The Inspector General's 'Witch Hunt' Report: A Quick and Dirty Analysis

[DesertRat]

by Benjamin Wittes

When you see folks crowing about errors in FISA applications and the misconduct described in the inspector general’s report released today, take a deep breath and try to remember the allegations that sparked this review of the Russia investigation. It wasn’t that long ago. You can do it if you try. The allegations weren’t about sloppy handling of a FISA application, serious though that issue undoubtedly is. They weren’t even about an FBI lawyer altering an email.

They were about whether the FBI's Russia investigation was a malicious "WITCH HUNT!":

The president repeatedly accused FBI officials of “treason”—and of plotting a coup.

{snip}

The president suggested that his wires had been tapped, even as Devin Nunes insisted that the FBI was engaged in illegal surveillance of Carter Page.

We were assured of scandal related to the FBI’s use of confidential informants, just as we were assured that the entire investigation was predicated on the “dossier” of Christopher Steele.

Hundreds and hundreds of television hours and countless articles, each more breathless than the next, were devoted to propagating these claims, which were repeated so often that they have become truths for millions of Americans. Even though they were never true.

Today, Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz declared in more than 450 pages that the "Witch Hunt" narrative was nonsense. Yes, the investigation had problems—some of them serious. But the problems were not political in character. There was no effort to “get” candidate Trump. There was no “insurance policy.” There was no coup. There was no treason.

Much more here:
https://www.lawfareblog.com/inspector-generals-witch-hunt-report-quick-and-dirty-analysis

[spanone]

1. K&R...

[MFGsunny]

2. K & R n/t

[sheshe2]

3. There you have it!

[world wide wally]

4. Although the former FBI Director (Comey) was in fact out to get Hillary.

And he did.

[Mazeltov Cocktail]

5. Yes. Thank you

And I hope no one forgets that important fact.

[Duppers]

6. I hold him as responsible as the Russians! nt

[radius777]

7. "Russia if you're listening"

No wiretapping needed, Dump admitted on live TV he did it, and in the Lester Holt interview about firing Comey.

The RW is simply gaslighting, they all know Trump stole the election (and attempted to steal the next) but don't care, thus need conspiracy narratives to insulate themselves.

[malaise]

8. The Con's response about the attempted overthrow of the government is laughable

Obama was the head of the Federal Government at that time. He's an effin' idiot.