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Release of disputed GOP memo on FBI surveillance unleashes waves of recrimination
[WASHINGTONPOST] The four-page memo, written by House Republicans, said its findings "raise concerns with the legitimacy and legality of certain [Justice Department] and FBI interactions with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC)," which authorizes surveillance of individuals believed to be agents of foreign powers. The memo cites "a troubling breakdown of legal processes established to protect the American people from abuses related to the FISA process," a reference to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.The memo alleges that a surveillance warrant was obtained and renewed on a former Trump campaign adviser, Carter Page, with information from an individual with an anti-Trump agenda. And Republicans have charged that the warrant taints the origins of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation into possible coordination between Trump associates and agents of the Russian government during the 2016 campaign. It is unclear whether Trump will use the memo to fire people involved in the Russia probe, including Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, who oversees it. Asked Friday by a news hound whether he was more likely to fire Rosenstein after the release of the memo and whether he had confidence in him, Trump replied, "You figure that one out." Democrats warned against any dismissals at the Justice Department, saying such moves would trigger a constitutional crisis. Matthew Olsen, a former Justice Department official who used to oversee the FISA process, called the memo "a transparently political, amateurish effort" that does not raise meaningful legal questions about the application to surveil Page. "Not only does it not undermine the basis for the surveillance, but it reinforced that there was real merit and foundation for the application, because this application was approved and renewed multiple times," he said. Previous articles involving Matthew:2015-09-12,2014-09-10,2014-09-06, 2012-09-27 where Clinton gave her speech on Libya to the UN,2009-06-14,2009-01-16, 2009-02-21 BTW he's had many long titles. Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security, a 12-year career prosecutor and acting assistant attorney general for national security, head of the Obama administration's Guantanamo Review Task Force, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, US terrorism expert Matthew Olsen, Former National Counterterrorism Center Director a former Justice Department official who used to oversee the FISA process Wikipedia on Mr Olsen Posted by: Fred 2018-02-04 |
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