There, indeed, was an FBI wiretap involving Russians at Trump Tower.Let's be clear on this: Nobody's implicating Trump in any of this. There's no evidence that Trump or any of his people knew that criminal activity was being conducted out of that unit in his building.
But it was not placed at the behest of Barack Obama, and the target was not the Trump campaign of 2016. For two years ending in 2013, the FBI had a court-approved warrant to eavesdrop on a sophisticated Russian organized crime money-laundering network that operated out of unit 63A in Trump Tower in New York.
Not Playing Around With The Playful Signs
1 hour ago
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'Twas in November 2016.
Post election.
It was, however "foreign Nationals" that were being surveilled. Trump and his people were "Caught up".
"Clearly there is a lot of information in the reports that I've seen, which were dozens, that would lead me to believe that the last administration and numerous agencies had a pretty good idea of what President-elect Trump was up to and what his transition team was up to and who they were meeting with," Nunes told Tapper."
There's more. It ain't pretty. Barry had to know they had Donnie under surveillance. Trumps name was in the intelligence reports that Barry got.
I'd say more but this comment is long enough.
B, that's a very far cry from Cheetolini's allegation that Obama ordered him wiretapped and used the Brits to do it.
And 3 days ago, we were told there was no wiretap.
'Twas only when someone gave Nunes the info that the story changed. Prior to that, we were assured that there had been no wiretaps at all. Remember?
I doubt that Barry did give the order. He isn't that stupid. But someone gave it. And Barry received info on the intelligence. He knew. Did the Brits also do a tap? Who knows. It isn't like that hasn't been done before to skirt the law.
SO far, we know that the intelligence folks lied.
No B., the tapping in question ended in 2013. You are talking about a separate incident, where listening in on Russians resulted in some of Donnie's people getting involved...because they were talking to Russians! Now Donnie has sworn up and down that he and his folks were not talking to the Russians, and lookie here...
B, according to Nunes the intelligence collection was "legally collected foreign intelligence under FISA incidental collection." (quote from a Fox article). As FISA is a secret court it's not surprising that their approval of intelligence collection on foreign nationals thought to be involved in attacks, sabotage, or terrorism (FISA's narrow criteria for "taps") is only now coming to light.
From the start of Trump's wiretap allegations the possibility that FISA is involved was floated as a "worst case" scenario for Donald as it would mean that A) there was evidence potentially tying Trump associates to attacks against the US (i.e. enough to warrant further data collection) and B) this was far from a unilateral Obama action. How those suppositions will play out is anyone's guess but at the very least it's clear that this is not a positive development for the Trump camp. Whether it's neutral or negative remains to be seen.
My guess is that it relates to an NSA investigation as they make the majority of FISA requests and also wouldn't fall under the purview of the DOJ who, as we already know, as denied involvement. Which foreign nationals the Trump officials were associated with, and in what way, is the million dollar question.
CP:
“Third, I have confirmed that additional names of Trump transition team members were unmasked,” Nunes said. “And fourth and finally, I want to be clear, none of this surveillance was related to Russia, or the investigation of Russian activities”
It will be interesting to see whether Trump and the Republicans reauthorize the FISA Amendments Act when it comes up for renewal...
-Doug in Oakland
B., oh, I'm talking about the investigation of Russian contacts related to Donnie's associates. You're referring to a different issue that wasn't even mentioned here before, the one that has Donnie's pet intelligence Chairman likely in violation of Federal Law. Sorry, I'm having trouble keeping track of how many different connections to foreign governments of questionable character Donnie's posse has.
Yeah, Trump didn't deliberately rent to a money laundering outfit. But there's Russian money all over his properties, the Russian Mafiya and general Russian oligarchs seem to love to rent from Trump or buy from Trump or lend money to Trump. At some point a guy has to wonder, just how beholden to the Russians is Trump, anyhow?
At some point a guy has to wonder, just how beholden to the Russians is Trump, anyhow?
Oooo, call on me, Teach, I know the answer to that!
(A lot. Trump probably would have been personally bankrupt without Russian money.)
There was the time when Deutsche Bank wanted some of its money back and Dmitry Rybolovlev bought a mansion in Florida off of Trump for 54 million more dollars than Trump paid for it (at auction) then later had it demolished...
-Doug in Oakland
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