Are President Obama and His Associates In Legal Jeopardy?

TOP LINE

This week, Attorney General Pam Bondi launched a grand jury investigation after receiving criminal referrals from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and others.

The central allegation is that members of the Obama administration and Clinton campaign manufactured the Russia Collusion narrative to sabotage President Trump in his first term.

The declassified records from Gabbard, CIA Director Ratcliffe and FBI Director Patel have given the Russia investigation new momentum.

DEEP DIVE

Consider this NPR interview with President Obama on December 19, 2016, one month before President Trump’s first inauguration.   These so-called “exit interviews” are a staple in Washington D.C. and done when a senior government official leaves office.

The NPR interview is an important data point in the timeline.  It may also turn out to be important evidence.

RUSSIA INVESTIGATION TIMELINE

July 2016 - FBI opens Russian collusion investigation codenamed “Crossfire Hurricane”

October 2016 - FBI obtains first surveillance warrant for a Trump campaign aide Carter Page. FBI wrongly relies on unverified Steele Dossier to justify the warrants to the secretive surveillance court or FISA court.

December 8, 2016 - Draft PDB (President’s Daily Brief, a highly classified national security assessment) concludes Russia “did not impact US election results”

FBI withdraws support.  PDB is killed “based on new guidance”

December 9, 2016 Meeting where Obama White House gathers top cabinet officials including Clapper, Brennan, Susan Rice, Andrew McCabe and others.

New Intelligence Assessment is commissioned by President Obama

December 19, 2016 NPR interviews President Obama who references a “CIA assessment” that Putin interfered in the election to “improve Trump’s chances.”

January 6, 2017 The new Intelligence Assessment or ICA, commissioned by President Obama into Russia’s election interference and Moscow’s intentions, is released.

Intelligence Assessment or ICA concludes:

“Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump. We have high confidence in these judgments.” 

“We also assess Putin and the Russian Government aspired to help President-elect Trump’s election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him. “

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S APPARENT FOREKNOWLEDGE OF INTELLIGENCE FINDINGS

So how was it that weeks earlier, during the December NPR interview, President Obama seemed to already know what the intelligence findings would conclude in January? 

Specifically mentioning a CIA assessment is problematic and begs further explanation. It also appears to bolster the Trump administration’s allegations that the “fix was in.”

Here is the exchange on NPR:

NPR’s Steve Inskeep: “To what extent are you suggesting some kind of cooperation between the president-elect and Russian officials here?”

President Obama: “Well, I'm, I'm not suggesting cooperation at all. Keep in mind that those statements were in the context of everyone now acting surprised by the CIA assessment that this was done purposely to improve Trump's chances. And my only point was that shouldn't be treated as a blockbuster because that was the worst kept secret in this town.”

TIME CODE 15:40

SUSAN RICE’S “BY THE BOOK” EMAIL TAKES ON NEW SIGNIFICANCE

On the last day of the Obama administration, as President Trump was sworn into office, Susan Rice sent an email to herself to memorialize HER version of a January 5th, 2017 meeting.

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According to the Rice email, a January 5 2017 meeting included President Obama, Director Comey, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, Vice President Biden and Rice.  

Rice claims that President Obama emphasized that all elements of the Russia collusion investigation should be “by the book.”  Rice uses the phrase ‘by the book” several times.  One day later, the Russia intelligence assessment was released.

Rice’s claim is now challenged by the newly declassified Russia records which indicate normal processes were not followed.   The Trump administration claims nothing was done “by the book.”

COMEY LEGAL EXPOSURE

Confirmation this week that Attorney General Bondi has authorized at least one grand jury investigation is a major development. 

Among the credible allegations: former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan misled Congress about Russian interference in the 2016 election as well as their reliance on the “Steele Dossier,” the democrat funded opposition research.

When Comey testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee in June 2017…

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