With all the details helpfully provided by cooperating witness, Bill Priestap, who had a front row seat to the entire show.
Quick review on Priestap:
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/941585613089857536.html
Suggest everyone repeat this mantra:
I will notice but not react to disinfo
I will notice but not react to disinfo
I will notice but not react to disinfo
Moar on /ourguy/ Billy Priestap, hat tip to @thelastrefuge2 tweet from a year ago.
Part 1:
Bill Priestap is the FBI Director of Counterintelligence.
Bill Priestap was the immediate supervisor of FBI Counterintelligence Deputy Peter Strzok. . Priestap is #1, Strzok was #2.
The investigation into candidate Donald Trump was a counterintelligence operation. That operation began in July 2016. Bill Priestap would have been in charge of that, along with all other, FBI counterintelligence operations.
FBI Deputy Peter Strzok was specifically in charge of the Trump counterintel op. However, Strzok would be reporting to Bill Priestap on every detail and couldn't (according to structure anyway) make a move without Priestap approval.
On March 20th 2017 congressional testimony, James Comey was asked why the FBI Director did not inform congressional oversight about the counterintelligence operation that began in July 2016.
Director Comey said he did not tell congressional oversight he was investigating presidential candidate Donald Trump because the Director of Counterintelligence suggested he not do so. Very important detail.
I cannot emphasize this enough. VERY important detail. Again, notice how Comey doesn't use Priestap's actual name, but refers to his position and title. (see embedded)
FBI Director James Comey was caught entirely off guard by that first three minutes of questioning. He simply didn't anticipate it.
Oversight protocol requires the FBI Director to tell the congressional intelligence "Gang of Eight" of any counterintelligence operations. The Go8 has oversight into these ops at the highest level of classification. At the time this was the group:
–Paul Ryan
–Nancy Pelosi
–Mitch McConnell
–Chuck Shumer
–Devin Nunes
–Adam Schiff
–Bill Burr
–Diane Feinstein
Based on what we know, and what has surfaced recently, we can all see why the FBI would want to keep it hidden that they were running a counterintelligence operation against a presidential candidate. As FBI Agent Peter Strzok said it was an "insurance policy".
FBI Agent Strzok to FBI Attorney Page: "I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andy’s office that there’s no way he gets elected – but I’m afraid we can’t take that risk. It’s like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before you’re 40.”
Text: https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2017/12/12/politics/peter-strzok-texts-released/index.html?__twitter_impression=true
So James Comey is telling congress that the reason he didn't inform the statutory oversight "Gang of Eight" was because Bill Priestap (Director of Counterintelligence) recommended he didn't do it.
That's called creating a "fall guy". FBI Director James Comey is ducking responsibility in March 2017 by blaming FBI Director of Counterintelligence Bill Priestap for not informing congress of the operation that began in July 2016. (9 months prior).
At that moment, that very specific moment during that hearing, anyone who knows how these things roll could see Comey was creating his own exit from getting ensnared in the consequences from the wiretapping and surveillance operation of President Donald Trump.
Bill Priestap is James Comey's shield from liability.
There has been NO MENTION of Bill Priestap in any of the recent revelations, despite his centrality to all of it.
Bill Priestap would have needed to authorize Peter Strzok to engage with Christopher Steele over the "Russian Dossier".
(continued)
(Part 2 of 2)
Bill Priestap would have needed to approve of the underlying documents that were used for both FISA applications (June/July and Sept/Oct).
Bill Priestap would be the person to approve of paying, or reimbursing, Christopher Steele for the Russian Dossier used in their counterintelligence operation and subsequent FISA application.
Without Bill Priestap involved, approvals, etc. the entire Russian/Trump Counterintelligence operation doesn't happen. Comey's testimony is also evidence of Priestap's importance.
In addition, when Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates testified (w/ James Clapper), she too spoke of the important of Priestap as her liaison and contact within the FBI on the counterintelligence operation. [Yates never mentioned Peter Strzok - not once.]
Even though it was FBI agent Peter Strzok who interviewed Michael Flynn on January 24th, [link below] Sally Yates never mentioned him. EVER. saraacarter.com/2017/12/04/fbi…
However Deputy AG Sally Yates did talk about Bill Priestap during her testimony.
Yates said she and Bill Priestap traveled together, Jan 26th, to the White House to inform Don McGhan (WH Counsel) of Michael Flynn "misleading statements" (based on Pence media reports and Flynn prior ambush interview Jan 24th).
According to Sally Yates testimony, she and Bill Priestap reportedly presented all the information to McGahn so the White House could take action that they deemed appropriate.
So you can see that Bill Priestap is a central figure. Comey defers to him; Yates relied on him; Strzok reports to him; etc.
Yet there's no mention of Bill Priestap in any of the explosive investigative story-lines in the past two weeks. Why?
