A report released by The New York Times on Wednesday revealed that the FBI, under Director James Comey’s leadership, used a secret program that does not require the approval of a judge to gather phone records and “other documents” on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
The report also revealed that a government informant met several times with Trump campaign officials, which validates a March 8, 2018 report from The Washington Post. The New York Times reports:
The F.B.I. obtained phone records and other documents using national security letters — a secret type of subpoena — officials said. And at least one government informant met several times with Mr. Page and Mr. Papadopoulos, current and former officials said. That has become a politically contentious point, with Mr. Trump’s allies questioning whether the F.B.I. was spying on the Trump campaign or trying to entrap campaign officials.
National security letters (NSL) are secret orders that the FBI uses on a regular basis to obtain sensitive electronic data and phone records. The Intercept reports:
They are controversial in part because they carry the force of law but are created entirely outside the judicial system: To issue one, an FBI official just needs to attest that the information sought is relevant to a national security investigation. The letters have also been criticized because they are shrouded in secrecy. Companies that receive them are for the most part forbidden from notifying their customers or the public. The government has fought to keep even basic rules governing them secret.
Companies that receive NSLs might not be legally required to hand over the information demanded by the FBI. The Intercept continues:
The FBI’s internal guidelines suggest that the bureau uses the letters to demand sensitive information on email transactions — even though the Justice Department has specifically advised the FBI that it does not have the authority to use the letters this way. The documents also indicate that the FBI can use national security letters to surveil a “community of interest” by obtaining information from a business about a customer and every person that customer has contacted. This is a controversial practice that the bureau once halted amid scrutiny. But the documents reveal that a secretive unit that mines phone records can still initiate such requests.
More at the Daily Wire
You know, it would only take the conviction of any one of those that were spied on to unhinge the entire Trump narrative. We know any and all means and methods of collecting information; phone taps, collecting emails, embedded informants; has been employed yet we don’t have a SINGLE, SOLITARY indictment for any form of collusion or campaign impropriety. I would LOVE to see the results of such a dedicated and thorough fishing expedition into Hillary’s campaign. But, currently, it doesn’t appear true justice is a commodity everyone gets to enjoy.
Obama belongs in Prison along with both the Clinton’s Al Gore and just about all those trying to derail Trumps Presidency
@Deplorable Me:
Which they never did despite the known collusion with Russia and law breaking (email scandal for starters) proving beyond a reasonable doubt that this was politically motivated. Remember all the Obama sheep who ran around crying like babies when Trump accused BHO of spying on him? It’s all true and anyone with half a brain could have figured it out back then. I believe Trump knows a lot more than he is letting on to and has known since last year when he made the accusation. I also believe Nunes knows a lot more than he is letting on to and he already has a lot of what he is asking for. One or both may have been privy to the NSA goods Montgomery had on Obama and his comrades.
Add to this that it is now being reported that the IG has sent criminal referrals to Huber with regards to the FBI and DOJ’s handling of Hillary’s email “investigation” and today is shaping up to be yet another bad one for the coupsters.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-17/inspector-general-finds-fbi-doj-broke-law-clinton-email-probe-refers-criminal
Be patient. Mueller’s investigation has not yet gone on anywhere near as long as previous special counsel investigations. Here’s a graph comparing their duration in days.
Claiming that Mueller is taking a long time at this point is a bit ridiculous.
Trump’s team underestimates the extent of his exposure
@Greg: Wow I hope all that evidence was collected “legally”. Ethics dont seem to exsist in the Democrat reality.
Maybe a remedial English class would help. Though I suppose I may be applying the standards of fake liberal grammar.
@Greg:
It’s gone on far too long for its value. There was no collusion and there is no hope of finding any.
This “investigation” started long before there was any accusation. So, while some guilty parties might destroy evidence if they are aware there is an ongoing investigation (as Hillary and her gang did, or Lerner) but to not uncover any evidence when no one knew anyone was looking for evidence sort of seals the deal. There was never anything to find, and the left knew it.
Sorry, can’t read your link. I don’t have a propaganda kommissar that pays for my subscriptions to propaganda outlets.
@Deplorable Me, #9:
From the article linked in #6:
The “white paper” goes over the various ways someone in the Trump campaign might be in jeopardy. They need a better legal team, not an ever-changing PR team.
(When I reach my limit of articles and they tell me I need to subscribe to read more, I just clear my Chrome internet history and cookies cache. Then it’s like they’ve never even seen me before. I figure seeing their ads is payment enough.)
@Greg: No, Mueller doesn’t have to prove collusion, to satisfy liberals. He only has to accuse it. It’s how liberals operate.
@Greg: What a jerk! You can not dispute the statement, so you nit pick! Maybe you should use correct punctuation in your posts? I guess potato peelers do not need to learn correct punctuation!