Over a year or more ago, I had this theory that Pientka was the agent that blew the whistle on the FBI, and that’s why he’s in hiding, I think it’s a very plausible theory after reading this

This perspective on how the Flynn investigation was managed is important, because it narrows down USA Jensen's focus on the Flynn case. Presumably, Barnett's account will also be supported by or will confirm what Joe Pientka has already told investigators regarding who directed it all. This in turn will help Jensen to pin the decision on opening a basically unpredicated Full Investigation of Flynn on Strzok–and possibly others above Strzok.

Pientka's role in all this is interesting. That role is touched on twice. We've already pointed out that it was Pientka who recruited Barnett for the CH Team. It appears that Pientka was trusted by Strzok and worked closely with Strzokfor example, handing Ohr off to Pientka indicates a high degree of trust and confidence. So my guess is that Strzok instructed Pientka to recruit agents for the CH Team who could be relied upon to go along with the plan. From Barnett's account, it doesn't appear that great initiative was a requirement, since he emphasizes that his roleunlike what would usually be expected of a case agent–was basically to follow instructions and not ask questions.

I would anticipate that Pientka has been debriefed on his relationship with Strzok. Pientka, on the other hand, appears not to have been totally candid with Barnett. Barnett mentions that Pientka apologized for interviewing Flynn without informing Barnett, the case agentoffering a somewhat lame excuse to Barnett. In fact, we know that Pientka had probably been preparing for such an interview for months, since he was selected to give the National Security briefing to Trump and Flynn for that specific purposeto assess Flynn for possible interview purposes. Barnett surmised in hindsight that he had been "cut out" of the interview, a fact that would be probative of a theory of prosecution that the Russia Hoax/CH investigation was in fact a closely guarded conspiracy, entry to the inner counsels of which was carefully restricted.

It was only after the Flynn interview that Pientka seems to have had serious doubts about what was going on, having realized that Flynn was an innocent man being targeted by Strzok and a small group at FBIHQ. It was at that point that Pientka tried to distance himself from the Russia Hoax, and that Strzok tried to insulate Pientka from further involvement. From that point of view, Barnett's corroboration of Pientka could be very useful at trial, and if Pientka can confirm that Barnett's surmise of being "cut out" of the interview is correct, that too would be very useful.

https://meaninginhistory.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-barnett-302.html?m=1#more