”
This is an AP report, not a Booker press release.
“Unity” and “love” are likely not the first two words that come to mind for most of those who have followed Spartacus’s campaign — that is, unless they’ve been replaced by empty pandering.
Booker is the candidate who said his “testosterone sometimes makes me want to feel like punching" President Trump. But, of course, he would refrain because that would be a Trump tactic.
What a powerful expression of love and unity.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-13--'I was sooo concerned': Trump mocks Cory Booker after he drops presidential bid

President Trump took to Twitter to mock Cory Booker after he dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary race .
“ Really Big Breaking News ( Kidding ) : Booker , who was in zero polling territory , just dropped out of the Democrat Presidential Primary Race , ” Trump said .
“ Now I can rest easy tonight .
I was sooo concerned that I would someday have to go head to head with him !
” Booker , 50 , announced his decision to drop out of the race on Monday in a video posted to social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to gain traction in the contest , and most polls never registered him at more than 2 % to 3 % support .
“ It ’ s with a full heart that I share this news—I ’ m suspending my campaign for president , ” Booker said .
“ To my team , supporters , and everyone who gave me a shot—thank you .
I am so proud of what we built , and I feel nothing but faith in what we can accomplish together.
” [ Opinion : Will anyone notice that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of September , Booker ’ s campaign manager Addisu Demissie warned that he was on the brink of dropping out because of low fundraising numbers .
A RealClearPolitics national average of polls on Monday had Booker at just 1.8 % support .

President Trump took to Twitter to mock Cory Booker after he dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary race.
“Really Big Breaking News (Kidding): Booker, who was in zero polling territory, just dropped out of the Democrat Presidential Primary Race,” Trump said. “Now I can rest easy tonight. I was sooo concerned that I would someday have to go head to head with him!”
Really Big Breaking News (Kidding): Booker, who was in zero polling territory, just dropped out of the Democrat Presidential Primary Race. Now I can rest easy tonight. I was sooo concerned that I would someday have to go head to head with him! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2020
Booker, 50, announced his decision to drop out of the race on Monday in a video posted to social media. The New Jersey senator had struggled to gain traction in the contest, and most polls never registered him at more than 2% to 3% support.
“It’s with a full heart that I share this news—I’m suspending my campaign for president,” Booker said. “To my team, supporters, and everyone who gave me a shot—thank you. I am so proud of what we built, and I feel nothing but faith in what we can accomplish together.”
[Opinion: Will anyone notice that Cory Booker dropped out?]
It’s with a full heart that I share this news—I’m suspending my campaign for president.
To my team, supporters, and everyone who gave me a shot—thank you. I am so proud of what we built, and I feel nothing but faith in what we can accomplish together. pic.twitter.com/Fxvc549vlJ — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) January 13, 2020
Near the end of September, Booker’s campaign manager Addisu Demissie warned that he was on the brink of dropping out because of low fundraising numbers.
A RealClearPolitics national average of polls on Monday had Booker at just 1.8% support.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-13--'Ridiculous choice': Obama lawyer David Kris picked to oversee FISA reform oversight

