President Donald J. Trump was the victim of spying and a massive media propaganda campaign against his candidacy and his administration. Unfortunately, the American people were also victims of a massive conspiracy against them by way of corrupt media who pumped out misinformation and leaks. A new OIG report shows how the two may have intersected from a position of authority and power with an FBI agent.
Department of Justice released a report on Monday:
Findings of Misconduct by a Then- Senior FBI Official for Having Numerous Unauthorized Contacts with the Media, and for Accepting Unauthorized Gifts from Members of the Media.
New OIG report about DOJ: Findings of Misconduct by a Then- Senior FBI Official for Having Numerous Unauthorized Contacts with the Media, and for Accepting Unauthorized Gifts from Members of the Media https://t.co/l9t0AvOyfJ
— Oversight.gov (@OversightGov) July 20, 2021
INVESTIGATIVE SUMMARY
Findings of Misconduct by a Then- Senior FBI Official for Having Numerous Unauthorized Contacts with the Media, and for Accepting Unauthorized Gifts from Members of the Media.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) initiated this investigation upon the receipt of records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Insider Threat Unit, alleging that a then-Senior FBI Official had numerous contacts with members of the media between January and November 2016 in violation of FBI policy.
This matter is among the OIG investigations referenced on page 430 of the OIG’s Review of Allegations Regarding Various Actions by the Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Advance of the 2016 Election (June 2018; https://oig.justice.gov/reports/review-various-actions-federal-bureau-investigation-and-department-justiceadvance-2016).
Subsequent to the onset of the investigation, the OIG found indications that the Senior FBI Official received items of value from members of the media.
The OIG investigation substantiated the allegation that the Senior FBI Official had numerous unauthorized contacts with the media from 2014 through 2016, in violation of FBI policy. In addition to substantive communications with reporters, this media contact included unauthorized social engagements outside of FBI Headquarters involving drinks, lunches, and dinners.
The OIG also found that the Senior FBI Official violated federal regulations and FBI policy when the Senior FBI Official accepted tickets from members of the media to two black-tie dinner events, one valued at $225 and the other valued at $300, and received transportation to one event from a reporter, all without prior authorization.
The Senior FBI Official retired from the FBI prior to being contacted by the OIG for an interview. When later contacted by the OIG for a voluntary interview, the Senior FBI Official declined to be interviewed. The OIG has the authority to compel testimony from current Department employees upon informing them that their statements will not be used to incriminate them in a criminal proceeding. The OIG does not have the authority to compel or subpoena testimony from former Department employees, including those who retire or resign during the course of an OIG investigation.
The OIG has completed its investigation and is providing this report to the FBI for its information.
SEE THE PATTERN?
Flashback to 2018:
The DOJ OIG released a report that shows that a retired FBI Special Agent was involved in numerous what appear to be criminal acts.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) initiated this investigation after receiving information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Inspection Division, alleging that an FBI Special Agent (SA), who has since retired, may have contacted witnesses during a federal criminal investigation for an improper purpose.
The OIG found that the SA contacted individuals who he either knew were or had reasonable belief would be witnesses in the criminal investigation and that the SA’s contacts with several individuals appeared to be designed to improperly influence their prospective testimony. Accordingly, the OIG concluded that the SA’s contacts with the witnesses were improper and constituted misconduct.
During the investigation, the OIG also found that the SA divulged law enforcement sensitive information to unauthorized individuals; misused his government issued electronic devices; provided misleading testimony during a related civil deposition; mishandled classified information; misused his position during contacts with local law enforcement officers; and provided false information to the OIG. Criminal prosecution of the SA was declined.
The OIG has completed its investigation and provided its report to the FBI.
It is currently unknown who the report is about.
