Yeah. If Biden wins we will get reports and that's it. That may be all we get anyway except this one prosecution. I'm afraid there is much more we don't know.
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"Ron Johnson: Democrats weaponizing ‘Russian disinformation’ narrative to attack Biden-Ukraine investigation
By Jerry Dunleavy
August 10, 2020 - 3:11 PM
A top Senate Republican defended his investigation into the Obama administration’s Ukraine policy against claims from Democrats that he is aiding a Russian disinformation operation.
Sen. Ron Johnson, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, is running joint investigations into the Trump-Russia investigators and their reliance on British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s flawed anti-Trump dossier as well as former Vice President Joe Biden’s involvement with Ukraine and his son Hunter Biden’s lucrative position with Ukrainian energy company Burisma along with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa. The Wisconsin Republican announced a subpoena for FBI Director Christopher Wray for documents related to Crossfire Hurricane and released an 11-page defense of his inquiries on Monday pushing back against assertions by Democratic leaders that he received information from Ukrainians tied to Russia.
“Democrats and many in the media have mainly focused their criticism of our investigation on the Biden component of our oversight. ... They have once again decided to weaponize a false ‘Russian disinformation’ narrative as a tool for attacking their political opponents,” Johnson wrote on Monday. “It is Democrats who have sought out and disseminated Russian disinformation. It was the Democratic National Committee, together with cutouts for the Clinton campaign, that paid for and helped peddle the Steele dossier. ... They have introduced, and made public, Russian disinformation into our investigatory record; we have not.”
Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut penned an op-ed in the Washington Post on Saturday in which he noted the outlet reported last week that Johnson “is moving ahead with an investigation into ... Joe Biden using documents provided to [Johnson] by the son of a former KGB officer.” Blumenthal wrote that “Congress may become a forum for debunked conspiracy theories peddled by Kremlin proxies.”
Johnson responded: “This is false. Not only have we have repeatedly and publicly denied it, no one has presented evidence to the contrary — nor can they, because there is none.” The senator said he "unequivocally denied" reporting by the Washington Post that Ukrainian politician Oleksandr Onyshchenko gave his committee information, and Politico reported that another Ukrainian politician, Andrii Derkach, sent information to him.
“The investigation by my committee of allegations of conflicts of interest within the Obama administration related to Ukraine policy and of allegations of corruption within the Obama administration affecting the 2016 election is focused on documents and officials from U.S. government agencies and a U.S. Democrat-linked lobbying firm,” Johnson said. “We have not taken, nor do we possess, the documents from Ukrainians that Democrats keep claiming.”
In July, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff wrote a letter to Wray to say they were “gravely concerned, in particular, that Congress appears to be the target of a concerted foreign interference campaign, which seeks to launder and amplify disinformation.”
In response, former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell tweeted, “Gang of Eight (and others impacted) were already briefed. Weeks ago. This request is a CYA."
The New York Times published a report that same day, July 20, that said that “behind the congressional Democrats’ warning are the efforts of” Derkach, who in May leaked portions of calls between Joe Biden and former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Politico reported last week that “Democrats argue the investigation is based on Russian disinformation aimed at tipping the outcome of the election toward President Donald Trump.” Johnson denied having such motives.
Johnson said many questions remain related to Joe Biden and Ukraine, including about a 2014 meeting at the White House with Hunter Biden’s business partner, Devon Archer, followed by Joe Biden visiting Ukraine a few days later and then Archer and Hunter Biden joining the board of Burisma over the next few weeks. The Republican senator noted Ukrainian oligarch and Burisma owner Mykola Zlochevsky is widely seen as corrupt and had $23 million frozen by British authorities in the time between the hiring of Archer and Hunter Biden.
“How could former Vice President Biden look any Ukrainian official (or any other world leader) in the face and demand action to fight corruption?” Johnson asked.
Joe Biden has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Johnson's committee voted along party lines in May to approve a subpoena for Blue Star Strategies, a firm that represented Burisma. The energy company became a hot-button issue last year when Trump seemed to reference it in a call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky that was the focus of a whistleblower complaint that led to the House impeachment investigation. After Zelensky expressed interest in purchasing anti-tank weaponry, Trump asked Zelensky "to do us a favor though" by looking into a CrowdStrike conspiracy theory and possible Ukrainian meddling in 2016. Trump also urged Zelensky to investigate “the other thing,” referring to allegations of corruption involving Joe Biden.
The Democratic-led House impeached Trump in December, but he was acquitted in the Republican-led Senate trial in February.