The FISA Court selected a longtime defender of the FBI ’ s Trump-Russia investigation to be its adviser in overseeing the FBI 's implementation of reforms following the Justice Department ’ s watchdog report on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act .
David Kris , a former assistant attorney general with the DOJ ’ s national security division during the Obama administration , is a controversial choice , having spent most of President Trump ’ s term defending the bureau ’ s decision-making , including its use of British ex-spy Christopher Steele ’ s salacious and unverified dossier to obtain surveillance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Page .
Kris also defended the FISA Court itself from accusations it hadn ’ t done its due diligence to ensure the bureau ’ s investigation was conducted properly .
Kris harshly criticized the FISA memo put together by Republican California Rep. Devin Nunes in early 2018 that alleged `` abuses related to the FISA process '' by the FBI , though DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz ’ s report released late last year showed nearly all the claims made by Nunes in his memo were correct , a fact acknowledged even by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released a competing memo at the time .
He claimed “ the central irony '' of the Nunes memo `` is that it tried to deceive the American people in precisely the same way that it falsely accused the FBI of deceiving the FISA Court ” and “ the key question going forward is whether the memo ’ s authors and sponsors will face any consequences for their dishonesty ” in one of many articles for Lawfare , a website created by fired FBI Director James Comey ’ s friend , Benjamin Wittes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carter : “ It ’ s a ridiculous choice .
The FBI lied to the FISC , and to help make sure that doesn ’ t happen again , the FISC chose an FBI apologist who denied and defended those lies .
The FISC is setting its own credibility on fire.
” Horowitz concluded the FBI ’ s investigation was flawed and criticized the DOJ and the FBI for 17 “ significant errors and omissions ” in targeting Page and relying on Steele ’ s dossier , affirming most of the claims Nunes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bureau ’ s “ entire chain of command.
” Horowitz was unable to determine whether the FBI ’ s screw-ups were due to “ gross negligence ” or “ intentional misconduct.
” Horowitz also referred one FBI lawyer to the DOJ for possible criminal prosecution .
“ You can ’ t make this up !
” Trump tweeted of Kris on Sunday .
“ Zero credibility .
THE SWAMP !
” “ The fact that of all the people in the swamp … this is the guy you come up with ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The court must be trying to abolish itself … He picks one of the guys who was essentially covering up for the dirty cops.
” James Boasberg , the presiding judge over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court , appointed Kris to serve as the court ’ s amicus curiae — a position which is supposed to provide impartial advice to the court .
Kris has defended the FISA Court against criticism , claiming , “ FISA applications are subjected to exacting … and serious scrutiny ” and “ the FISA Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed “ the Nunes memo looks even worse ” when hundreds of heavily redacted pages from the Carter Page FISA applications were released in July 2018 .
And he went on MSNBC and agreed with host Rachel Maddow 's claims that fuller disclosures about the FISA process would make Trump look worse .
“ Yes , I think you are right that these applications already substantially undermine the president ’ s narrative and that of his proxies .
And it seems to me very likely that if we get below the tip of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more is revealed , it will get worse , not better , '' he said .
After the release of Horowitz ’ s report , Kris conceded in late December that Nunes memo had been right about many things , including that the FBI incorrectly told the FISA Court Steele wasn ’ t the source of a Yahoo News article they used in the FISA applications , DOJ official Bruce Ohr acted improperly in a multitude of ways , and the Steele dossier formed a central part of the bureau ’ s pursuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nunes memo had some of the details wrong , its basic point that this behavior was highly irregular was correct , ” Kris said .
But Kris stood by his contention that the FBI did nothing wrong when it didn ’ t inform the FISA Court that Steele was being paid by the Clinton campaign through cut-outs , and he did not retract his Nunes attacks .
Kris also criticized the decision by Attorney General William Barr and U.S Attorney John Durham to publicly disagree with Horowitz ’ s conclusion that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicated , suggesting both will be the subjects of complaints within the DOJ office which investigates misconduct and seeming to hope for an inspector general investigation into Barr himself , accusing Barr of acting upon political considerations and quoting former Attorney General Eric Holder ’ s claim that Barr is “ unfit to lead the Justice Department.
” And Kris said , “ Nor am I outraged by the FBI ’ s actions ” last January because “ the FBI effectively could not avoid investigating the president.
” Kris claimed the Steele dossier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the best and most recent assessment that I have seen '' and was “ properly taken seriously . ''
He repeatedly speculated that Trump would end up being charged by special counsel Robert Mueller or other investigators .
Kris did not respond to the Washington Examiner 's request for comment .


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-14--Obama national security adviser says Trump ‘absolutely correct’ to kill Soleimani

“ What the administration did in the Soleimani case is absolutely correct , ” Gen. James Jones , 76 , said Sunday in Abu Dhabi .
“ This was a powerful step .
We ’ ll see where it goes , ” he added .
“ It ’ s a complicated region , but I think history will say that this was the right thing to do.
” Trump ’ s decision to kill Soleimani in a targeted drone strike near the Baghdad airport earlier this month has been scrutinized by Democrats and a few Republicans , who have cited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and because Trump did not seek congressional approval .
Iran retaliated with missile strikes on two military bases in Iraq that housed American forces .
The country also admitted that it mistakenly shot down a passenger plane on its way to Ukraine as it awaited possible confrontation with the United States , prompting days of protests .
Jones , who was Obama ’ s national security adviser from 2009 to 2010 , said Soleimani ’ s death is a “ potential game changer . ''
“ It ’ s clear that the regime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple of weeks , ” Jones said .
“ And one of the things that people don ’ t talk about too much is the degree of unrest that there is in the country , which I think is significant .
“ So , you take the removal of Soleimani , you take the accidental downing of the civilian aircraft coupled with the amount of popular unrest — the needle toward possible collapse of a regime has to be something that people think about , '' he continued .
`` It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , but you have to think about it . ''