Bill Priestap is FBI Director of Counterintelligence. There's no way he hasn't been caught inside the investigative net.
Priestap's boss, Andrew McCabe has been caught. His subordinate, Peter Strzok, has most certainly been caught. And previously FBI Director Comey pushed him in front of the bus.
Either Priestap is going to be the attempted fall-guy for the entire scheme.
-OR-
Bill Priestap saw the bus coming and is assisting the scheme investigators: Horowitz, Sessions and Wray.
POSTSCRIPT: Remember to follow the wives. Bill Priestap's wife, Sabina Menshel, who is recorded as a donor to Hillary for America AND ActBlue.
The whole UFO thing is a 4 AM talking point deflection.
The tension is probably much higher than we realize. They don't have anything to lose by dumping their fuel, so they're going to do it.
Gird up your loins, boys, and ignore nonsense coming from obvious decoys.
Wait, is THIS all we had to do to kick Netflix out of our state? This is absolutely fantastic news! Brian Kemp, you rock.
The sooner they leave, the better. Atlanta traffic is 29 kinds of hell. How bad is it? My kid (now grown) didn't even WANT to learn to drive at 16.
After the last couple of years and since FBIanon, I will always believe that we owe an enormous debt to many, many others who will always be "anons".
We acknowledge your work and your contributions, White Hats. Thank you for the million different contributions each of you has made, not just for the United States, but to the world, and to history. God bless each and every one of you, the original anons.
o7
OK, we're watching Bilderberg, but there's also an EU summit happening in Brussels:
The Prime Minister is attending final EU summit as Tory leader to discuss Jean-Claude Juncker's replacement
Nigel Farage is also in Brussels for other talks after his Brexit Party secured 29 MEPs in European elections
A triumphant Mr Farage told reporters: 'We give an ultimatum to Brussels rather than the other way round'
Mr Juncker has told the PM he is 'crystal clear' that there will be no renegotiation of the Brexit agreement
Humiliated Theresa May faced European leaders who spent months hardballing her over Brexit today - as Nigel Farage revelled in his election triumph and told her the UK must leave by October 31 at the latest.
She met a host of EU bigwigs including outgoing European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels today for her last summit as Conservative leader.
A grim-faced PM insisted she would keep fulfilling her 'obligations' despite being forced to announce her departure from Downing Street last week.
But Mr Farage, who is also in Brussels today for separate discussions, told reporters the next Tory leader should say the UK is leaving in October come what may, and give the EU five months to come to the table with a counter-offer.
Bolstered by the trouncing the Brexit Party inflicted on the Tories and Labour, securing an extraordinary 29 MEPs, he said: 'We give an ultimatum to Brussels rather than the other way round'.
Arriving at her final summit as Tory leader Mrs May said the results were 'deeply disappointing' for her party and showed 'the importance of actually delivering on Brexit'.
She said: 'I think the best way to do that is with a deal, but it will be for my successor and for Parliament to find a way forward to get a consensus and I hope those election results will focus Parliament on the need to deliver Brexit'.
European leaders are gathering in Brussels to choose the successor to Mr Juncker as President of the EU Commission - but they will also be keen to grill her behind the scenes on the political manoeuvring in the UK over Brexit.
Mr Juncker revealed his first meeting was with Mrs May and said he was 'crystal clear' that Brexit talks are over with Britain, adding: 'There will be no renegotiation'.
The premier has also met EU council president Donald Tusk, who is thought to have delivered a similar tough message.
Mr Farage was also in the Belgian capital in the wake of the stunning showing by his new Brexit Party, which topped the poll.
Fresh from his re-election as an MEP, Mr Farage demanded that the next Conservative leader send an 'ultimatum' to Brussels that the UK will be leaving at the end of October deal or No Deal.
France and Germany appeared on a collision course over who should hold one of the European Union's most coveted jobs, after weekend elections across the 28-nation bloc redrew Europe's political map.
Arriving in Brussels for an EU summit, French President Emmanuel Macron virtually ruled out the prospect of German politician Manfred Weber replacing Jean-Claude Juncker as the new president of the bloc's executive arm, the European Commission.
Mr Juncker's term at the commission, which proposes EU laws and makes sure they are enforced, is due to end on October 31 and leaders from across the continent are gathering in Brussels to debate who should succeed him.
Mr Farage is in Brussels forming new alliances after the election of 29 new Brexit Party MEPs
Mr Macron told reporters that his preferred choice for the post would be someone who has 'experience either in their country or in Europe that allows them to have credibility and savoir faire'.
That appeared to be a swipe at Mr Weber, who has never served in government or a major institution such as the commission.
Mr Weber, 46, has led the conservative European People's Party group - the biggest group in the EU assembly - since 2014.
(more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7078831/Awkward-Humiliated-arrives-Brussels-talks-EU-leaders.html)