Trump and his allies have claimed that Joe Biden improperly used his position as vice president to pressure Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, to protect his son from a Burisma investigation. Democrats say this focus is an effort to dirty up Trump’s 2020 rival.
National Counterintelligence and Security Center Director Bill Evanina released a statement on Friday revealing the intelligence community assessed that China wants Trump to lose, Iran was looking to undermine Trump’s presidency, and Russia was attempting to denigrate Joe Biden. Evanina noted "pro-Russian" Derkach was spreading claims about corruption to undermine Joe Biden, but Johnson said he has not made use of this information.
“I have no doubt Russia is continuing its efforts to sow discord and destabilize countries and political systems throughout the world, including here in the U.S.,” Johnson wrote, adding, “It is neither me, Chairman Grassley, nor our committees that are being used to disseminate Russian disinformation. Instead, it is Democrats and the media that have been doing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s work for him.”
Robert Mueller’s special counsel report said Russians interfered in the 2016 election in a “sweeping and systematic fashion” but "did not establish" any criminal collusion between Russians and anyone in Trump's orbit."
- Washington ExaminerI drank beer. I like beer. I still like beer. ... Do you like beer Senator?
- Justice Brett Kavanaugh
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The case against Biden outlined in Senator Johnson's Letter
"Many in the media, in an ongoing attempt to provide cover for former Vice President Biden, continue to repeat the mantra that there is “no evidence of wrongdoing or illegal activity” related to Hunter Biden’s position on Burisma’s board. I could not disagree more. A brief summary of the timeline of events in Ukraine will support my assessment.
Ukraine gained its independence with the fall of the Soviet Union in December 1991. Three years later, in December 1994, Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Russian Federation signed the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, in which Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for assurances against the threat or use of force against its territorial integrity or political independence.
Unfortunately, shedding the legacy of Soviet totalitarianism and corruption is not an easy task. In late 2004 and early 2005, in what became known as the Orange Revolution, large protests over widespread election fraud and voter intimidation led to the overturning of the Ukrainian presidential election. Roughly 10 years later, a series of protests led by a coalition of pro-western and anti-corruption advocates resulted in what is called the Revolution of Dignity. On Feb. 22, 2014, Ukraine’s president, Victor Yanukovych, widely viewed as the puppet of Russian President Vladimir Putin, abdicated his office by fleeing to Russia.
This is where the Ukrainian story of Vice President Biden and his son, Hunter, begins. Following the Revolution of Dignity, U.S. foreign policy was focused on support for the pro-western, anti-corruption, and pro-democracy efforts in Ukraine. Unfortunately, Putin had a much different plan. Congress and the Obama administration were acutely aware of Putin’s displeasure and his penchant for destabilizing governments not to his liking. As a result, U.S. foreign policy toward Ukraine focused on two main objectives: 1) security and economic assistance, and 2) advocacy for and support of anti-corruption, judicial, and other reforms.
On April 16, 2014, Vice President Biden met with his son’s business partner, Devon Archer, at the White House. Five days later, Vice President Biden visited Ukraine, and the media described him as the “public face of the administration’s handling of Ukraine.” The next day, April 22, Archer joined the board of Burisma. Six days later, British officials seized $23 million from the London bank accounts of Burisma’s owner, Mykoloa Zlochevsky. Fifteen days later on May 13, Hunter Biden joined the board of Burisma, with public reports showing Hunter and his firm being paid $50,000 to $166,000 per month (totaling more than $3 million over five years) for his and Archer’s board participation.
All of this initial activity in Ukraine involving the Bidens, Hunter’s business partner, and a corrupt oligarch and his Ukrainian gas company occurred over a period of less than a month, and within three months of the Revolution of Dignity — a revolution against corruption in Ukraine. Following that revolution, Ukrainian political figures were desperate for U.S. support. Zlochevsky would have made sure relevant Ukrainian officials were well aware of Hunter’s appointment to Burisma’s board. Isn’t it obvious what message Hunter’s position on Burisma’s board sent to Ukrainian officials? The answer: If you want U.S. support, don’t touch Burisma. It also raised a host of questions, including:
1) How could former Vice President Biden look any Ukrainian official (or any other world leader) in the face and demand action to fight corruption?
2) Did this glaring conflict of interest affect the work and efforts of other U.S. officials who worked on anti-corruption measures?
3) Did Burisma, its owner, or representatives receive special access to, or treatment from, U.S. agencies or officials because of Hunter Biden’s role on the board of directors?