Former President Barack Obama’s national security adviser fully supported President Trump’s decision to kill top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and floated the "possible collapse" of the theocratic regime in Tehran.
“What the administration did in the Soleimani case is absolutely correct,” Gen. James Jones, 76, said at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi.
“This was a powerful step. We’ll see where it goes,” he added. “It’s a complicated region, but I think history will say that this was the right thing to do.”
Trump’s decision to kill Soleimani in a targeted drone strike near the Baghdad airport earlier this month has been scrutinized by Democrats and a few Republicans, who have cited the risk of escalating tensions with Iran and because Trump did not seek congressional approval.
Iran retaliated with missile strikes on two military bases in Iraq that housed American forces. The country also admitted that it mistakenly shot down a passenger plane on its way to Ukraine as it awaited possible confrontation with the United States, prompting days of protests.
Jones, who was Obama’s national security adviser from 2009 to 2010 and was speaking on Sunday to CNBC's Hadley Gamble, said Soleimani’s death was a “potential game changer."
“It’s clear that the regime in Iran has had a very bad couple of weeks,” Jones said. “And one of the things that people don’t talk about too much is the degree of unrest that there is in the country, which I think is significant.
“So, you take the removal of Soleimani, you take the accidental downing of the civilian aircraft coupled with the amount of popular unrest — the needle toward possible collapse of a regime has to be something that people think about," he continued. "It’s probably not politically correct to talk about it, but you have to think about it."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-14--WATCH: Vince Vaughn catches up with Trump at college football game

Actor Vince Vaughn was spotted chatting with President Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the college football national championship game Monday night .
Vaughn , 49 , had a brief conservation with Trump and his wife in a skybox at the at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans , Louisiana .
The men shook hands at the end of the conversation .
The video appears to have been first shared on Twitter by a former Daily Beast and Deadspin employee , Timothy Burke , who captioned it , `` I 'm very sorry to have to share this video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every part of it . ''
The libertarian star of Wedding Crashers and Swingers supported Sen. Rand Paul , now a Trump ally , in the 2016 presidential election .
Trump and the first lady received a warm welcome at the game between the Louisiana State University and Clemson University .
The couple walked out onto the field to loud applause ahead of the kickoff .
Louisiana State won the game , 42- 25 , as Clemson sought its third title in four years .
The Vaughn sighting comes a few months after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sitting with former President George W. Bush at a Dallas Cowboys football game in October .

Actor Vince Vaughn was spotted chatting with President Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the college football national championship game Monday night.
Vaughn, 49, had a brief conservation with Trump and his wife in a skybox at the at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The men shook hands at the end of the conversation.
The video appears to have been first shared on Twitter by a former Daily Beast and Deadspin employee, Timothy Burke, who captioned it, "I'm very sorry to have to share this video with you. All of it, every part of it."
I'm very sorry to have to share this video with you. All of it, every part of it. pic.twitter.com/ELMbDHZbZq — Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 14, 2020
The libertarian star of Wedding Crashers and Swingers supported Sen. Rand Paul, now a Trump ally, in the 2016 presidential election.
Trump and the first lady received a warm welcome at the game between the Louisiana State University and Clemson University. The couple walked out onto the field to loud applause ahead of the kickoff. Louisiana State won the game, 42- 25, as Clemson sought its third title in four years.
The Vaughn sighting comes a few months after Ellen DeGeneres was hit with backlash for sitting with former President George W. Bush at a Dallas Cowboys football game in October.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-14--Trump rallies designed to divert attention from Democrats and prevent front-runner breakout

When six candidates take the stage for Tuesday ’ s debate , they will be battling each other for the Democratic nomination as well as fighting President Trump for publicity .
Trump is due to appear at a `` Keep America Great '' rally in Milwaukee at the same time as the leading Democrats appear in Des Moines , Iowa , 375 miles away , in a deliberate piece of scheduling by his 2020 campaign .
His supporters believe Trump ’ s frequent campaign appearances , his impeachment battle , and last week ’ s Iran headline have helped prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren , and Bernie Sanders from breaking away from their rivals .
“ The longer it takes anyone from breaking out , the better as far as we are concerned , ” said a former White House official , who said that gave Trump a clear run at the country .
The Trump campaign has hit the accelerator unprecedentedly early for an incumbent candidate .
As well as Wisconsin , he held a `` Keep America Great '' rally in the swing state of Ohio last week .
Vice President Mike Pence is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , and Lara Trump , the president ’ s daughter-in-law , is campaigning in suburban battlegrounds .
[ Read more : 'Unstoppable ' : Trump campaign outpaces Democrats with $ 46M fourth-quarter haul ] Tuesday ’ s rally is designed to offer TV viewers an up-tempo alternative to the Democratic debate .
“ The timing of the Milwaukee rally is not an accident , ” said Tim Murtaugh , director of communications for the Trump 2020 campaign .
“ Voters have been subjected to an endless series of droning Democrat debates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a Trump 'Keep America Great ' rally ?
” He declined to comment on future scheduling plans .
Trump used his rallies , which resemble stand-up comedy routines as much as traditional political addresses , in 2015 and 2016 to dominate airtime and generate hours of free publicity as he cut his way through a giant field of contenders .
This time around , his campaign is using the events to collect the phone numbers and the emails of attendees , turning fans into voters and volunteers .
Wisconsin is shaping up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump became the first Republican to win the state since 1984 , and Hillary Clinton ’ s decision not to visit the Badger State was cited as one of the major reasons she lost .
Democrats will not be making the same mistake this time around .
They are due to hold the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee .
Trump is due to take the stage at 7 p.m. local time , which coincides with the start of the Des Moines debate .
A Trump ally , who did not want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not be surprised if the campaign held rallies in some of the early primary states to throw the spotlight off Democrats .
In the meantime , Wisconsin was an obvious choice of location .
“ The benefit is that you are communicating directly with your base of supporters but also dominating the local media market in perhaps the most important , decisive state for 2020 , ” he said .
“ There ’ s a reason why the Democrats are holding their convention in Milwaukee this cycle .
”

