Looking back, August was a "hot" month. Clinesmith and Pientka are to vital song birds. They both were very intimate with and part of the inner circle. They are pivotal players naming names taking the house down.
It's a chess game.
Did you read the article here? Pienka was intimately aware of all that occurred. He is therefore a critical witness springboard from which to nail the others who didn't cooperate and who lied under oath.
https://saraacarter.com/breaking-carter-pages-fisa-related-woods-file-docs-disappeared-was-it-malice-or-incompetence/
I'll quote the critical info out of article, showing Pientka "singing" his tune, and take note Pientak is still employed and not charged (at least, so far), indicating a deal was struck:
"The woods file procedure, which was overseen by FBI Supervisory Special Agent Joe Pientka,and ultimately former FBI Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok, was used to verify the contents in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act application that was used to obtain a warrant to spy on Page.
"Moreover,during Pientka’s numerous interviews with investigators from the DOJ’s Inspector General’s office, who likely have worked for both Michael Horowitz and Connecticut prosecutor John Durham – the fact that it was a recreated Wood’s file was never disclosed.
"In fact,it had been missingfor an unknown period of time, possibly up to two years andofficials did not become aware it had disappeared until last week during a closed-door Senate Intelligence Committee hearing.
"Pientka attended the closed-door hearing, along with other FBI officials, according to sources familiar with the proceedings.
"Pientka has so far been cleared by the Justice Department and not charged with any wrongdoing.According to sources,he has been speaking and cooperatingwith Justice Department officials and members of Congress. He still maintains active employment with the FBI, unlike Strzok, FBI lawyer Lisa Page, former Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and former Assistant Director Bill Priestap, among others."
He's in Biden's basement hiding with him. They're, er, buddies. One sniffs, one licks, both bite.