4) Was there anything corrupt or unethical about the financial transactions between Hunter Biden and Burisma?
5) How did State Department officials responsible for promoting anti-corruption measures in Ukraine react to Hunter Biden joining Burisma’s board of directors?
6) Exactly when, and for what reasons, did the U.S. government decide to condition a $1 billion loan guarantee for Ukraine on the termination of Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin?
7) What was the reaction within the Obama administration when the replacement prosecutor general, Yuri Lutsenko, closed the case investigation of Burisma and its owner? Did Vice President Biden and other U.S. government officials believe that justice had been served and their anti-corruption efforts were successful?
In addition, the appearance of family profiteering off of Vice President Biden’s official responsibilities is not unique to the circumstances involving Ukraine and Burisma. Public reporting has also shown Hunter Biden following his father into China and coincidentally landing lucrative business deals and investments there. Additionally, the former vice president’s brothers and sister-in-law, Frank, James and Sara Biden, also are reported to have benefited financially from his work as well. We have not had the resources to devote investigatory time to these other allegations, but I point them out to underscore that Ukraine and Burisma seem more of a pattern of conduct than an aberration. Given all this public information, the press should be asking, and former Vice President Biden should be answering, a long list of questions:
1) Why did you meet with Devon Archer at the White House on April 16, 2014? What was discussed? Did you discuss anything related to Ukraine, Hunter Biden, or Burisma?
2) Were you aware that Devon Archer joined the board of Burisma six days later?
3) Were you aware that Burisma’s owner, Mykoloa Zlochevsky, was generally viewed as a corrupt oligarch and that his London bank account containing $23 million had been seized by British officials only 15 days before Hunter Biden joined the board of a company he owned?
4) Was Hunter Biden aware that British officials had seized Zlochevsky’s bank account?
5) When did you first become aware of Zlochevsky’s and Burisma’s reputations for corruption?
6) Do you believe Zlochevsky and Burisma are corrupt?
7) Were you aware in May 2014 that Hunter Biden joined the board of Burisma?
8) When did you first become aware that Hunter Biden joined the board of Burisma?
9) When did you first become aware of how much Hunter Biden was being compensated by Burisma?
10) Why do you believe Burisma recruited and paid Archer and your son to be on its board?
11) What skills or knowledge do you believe Hunter Biden possesses that qualified him to be on Burisma’s board and receive $50,000 to $166,000 per month for his and his partner’s services?
12) What exactly had Shokin done that caused you to threaten to withhold $1 billion in desperately needed aid from Ukraine if President Poroshenko didn’t fire him?
13) What do you know about Hunter Biden’s business dealings in China?
14) What do you know about financial benefits your brothers and sister-in-law have obtained because of their relationship to you?"
I drank beer. I like beer. I still like beer. ... Do you like beer Senator?
- Justice Brett Kavanaugh
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Originally posted by Kidicious View PostMillie Weaver and her husband have been arrested and indicted for stealing government documents that may be evidence against the deep state.
https://www.rt.com/usa/498072-millie...st-shadowgate/
Even the story itself notes several from conservative media saying this is likely a publicity stunt to promote the film.Apolyton's Grim Reaper 2008, 2010 & 2011
RIP lest we forget... SG (2) and LaFayette -- Civ2 Succession Games Brothers-in-Arms
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Originally posted by -Jrabbit View Post
So you're literally linking to Russian websites now? Letting them get you all hot and bothered about an Infowars hack? UNBLVBL.
Even the story itself notes several from conservative media saying this is likely a publicity stunt to promote the film.I drank beer. I like beer. I still like beer. ... Do you like beer Senator?
- Justice Brett Kavanaugh
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You literally discount every professional journalism source as being fake news, yet you feel that RT.com (formerly Russia Today) - which is literally a propaganda site owned and operated by the Russian government - deserves a closer look.
RT (formerly Russia Today) is a state-controlled international television network funded by the Russian federal tax budget. RT operates as a multilingual service with conventional channels in five languages: the original English-language channel was launched in 2005.
RT is a brand of "TV-Novosti", an "autonomous non-profit organization", founded by the Russian news agency, RIA Novosti, on 6 April 2005. During the economic crisis in December 2008, the Russian government, headed by Putin, included "TV-Novosti" on its list of core organizations of strategic importance of Russia.