When six candidates take the stage for Tuesday’s debate, they will be battling each other for the Democratic nomination as well as fighting President Trump for publicity.
Trump is due to appear at a "Keep America Great" rally in Milwaukee at the same time as the leading Democrats appear in Des Moines, Iowa, 375 miles away, in a deliberate piece of scheduling by his 2020 campaign.
His supporters believe Trump’s frequent campaign appearances, his impeachment battle, and last week’s Iran headline have helped prevent the likes of Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders from breaking away from their rivals.
“The longer it takes anyone from breaking out, the better as far as we are concerned,” said a former White House official, who said that gave Trump a clear run at the country.
The Trump campaign has hit the accelerator unprecedentedly early for an incumbent candidate. As well as Wisconsin, he held a "Keep America Great" rally in the swing state of Ohio last week. Vice President Mike Pence is expected to tour Florida by bus this week, and Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law, is campaigning in suburban battlegrounds.
[Read more: 'Unstoppable': Trump campaign outpaces Democrats with $46M fourth-quarter haul]
Tuesday’s rally is designed to offer TV viewers an up-tempo alternative to the Democratic debate.
“The timing of the Milwaukee rally is not an accident,” said Tim Murtaugh, director of communications for the Trump 2020 campaign. “Voters have been subjected to an endless series of droning Democrat debates, so what better counterprogramming could there be than a Trump 'Keep America Great' rally?”
He declined to comment on future scheduling plans.
Trump used his rallies, which resemble stand-up comedy routines as much as traditional political addresses, in 2015 and 2016 to dominate airtime and generate hours of free publicity as he cut his way through a giant field of contenders. This time around, his campaign is using the events to collect the phone numbers and the emails of attendees, turning fans into voters and volunteers.
Wisconsin is shaping up as a key battleground. In 2016, Trump became the first Republican to win the state since 1984, and Hillary Clinton’s decision not to visit the Badger State was cited as one of the major reasons she lost.
Democrats will not be making the same mistake this time around. They are due to hold the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee.
Trump is due to take the stage at 7 p.m. local time, which coincides with the start of the Des Moines debate.
A Trump ally, who did not want to comment on strategy publicly, said he would not be surprised if the campaign held rallies in some of the early primary states to throw the spotlight off Democrats. In the meantime, Wisconsin was an obvious choice of location.
“The benefit is that you are communicating directly with your base of supporters but also dominating the local media market in perhaps the most important, decisive state for 2020,” he said. “There’s a reason why the Democrats are holding their convention in Milwaukee this cycle.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-14--‘Totally consistent’: Trump defends Soleimani intelligence amid claims White House lied

President Trump defended his administration after reports contradicted his claim that the decision to kill Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani was because of an imminent threat .
The Trump administration claimed that the decision to kill Soleimani was because of a direct , imminent attack against the United States .
That was partially contradicted by a Monday report that showed that Trump had cleared the decision to kill Soleimani seven months before he ordered the drone strike , making the claim of an “ imminent threat ” questionable .
During a gaggle with reporters on Monday , Trump defended his administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the intelligence used in the Soleimani strike .
“ I think it ’ s been totally consistent , ” Trump said .
“ But here ’ s what ’ s been consistent : We killed Soleimani , the No .
1 terrorist in the world by every account .
Bad person .
Killed a lot of Americans .
Killed a lot of people .
We killed him .
And , when the Democrats try and defend him , it ’ s a disgrace to our country .
They can ’ t do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , it ’ s not working politically very well for them.
” He added , `` So , we killed the No .
1 terrorist in the world , Soleimani , and it should have been done 20 years ago . ''
Iran has vowed revenge for Soleimani ’ s death .
The country fired missiles toward Iraqi military bases housing U.S. forces a few days after his death but did not claim any U.S. lives .
Trump de-escalated tensions following those attacks and has implemented new sanctions on Iran .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soleimani was planning attacks on four U.S. embassies , but Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Sunday that he `` did n't see '' any specific evidence of an `` imminent '' attack on multiple embassies .
Rep. Adam Schiff also on Sunday accused the administration of `` fudging '' the intelligence , while Rep. Justin Amash said Trump 's claim appears to be `` totally made up . ''

