Civic Register
| 6.11.21
Trump Justice Dept. Investigated Congressional Democrats in Search for Leaks of Classified Intel
Should the leak investigation be investigated?
What’s the story?
- The New York Times reported that the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) during the Trump administration subpoenaed records belonging to at least two prominent Democratic lawmakers who sat on the House Intelligence Committee amid a probe into leaks of classified information in 2017 and 2018. The matter has reportedly been referred to the DOJ’s Inspector General for review.
- Pursuant to subpoenas issued by a grand jury, Apple provided the DOJ with metadata from electronic devices belonging to Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who was committee’s ranking member at the time and is currently its chairman, along with Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA). Apple was bound from disclosing that it provided the government with the metadata under a gag order that recently expired, which allowed the reports to proceed.
- Additionally, subpoenas were granted for electronic data belonging to at least 10 other people connected to the committee, including staffers and some family members, one of whom was a minor, as investigators tried to determine whether a leaker used devices that weren’t their own to conceal contacts with media about classified information.
- According to the report, the DOJ was unable to determine the source of the intelligence leaks despite taking the step of securing the metadata from the Apple devices. The investigation initially began during the tenure of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and was revived after Attorney General William Barr was confirmed to lead the DOJ.
- The Trump administration and congressional Republicans have long accused Schiff and Swalwell of leaking classified information to the media, particularly during their committee’s probe of alleged collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign when pieces of information from closed depositions were selectively leaked to media outlets.
- During that period, Schiff repeatedly told the media that he had “more than circumstantial evidence” of collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia. Ultimately, Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report concluded that there was no evidence to suggest collusion or conspiracy between Trump’s campaign and Russia.
- More recently, Schiff and Swalwell were suspected of leaking information from the committee’s impeachment inquiry into then-President Donald Trump’s call with the president of Ukraine in 2019, along with intelligence about Russia allegedly offering bounties to insurgents in Afghanistan for killing American servicemembers. The Intelligence Community announced in April 2021 that it had only “low to moderate” confidence in the bounties story, which suggests it’s unproven at best and possibly false.
— Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Shane McCoy - U.S. Marshals Service via DOJ Office of Public Affairs Flickr / Creative Commons)
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is there nothing illegal that the trump administration didn't stoop to? spying on journalists and position leaders (democrats) is what they do in places like China and Russia and Venezuela and all the other dictatorships. This needs to be investigated and people CHARGED AND PROSECUTED FOR WHAT THEY DID. Like that crook Barr.
So dumbkopf wanted the military to ‘crack skulls’ and ‘just shoot them’ during peaceful protests but his ‘patriots’ were just having a peaceful walk through the capitol jan 6? What a numbskull moron he, gop, enablers & supporters. There is such a thing called Karma.
President Fascist Herr Trump and his Texas Three Stooges enablers were willing pawns ♟ of Vlad Putin, their Master. Using Putin’s Evil Satanic bag of tricks they were turning America into a Russian satellite police state. Thanks be to God they failed ... miserably. As they attempt to rewrite history may God be their judge and may they fail at that too. 🇺🇸 God Bless the Biden Administration 🇺🇸!
Are you career criminals. Excuse me representatives of the Peasants of the United States. Excuse me the people of the United States. Stop wasting our tax dollars
Lefties, your current level of hysteria suggests you are challenged to come to terms with your poor choices along with onset fear of conservatives regaining control. It would make for great comedy if not such a sad statement on the human condition. Tick tock, the pendulum swings.
Telling isn't it that lefties want an investigation of why a POTUS was seeking out information leakers when the potentially illegal FISA warrant matter has yet to be settled? If not for double standards...
You don't know what to do but be globalist.. How are you doing in the polls? How is fake economy doing? Boy - Biden sure looked the corrupt ding-dong he is... The world is laughing just as they laughed at Obama as well. Treason charges coming
On the Republican's Latest Move to Protect Trump @Sharon, McConnell has been long championing and utilizing a strategy of deception and divisiveness in his quest to garner and retain power. While all influential politicians understand that the power is to be used to benefit their constituents, Republicans like Trump, McConnell and numerous others give just the minimum lip service to really using that power for the many of us. Instead that power is used to only benefit a select few. In this era far too many of our fellow citizens are too suspectible to the deceptive and divisive propaganda McConnell, Trump and their ilk spew. The Republicans have adopted the tactic of the Big Lie from time to time for decades but since Trump it's use has stepped up considerably. Consider: The Richard "I am not a crook" Nixon administration's Waregate Coverup. The scandal stemmed from the Nixon administration's continuous attempts to cover up its involvement in the June 17, 1972 break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Washington, D.C. Watergate Office Building Not only Reagan's Iran Contra Scandal but also the investigation, indictment, or conviction of over 138 administration officials, the largest number for any president in American history up until then. Perhaps you even remember George W Bush's Myth about Weapons of Mass Destruction? Besides the 2016 Election Collusion with Russia, the "Quid Pro Quo Ukraine Travesty, the horrendous bungling of COVID Scandal, and Big Lie about 2020 Election Fraud, we are still finding plenty of the oozing slime left by Trump. McConnell is likely actually beyond terrified how those of the public with open eyes, clear minds and rational thought will view Republicans for many years to come. On Causes, @Sharon wrote: Today, The UK-based Guardian along with multiple other news outlets reported on the newest Republican move to protect Trump. This keeps a couple of questions alive for me: (1) What do they know and when did they know it; and (2) Why are they blocking investigations into Trump if they really believe there’s nothing to find? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/16/senate-republicans-trump-justice-department-democrats-data Read @Sharon’s full comment: https://www.causes.com/comments/1477401
Even though Republicans will not accept the results, history will.
