Opinion| Forty pages of previously unseen text messages between the former Deputy Director of the FBI, Andrew McCabe, and the attorney assigned to him, Lisa Page, were obtained exclusively by Fox News’ Catherine Herridge.
Of the forty pages of texts, Fox released only two.
Mccabe Page Text by on Scribd
They reveal that Just nine days before the FBI applied for the initial FISA warrant to surveil top Trump campaign aide, Carter Page “bureau officials were battling with a senior Justice Department official who had “continued concerns” about the “possible bias” of a source pivotal to the application.”
“Stu” was an apparent reference to Stuart Evans, then the DOJ’s National Security Division deputy assistant attorney general. In one previously unearthed and since-unredacted text message, former FBI Special Agent Peter Strzok texted Lisa Page that he was “Currently fighting with Stu for this FISA” in late 2016.
Here’s a blow-up of the message Deputy Director McCabe sent to FBI Attorney Page:
It reveals two things:
- Someone, highly placed at the DOJ, likely the Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the National Security Division (DOJ-NSD), Stuart Evans was holding up the FISA application because of continued concerns. Other than the legitimacy of the evidence he had seen, what other possible reason could that be?
- The suggestion that “this might take a high-level push” begs the question as to who that might be?
We get a clue as to who that (those) high-level person (people) are from the second page of text messages that Fox News’ released. These texts, also between McCabe and Page are from October 14, 2016 – two days later.
Here’s a blow-up of the difficult to read text cited above:
“Just called. Apparently the DAG [Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates] now wants to be there, and WH wants DOJ to host. So we are setting that up now. … We will very much need to get Cohen’s view before we meet with her. Better, have him weigh in with her before the meeting. We need to speak with one voice, if that is in fact the case.” (“Cohen” is likely then-Deputy CIA Director David Cohen.)
Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates reported directly to Obama’s Attorney General Loretta Lynch. AG Lynch, in turn reports directly to the president – Obama.
The text from 10:57 on October 14th, 2016 clearly references the White House had some involvement.
More precisely, it references that the White House had knowledge of the meeting and had determined it wanted the meeting – a meeting to discuss what was believed to be a deficient FISA application – to be held in the offices of the Department of Justice.
Someone in the White House knew that the FBI was seeking a surveillance warrant and that there was contention over the legitimacy of the underlying evidence, supporting that application.
And, it appears that whoever that person was in the White House they referenced was wanted the FISA application to be signed off on.
That initial FISA application was signed off on two days after the meeting that the White House ordered. FBI Director James Comey and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates were the authorizing signatories.
Herridge said she tried to verify this conclusion – “whether the meeting was designed to brief the White House on the FISA application or some other matter” – but that Lisa Page never responded to her inquiry.
Given the context of the meeting within a broader – almost desperate – discussion about obtaining the warrant, it’s almost certain the White House was referenced in terms of securing the surveillance warrant.
It’s always possible that someone inside President Obama’s inner circle was working without his knowledge or approval to damage Donald Trump and/or help Hillary Clinton.
But, remember these text messages between FBI Attorney Lisa Page and FBI Counterintelligence Chief Peter Strzok that discuss prepping FBI Director Comey for meetings with President Obama:
March 29, 2016 shortly after the Clinton email scandal broke they discussed briefing then D [Director Comey] for a session with POTUS: “To brief the D. He had a CT Homeland session with POTUS.”
Sept. 2, 2016, they again discuss prepping Comey “… bc POTUS wants to know everything we are doing.” By Sept. 2nd the Clinton investigation was complete. They had to have been referencing the Trump investigation.
While this may not be sufficient evidence to convict Obama – maybe it is – it’s certainly more evidence than the Manchurian president’s minions used to open a special counsel investigation into Donald Trump.