RT has been described as a propaganda outlet for the Russian governmentand its foreign policy.RT has also been accused of spreading disinformationby news reporters,including some former RT reporters. RT's editor-in-chief compared it with the Russian Army and Defence Ministry and talked about it "waging the information war against the entire Western world." In September 2017, RT America was ordered to register as a "foreign agent" with the United States Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.Apolyton's Grim Reaper 2008, 2010 & 2011
RIP lest we forget... SG (2) and LaFayette -- Civ2 Succession Games Brothers-in-Arms
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"But Durham also reveals in the filing that the FBI Crossfire Hurricane team — led by since-fired Agent Peter Strzok — had already been told of Page's relationship with the CIA all the way back in August 2016 and failed to tell the FISA court that essential information about Page before the three prior FISA warrants were approved.
Such a failure is known as a material omission because the FBI was claiming they believed Page was an agent of Russia when in fact he was an asset of the U.S. government helping to inform on Russian intelligence targets. In other words, had the FBI not omitted the truth, the judges would have known before they approved even the first FISA warrant that Page was a CIA-handled source, not a Russian stooge.
Here's how Durham worded the account:
"On Aug 17, 2016, prior to the approval of FISA #1, the OGA (CIA) provided certain members of the Crossfire Hurricane team a memorandum indicating that Individual #1 (Page) had been approved as an operational contact for the OGA (CIA) from 2008 to 2013 and detailing information that Individual #1 (Page) had provided to the OGA (CIA) concerning Individual #1's prior contacts with certain Russian intelligence officers. The first three FISA applications did not include Individual #1's history or status with the OGA (CIA)."
Several experts said Durham's inclusion of the earlier notification signals he has concerns others may also have been involved in deceiving the court.
"It's more than an oversight. Whether the omission was purposeful or not, it is a fraud on the court," said Kevin Brock, the FBI's former assistant director for intelligence and the man who created many of the procedures the bureau employs with confidential human sources in national security investigations.
"At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious, I think it is clear that Durham is positioning a deeper dive into this issue of FISA application abuse," Brock added.
Earlier inspector general reports also revealed that Clinesmith engaged in the exchange of some anti-Trump text messages, adding to the portrait of a lawyer who doctored a document.
In one instance the day after Trump won, Clinesmith texted this anti-Trump, anti-Mike Pence screed: "The crazies won finally. This is the tea party on steroids. And the GOP is going to be lost, they have to deal with an incumbent in 4 years. We have to fight this again. Also Pence is stupid," he wrote in a text quoted by the inspector general."I drank beer. I like beer. I still like beer. ... Do you like beer Senator?
- Justice Brett Kavanaugh
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Millie Weaver is ordered not to say that her arrest was part of a government conspiracy even though she was arrested because her mother called the police on her for some silly argument where they were arguing over a phone and her mother fell down.I drank beer. I like beer. I still like beer. ... Do you like beer Senator?
- Justice Brett Kavanaugh
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Her mother called the police in April, resulting in a domestic violence charge after wrestling her mother to the ground. That's a misdemeanor. Her actual current arrest (along with her brother and babydaddy, er, life partner) is the result of a grand jury indictment. Weaver is formally facing three felony charges for robbery (of her own mother!), evidence tampering and obstruction of justice. Plus the misdemeanor assault on her own Mom.
Millier Weaver, a conservative filmmaker associated with Infowars, was arrested at her Ohio home hours before the release of her documentary "Shadow Gate."
And here you are defending her as she plays her victim card. If you're really that gullible, you should contribute to her GoFundMe. They have raised over $170,000 in under 2 weeks - from people just like you.
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You try to make it sound bad like a journo. Shame on you for treating women like that. What did she do to deserve this?
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"According to DOJ records, upon a March 2018 review, Weissmann had “entered password too many times and wiped his phone.” On another occasion, by September of that year, Weissmann had again “accidentally wiped cell phone — data lost,” according to the records.
Records show prosecutor Kyle Freeny’s phone was “accidentally wiped” prior to records review, and James Quarles’ phone allegedly “wiped itself without intervention from him.” A number of devices cited forgotten passwords as the reason for data destruction, including those of assistant special counsel Greg Andre and deputy Rush Atkinson.
It seems unlikely that more than a dozen top Mueller officials all put their phones into airplane mode, locked them, and forgot the passwords or “accidentally” wiped their devices. Considering that the Russian collusion probe has revealed nothing but the depths of bureaucratic corruption and dishonesty and a shamelessly anti-Trump agenda from the start, the odds seem even lower."
Mueller team obstructed justice, according to newly released DoJ docs.I drank beer. I like beer. I still like beer. ... Do you like beer Senator?
- Justice Brett Kavanaugh
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