President Trump defended his administration after reports contradicted his claim that the decision to kill Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani was because of an imminent threat.
The Trump administration claimed that the decision to kill Soleimani was because of a direct, imminent attack against the United States. That was partially contradicted by a Monday report that showed that Trump had cleared the decision to kill Soleimani seven months before he ordered the drone strike, making the claim of an “imminent threat” questionable.
During a gaggle with reporters on Monday, Trump defended his administration and claimed his team has been consistent on the intelligence used in the Soleimani strike.
“I think it’s been totally consistent,” Trump said. “But here’s what’s been consistent: We killed Soleimani, the No. 1 terrorist in the world by every account. Bad person. Killed a lot of Americans. Killed a lot of people. We killed him. And, when the Democrats try and defend him, it’s a disgrace to our country. They can’t do that. And, let me tell you, it’s not working politically very well for them.”
He added, "So, we killed the No. 1 terrorist in the world, Soleimani, and it should have been done 20 years ago."
Iran has vowed revenge for Soleimani’s death. The country fired missiles toward Iraqi military bases housing U.S. forces a few days after his death but did not claim any U.S. lives. Trump de-escalated tensions following those attacks and has implemented new sanctions on Iran.
Last week, the president said he believed Soleimani was planning attacks on four U.S. embassies, but Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Sunday that he "didn't see" any specific evidence of an "imminent" attack on multiple embassies. Rep. Adam Schiff also on Sunday accused the administration of "fudging" the intelligence, while Rep. Justin Amash said Trump's claim appears to be "totally made up."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-12--Trump sends 'the most liked Persian tweet' in history of Twitter

President Trump 's tweet in Farsi expressing support for Iranians protesting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has already earned over 200,000 likes , making it the `` most liked Persian tweet '' in the social media giant 's history , according to a leading think tank adviser .
On Saturday , protesters in the country called upon Khamenei to step down after Iran admitted to shooting down a commercial airliner on which dozens of Iranian citizens were traveling .
That evening , the president sent out a tweet in Farsi , saying that he stands with their efforts .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : I have stood with you since the beginning of my presidency and my government will continue to stand with you .
We are following your protests closely .
Your courage is inspiring , ” Trump wrote .
After just one hour , the tweet had received over 100,000 likes and has since more than doubled that number .
`` This tweet by @ realDonaldTrump with more than 100k likes is already the most liked Persian tweet in the history of Twitter , '' Saeed Ghasseminejad , senior adviser and financial economist at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed .
`` A strong show of support by Iranians for Trump 's Iran policy , something the MSM does not and will not report . ''
FDD is a policy institute based in Washington , D.C. , that focuses on national security and foreign policy .
Described as hawkish , the group is highly critical of Tehran 's theocratic regime , and its members advise the Trump administration on its Iran policy .
Born and raised in Iran , Ghasseminejad also teaches finance at Baruch College of New York .
The president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortly after , with Dan Scavino Jr. , assistant to the president and director of the White House 's social media operation , tweeting in Farsi , `` Excellent . ''
Iran responded to the United States 's recent killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani by firing off over a dozen ballistic missiles at two military bases housing American troops in Iraq .
An Iranian missile took down a Boeing 737 carrying well over a hundred people from Tehran to Kyiv , Ukraine , killing everyone on board .
On Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the plane , blaming `` human error '' after originally claiming there was a mechanical problem , sparking the protests .