Trump should be punished for abusing his power in this way and we need to make sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again. There need to be serious consequences and repercussions for doing something like this.
My problem over the past 4 years is not with republicans, per se. It is with Mr. Trump and how he made several Federal departments work for HIM, versus US. This is an example. I am appalled that the Republican party can put all their marbles in the pot with Trump! There are other, less criminal and narcissistic folks who can head that party. To go to bed with Trump, to me, shows the moral side that republicans are choosing.
I'm more concerned about the processing of immigrants. If we were better equipped to process folks who come across the boarder or those applying for citizenship/green cards, we might not have the issue as it is at the border. I am certainly NOT for open borders. But, i think there has to be better ways to process folks (and especially children). Since many are coming from countries south of Mexico, a joint effort with Mexico to stop folks at that point would be a far better option then money spent on walls.
We need truth.
Plus is this still happening? We should give it the same amount of attention as Hillary got. Trump needs to spend 11 hours straight in front of Congress.
Today, The UK-based Guardian along with multiple other news outlets reported on the newest Republican move to protect Trump. This keeps a couple of questions alive for me: (1) What do they know and when did they know it; and (2) Why are they blocking investigations into Trump if they really believe there’s nothing to find? “Top Republicans are moving to block a Senate inquiry into the Trump justice department’s secret seizure of data from Democrats to hunt down leaks of classified information, fearing a close investigation could damage the former president. Trump, who is facing a mounting crisis of legal problems and political criticism, still wields huge power among Republicans, and has hinted recently at a return run for the White House. Related: A different America: how Republicans hold near total control in 23 US states In fiery remarks, the Republican Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, criticized the rapidly expanding congressional inquiries as unnecessary and accused Democrats of embarking on “politically motivated investigations”. “I am confident that the existing inquiry will uncover the truth,” said McConnell. “There is no need for a partisan circus here in Congress.” The forceful pushback from McConnell shows his alarm about the latest aggressive move by Democrats to engage in retrospective oversight that could expose Trump for misusing the vast power of the federal government to pursue his political enemies. It also means Republicans are certain to lock arms to block subpoenas against Trump justice department officials, including former attorneys general Bill Barr and Jeff Sessions. Democrats need at least one Republican member for subpoenas because of the even split between Democrats and Republicans on the panel.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/16/senate-republicans-trump-justice-department-democrats-data
Trump needs to be investigated for such terrible misuse of tax payers dollars for personal gain. Stop ignoring the people!
Investigate all of Trump administration wrongdoings
Anyone involved in the DOJ violating the rights of American citizens, Journalists, and Democrats in Congress by checking their private emails without a warrant must be prosecuted. This was just another way the Republicans are trying to take down our Democracy. Since Trump still has a stranglehold on the GOP we can't let the GOP have a stranglehold on our Democracy! I once did an in-depth study of Hitler, and this is something he did while in control. It's sad to say that Trump is a modern day Nazi, and if this is what the GOP want to follow, we can't have them leading States or this Country in any capacity!!!
The Trump DOJ’s behavior is wrong in multiple ways. First, it routinely violated the separation of government interests and the personal interests of the White House. Second, it routinely violated the separation of powers between the Legislative and Congressional branches. Third, it attempted to hide its activity and the people who ran it continue to lie about their actions and intentions. It is essential for the ongoing protection of the democracy that these activities be thoroughly investigated and all wrongful parties be harshly punished so as to reaffirm the precedent that such behavior is not tolerated in the United States. We are not a banana republic, and abuse of power cannot be allowed.
Trump must pay a price for the blatant actions he took to discredit our constitution. His attempt to remain president via lies,threats and intimidation must be rewarded with a lengthy prison sentence.