FBI insists Michael Hastings was not under investigation

[struggle4progress]

Source: LA Times

By Andrew Blankstein and Brian Bennett
June 20, 2013, 3:23 p.m.

... The bureau responded in a statement: "At no time was journalist Michael Hastings ever under investigation by the FBI."

The FBI's statement comes as officials with the Los Angeles Police Department said that there appears to be no foul play in the one-vehicle accident that killed Hastings.

Officials still are trying to determine whether there was a mechanical problem with the car, if Hastings may have had a medical condition, or if he consumed substances that could have impaired his driving. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity ...




Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-fbi-insists-michael-hastings-was-not-under-investigation-20130620,0,2381330.story

[snappyturtle]

1. The LAPD worked fast! Nothing to see here....we have analyzed the

gazillion pieces the car blew into and everything points to no foul play.

Wouldn't you think they'd at least have the decency to act like they've
put some time and thought into this thorough investigation. imho

[struggle4progress]

4. The mechanical investigation of the auto will take a while, and so will complete autopsy results

but they've got folk who've seen a lot of auto wrecks and who would note anything grossly abnormal

A bombed car, for example, probably doesn't usually look like a car that just lost control and smashed into a tree. A headless body with no hands in the driver's seat might also raise suspicions. The statement means they aren't seeing so far anything really unexpected

[snappyturtle]

6. Thank you for your well reasoned response! nt

[pnwmom]

14. They haven't said that. n/t

[Lefty Nast]

2. And we all know how reliable the FBI talking points always are...lol

The truth remains to be seen if it is ever revealed

[struggle4progress]

5. I guess if the President is under control of space aliens, people would deny that too, but the fact

that people deny it if asked does very little to prove its true

[They_Live]

3. and even if he was,they'd never admit it.

n/t

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. What? You expected different?

[NoodleyAppendage]

8. How convenient. Please explain then why he thought he was under surveillance?

Sometimes just because you may be suspicious/paranoid, doesn't mean that you might not be correct. This one smell too fishy.

[struggle4progress]

10. The US has a system of divided government. The accident investigation here

appears to be a local matter, under the control of the LAPD, and as the LAPD does not answer (say) to the FBI, the FBI has no power to force the LAPD to issue false statements. The current LAPD statement indicates that the first impression, of their experts, is that this is a common accident with no obvious indications of foul play. The FBI statement, issued independently, further undermines various currently-floated conspiracy theories

I have no idea why Mr Hastings would think he was under surveillance, nor do I know for a fact that he was or was not. Absent evidence to the contrary, however, I see no particular reason to doubt the FBI statement

[leftynyc]

19. We actually never heard that from him

We're hearing it from the lawyer representing Julian Assange.

[Smarmie Doofus]

28. The truth. Nothing but the truth. But not the WHOLE truth:

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/the-young-turks-on-wikileaks-michael-hastings-scoop-reporter-was-already-spooked/

[leftynyc]

32. We don't know the whole truth

That's the problem.

[99th_Monkey]

9. Oh my

Another mysterious death, traced back to Petraeus ... ? Why am I not surprised?

http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/03/07/guardian-lays-out-details-of-how-petraeus-organized-death-squads-in-iraq/

http://www.thenation.com/blog/36661/general-petraeuss-link-troubling-suicide-iraq-ted-westhusing-story

[geek tragedy]

11. There isn't much mystery to Hastings's death thus far. nt

[99th_Monkey]

23. Yes. The FBI and LAPD have said there is "nothing to see here"

And everyone knows they ALWAYS tell the truth about such things.

I guess you're right. No mysteries here.

[geek tragedy]

25. It was a high speed car crash. Not terribly mysterious. nt

[Kolesar]

27. Petreaus had Hastings killed!

Because we elected a DLC DINO !

[Ford_Prefect]

12. What does the Coroner have to say?

Law enforcement sources said the car appeared to be going at a high rate of speed but emphasized that the investigation was ongoing.

It seems they have not concluded yet.
Would like to hear just how fast the car was traveling.

[struggle4progress]

13. They've ID'd the body via fingerprints; final autopsy results are some weeks away

[treestar]

18. Oh they ALWAYS lie

It would be too boring if the guy just drove too fast for conditions.

[99th_Monkey]

22. Apparently not boring enough to compel you to promptly pound on your back-button

pity.

[ReRe]

20. Doesn't the speedometer freeze...

at the speed the car is going on impact? Did I say that right? Also, there's that black box under the front seat. Have they said anything about it yet? There is no way this investigation is over.

[AngryAmish]

31. Speedometer is probably electronic

THere is a black box, tho.

[blackspade]

16. I really hope the FBI is being honest

But I doubt it.

[treestar]

17. that won't mean a thing to the loons who have already decided

they've made up their minds! The Feds did it!

[ReRe]

21. Ahem...

... your joke was uncalled for, treestar. Please refrain from frivolity on this thread, OK? Most of us are very saddened at the death of this bright young man.

[U4ikLefty]

35. That joke is typical of the cheerleaders here

they show how classy they are daily.

[Ford_Prefect]

24. Speaking of closed minds...

Last edited Fri Jun 21, 2013, 07:23 AM - Edit history (1)

Evidently Treestar has decided in the absence of fact that only one conclusion can be drawn and that any other represents a departure from reality. It would be convenient if he were right. In the end it may even make sense that it was only an accident- Driver loses control of car at speed, hits tree and death ensues. Perhaps that is indeed all that happened.

http://ktla.com/2013/06/21/exclusive-details-on-an-email-michael-hastings-sent-just-hours-before-his-death/#axzz2Wq8zwRvg

Given that the man who died was involved in the public discussion of facts about those who insist their activities not be seen it is reasonable to be curious about the facts of the accident and how they might possibly represent more than what they appear to at the moment.

It is certainly far too easy to assume there is much more here than may prove to be true. I haven't referred to drones, black ops or black helicopters. However I don't think it is worthwhile to waste further time on those who assume there is nothing here to be curious about.

There are good and obvious reasons to ask why and how it happened and who may have had an interest in the outcome.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-michael-hastings-jill-kelly-case-20130620,0,2559316.story

[geek tragedy]

26. Counterpoint: will those who are 'just asking questions' ever decide that

the assassination hypothesis is without evidence and not plausible?

Or will they continue to be suspicious and refuse to recognize that this was an accident?

Keep in mind that a lot of people here think Bush shot down Paul Wellstone's plane.

[Progressive dog]

29. Video of Hasting's car speeding through intersection

here [link:http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2013/06/michael_hastings_red_light_video_speeding.php|

[AngryAmish]

30. Neither was the AP or Rosen

[struggle4progress]

34. I confess: paid government trolls actually pulled his car into that tree using a tractor beam

so the public would be misled into thinking that space aliens engineered the murder