President Trump's tweet in Farsi expressing support for Iranians protesting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has already earned over 200,000 likes, making it the "most liked Persian tweet" in the social media giant's history, according to a leading think tank adviser.
On Saturday, protesters in the country called upon Khamenei to step down after Iran admitted to shooting down a commercial airliner on which dozens of Iranian citizens were traveling. That evening, the president sent out a tweet in Farsi, saying that he stands with their efforts.
“To the brave and suffering Iranian people: I have stood with you since the beginning of my presidency and my government will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely. Your courage is inspiring,” Trump wrote.
به مردم شجاع و رنج کشیده ایران: من از ابتدای دوره ریاست جمهوریم با شما ایستاده‌ام و دولت من همچنان با شما خواهد ایستاد. ما اعتراضات شما را از نزدیک دنبال می کنیم. شجاعت شما الهام بخش است. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020
After just one hour, the tweet had received over 100,000 likes and has since more than doubled that number.
"This tweet by @realDonaldTrump with more than 100k likes is already the most liked Persian tweet in the history of Twitter," Saeed Ghasseminejad, senior adviser and financial economist at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, claimed. "A strong show of support by Iranians for Trump's Iran policy, something the MSM does not and will not report."
This tweet by @realDonaldTrump with more than 100k likes is already the most liked Persian tweet in the history of Twitter. A strong show of support by Iranians for Trump's Iran policy, something the MSM does not and will not report. https://t.co/4tZ0IgDZmx — Saeed Ghasseminejad (@SGhasseminejad) January 11, 2020
FDD is a policy institute based in Washington, D.C., that focuses on national security and foreign policy. Described as hawkish, the group is highly critical of Tehran's theocratic regime, and its members advise the Trump administration on its Iran policy. Born and raised in Iran, Ghasseminejad also teaches finance at Baruch College of New York.
The president's inner circle began celebrating the news shortly after, with Dan Scavino Jr., assistant to the president and director of the White House's social media operation, tweeting in Farsi, "Excellent."
Iran responded to the United States's recent killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani by firing off over a dozen ballistic missiles at two military bases housing American troops in Iraq. An Iranian missile took down a Boeing 737 carrying well over a hundred people from Tehran to Kyiv, Ukraine, killing everyone on board.
On Friday, Iran admitted to "unintentionally" shooting down the plane, blaming "human error" after originally claiming there was a mechanical problem, sparking the protests.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-14--House set to vote Wednesday on impeachment managers

The House will likely vote on Wednesday to appoint Democratic lawmakers to serve as impeachment managers in a Senate trial @ @ @ @ @ .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , a California Democrat , announced the schedule in a @ @ @ @ @ Capitol basement .
Senate Republican leaders said a trial could begin next week .
Democrats @ @ @ @ @ for nearly a month .
They voted on Dec. 19 to impeach Trump for obstruction @ @ @ @ @ power .
Once Democrats name the impeachment managers , those lawmakers will walk the articles @ @ @ @ @ House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern told the Washington Examiner .
The vote is scheduled @ @ @ @ @ after a critical Democratic presidential debate scheduled for Tuesday night in Des Moines , Iowa @

The House will likely vote on Wednesday to appoint Democratic lawmakers to serve as impeachment managers in a Senate trial weighing charges against President Trump.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, announced the schedule in a closed-door meeting Tuesday in the Capitol basement.
Senate Republican leaders said a trial could begin next week.
Democrats have been withholding impeachment articles for nearly a month.
They voted on Dec. 19 to impeach Trump for obstruction of Congress and abuse of power.
Once Democrats name the impeachment managers, those lawmakers will walk the articles over to the Senate, House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern told the Washington Examiner.
The vote is scheduled to take place a day after a critical Democratic presidential debate scheduled for Tuesday night in Des Moines, Iowa.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-14--'Gang of Eight' Democrats shocked by 'deeply disturbing' report on Russians hacking Burisma

Top Democratic leaders in Congress said they were caught completely off guard by a report on Russia hacking the Ukrainian natural gas company at the center of President Trump 's impeachment .
In back-to-back interviews Monday evening , House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer claimed they were only just hearing of the breach when asked by MSNBC host Rachel Maddow .
`` I have to say , Rachel , I 'm a bit distressed to see this for the first time in a newspaper report .
If the intel community is aware of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our attention by now , '' Schiff said .
`` But I do n't find it surprising .
I do find it deeply disturbing , and I would hope that maybe both parties can get out ahead of this , even if the president wo n't , and condemn any Russian effort to influence the next election , '' the California Democrat added .
The New York Times reported that researchers from Area 1 , a U.S. cybersecurity firm , discovered on New Year 's Eve that Russian hackers from the GRU targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 95 , a Ukrainian television production company founded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky .
The report , which notes that it is unclear what the hackers were looking for or what they may have found , does not have any immediate comment from the Russian government or Burisma .
Former Vice President Joe Biden 's son , Hunter Biden , served on the board of Burisma Holdings , a natural gas firm owned by a Ukrainian oligarch , from 2014 to 2019 .
The impeachment effort began last year after a whistleblower complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July phone call to open investigations into political rivals , including the Bidens , while withholding congressionally approved military aid .
The elder Biden is now a Democratic candidate for president .
Both Schiff and Schumer are members of the `` Gang of Eight , '' a bipartisan group of leaders from both parties in the House and Senate with access to classified intelligence .
In recent days , Democrats have complained over what they say is the Trump administration 's reluctance to share intelligence , particularly after U.S. officials failed to consult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani .
Schiff , suggesting that Trump conveyed a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin to interfere in the 2020 election , said the first thing he intends to do is communicate with U.S. intelligence agencies to find out if they knew of the reported hack .
Schumer said the news `` shows the great need '' for Congress to pass election security legislation but cited Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as a `` complete ally '' to Trump in frustrating those efforts .
In a Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is `` in complete denial '' about Russia 's attempts to interfere in the 2020 election and accused McConnell , a Kentucky Republican , of being an `` accomplice '' to Russian interference , claiming that she wonders about his allegiance to the United States .

Top Democratic leaders in Congress said they were caught completely off guard by a report on Russia hacking the Ukrainian natural gas company at the center of President Trump's impeachment.
In back-to-back interviews Monday evening, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer claimed they were only just hearing of the breach when asked by MSNBC host Rachel Maddow.
"I have to say, Rachel, I'm a bit distressed to see this for the first time in a newspaper report. If the intel community is aware of this, that should have been brought to our attention by now," Schiff said.
"But I don't find it surprising. I do find it deeply disturbing, and I would hope that maybe both parties can get out ahead of this, even if the president won't, and condemn any Russian effort to influence the next election," the California Democrat added.
"I have to say, Rachel, I'm a bit distressed to see this for the first time in a newspaper report. If the intel community is aware of this, that should have been brought to our attention by now." -Rep. Adam Schiff on new NYT reporting on Russian hacking pic.twitter.com/mQ7p07fQBn — Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) January 14, 2020
The New York Times reported that researchers from Area 1, a U.S. cybersecurity firm, discovered on New Year's Eve that Russian hackers from the GRU targeted subsidiaries of Burisma as well as Kvartal 95, a Ukrainian television production company founded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The report, which notes that it is unclear what the hackers were looking for or what they may have found, does not have any immediate comment from the Russian government or Burisma.
Former Vice President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, served on the board of Burisma Holdings, a natural gas firm owned by a Ukrainian oligarch, from 2014 to 2019. The impeachment effort began last year after a whistleblower complaint revealed that Trump pressured Zelensky in a July phone call to open investigations into political rivals, including the Bidens, while withholding congressionally approved military aid. The elder Biden is now a Democratic candidate for president.
Both Schiff and Schumer are members of the "Gang of Eight," a bipartisan group of leaders from both parties in the House and Senate with access to classified intelligence. In recent days, Democrats have complained over what they say is the Trump administration's reluctance to share intelligence, particularly after U.S. officials failed to consult Congress before carrying out a drone strike killing Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
Schiff, suggesting that Trump conveyed a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin to interfere in the 2020 election, said the first thing he intends to do is communicate with U.S. intelligence agencies to find out if they knew of the reported hack.
Schumer said the news "shows the great need" for Congress to pass election security legislation but cited Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as a "complete ally" to Trump in frustrating those efforts.
In a Sunday interview, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Trump is "in complete denial" about Russia's attempts to interfere in the 2020 election and accused McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, of being an "accomplice" to Russian interference, claiming that she wonders about his allegiance to the United States.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-13--Adam Schiff sidesteps question on accepting subpoena to testify in Trump impeachment trial

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff skirted around the question of whether he would adhere to a subpoena to testify in a Senate impeachment trial against President Trump .
The California Democrat , who led the House impeachment hearings , claimed during Monday 's episode of The View that submitting to Republican witness demands would turn the trial into a `` sham . ''
Referring to Trump 's tweet over the weekend calling for Schiff and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi be witnesses , co-host Abby Huntsman , who announced she is leaving The View after two seasons to help run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Utah , asked , `` Would you , if asked , be willing to testify , if subpoenaed ? ''
Schiff argued that it would not make sense for him and Pelosi to be called to testify on Trump 's actions related to Ukraine , which are subject to the impeachment effort .
`` Look , I 'm not a fact witness .
So , other than mollifying the president , I 'm not sure why the Senate would call me or Nancy Pelosi as a witness , '' he said .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , Republicans named Schiff as someone they wanted to testify , as well as the intelligence community whistleblower who contacted a member of his staff before filing the complaint that sparked the impeachment effort .
Democrats are pushing Republican Senate leadership to demand top Trump aides to testify , including former national security adviser John Bolton , who last week said he would testify in a Senate trial if subpoenaed .
Pelosi , another California Democrat , taunted Trump on Monday , tweeting that he is `` too afraid '' to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Mitch McConnell has so far resisted the pressure to agree on allowing any witnesses to testify , but some of Trump 's Republican allies would like to see former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden also make an appearance .
Trump pressuring Ukraine to announce an investigation into the Bidens while delaying congressionally approved military aid are at the heart of the impeachment effort , but Schiff opined that they would not be able to shed `` much light '' on Trump 's conduct .
`` Then why not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'If you have nothing to hide , then come out there and tell the American people that ' ?
” Huntsman asked .
“ It would convert the Senate trial into the same kind of a sham proceeding that the president sought to have Ukraine undertake , ” Schiff said .

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff skirted around the question of whether he would adhere to a subpoena to testify in a Senate impeachment trial against President Trump.
The California Democrat, who led the House impeachment hearings, claimed during Monday's episode of The View that submitting to Republican witness demands would turn the trial into a "sham."
Referring to Trump's tweet over the weekend calling for Schiff and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi be witnesses, co-host Abby Huntsman, who announced she is leaving The View after two seasons to help run her father’s gubernatorial campaign in Utah, asked, "Would you, if asked, be willing to testify, if subpoenaed?"
Schiff argued that it would not make sense for him and Pelosi to be called to testify on Trump's actions related to Ukraine, which are subject to the impeachment effort.
"Look, I'm not a fact witness. So, other than mollifying the president, I'm not sure why the Senate would call me or Nancy Pelosi as a witness," he said.
As impeachment was underway in the House last year, Republicans named Schiff as someone they wanted to testify, as well as the intelligence community whistleblower who contacted a member of his staff before filing the complaint that sparked the impeachment effort.
Democrats are pushing Republican Senate leadership to demand top Trump aides to testify, including former national security adviser John Bolton, who last week said he would testify in a Senate trial if subpoenaed. Pelosi, another California Democrat, taunted Trump on Monday, tweeting that he is "too afraid" to allow witnesses at his trial.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has so far resisted the pressure to agree on allowing any witnesses to testify, but some of Trump's Republican allies would like to see former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden also make an appearance.
Trump pressuring Ukraine to announce an investigation into the Bidens while delaying congressionally approved military aid are at the heart of the impeachment effort, but Schiff opined that they would not be able to shed "much light" on Trump's conduct.
"Then why not have them show up and say, 'If you have nothing to hide, then come out there and tell the American people that'?” Huntsman asked.
“It would convert the Senate trial into the same kind of a sham proceeding that the president sought to have Ukraine undertake,” Schiff said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-13--Devin Nunes: 'We can't get rid of' Obama lawyer overseeing FISA reforms

Republicans are powerless to toss out the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court 's pick to oversee reforms in the FISA process .
Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade urged California Rep. Devin Nunes , the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee , during the show Monday morning to `` get rid of '' David Kris , a former assistant attorney general with the Justice Department ’ s national security division during the Obama administration .
`` We ca n't get rid of him , '' Nunes replied , noting he is `` one of the worst people that you could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a defender of the FBI ’ s Trump-Russia investigation and critic of Nunes 's 2018 memo on alleged FISA abuses , was picked by James Boasberg , the new presiding judge over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court , to serve as the court ’ s amicus curiae — a position that is supposed to provide impartial advice to the court .
He will oversee the implementation of reforms following a scathing Justice Department watchdog report on serious errors found in the FBI 's efforts to wiretap Carter Page , an American foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 campaign .
Trump reacted to the Kris news over the weekend , tweeting , “ Zero credibility .
THE SWAMP !
” Nunes said he views FISA as a `` very important '' tool for protecting American from terrorists but added that Republicans in Congress should consider getting rid of it if `` [ the ] Democratic Party gets to use these tools to attempt to remove presidents and target political operatives when they want to . ''
“ I ’ d rather get rid of and abolish this court than be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Republicans are powerless to toss out the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court's pick to oversee reforms in the FISA process.
Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade urged California Rep. Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, during the show Monday morning to "get rid of" David Kris, a former assistant attorney general with the Justice Department’s national security division during the Obama administration.
"We can't get rid of him," Nunes replied, noting he is "one of the worst people that you could find in the swamp."
Kris, a defender of the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation and critic of Nunes's 2018 memo on alleged FISA abuses, was picked by James Boasberg, the new presiding judge over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, to serve as the court’s amicus curiae — a position that is supposed to provide impartial advice to the court. He will oversee the implementation of reforms following a scathing Justice Department watchdog report on serious errors found in the FBI's efforts to wiretap Carter Page, an American foreign policy adviser who helped President Trump's 2016 campaign.
Trump reacted to the Kris news over the weekend, tweeting, “Zero credibility. THE SWAMP!”
Nunes said he views FISA as a "very important" tool for protecting American from terrorists but added that Republicans in Congress should consider getting rid of it if "[the] Democratic Party gets to use these tools to attempt to remove presidents and target political operatives when they want to."
“I’d rather get rid of and abolish this court than be left with that,” Nunes said.