Actually just a little, my intent was to make you laugh.

Mission accomplished.

I’m not seeing this on my TV or news feed so I’m pretty sure none of this happened….::

FBI leadership was 'fired up' about alleged secret channel between Trump-Russian bank: Sussmann trial
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By Brooke Singman, Jake Gibson, David Spunt, May 24. 2022-Fox News

One agent said opening the Trump-Russia investigation was 'not an option—we must do it'

WASHINGTON, DC – FBI leadership, including then-Director James Comey, was "fired up" about the alleged covert communications channel between the Trump Organization and Russia’s Alfa Bank in the days after Michael Sussmann brought the allegations to the bureau, according to testimony and documents revealed in the trial.

Sussmann, on Sept. 19, 2016, set up a meeting with then-FBI General Counsel James Baker where he brought two thumb drives of data and white papers alleging the Trump Organization was using a secret back channel to communicate with Kremlin-linked Alfa Bank in the weeks leading up to the presidential election.

Sussmann is charged with making a false statement to the FBI. During that meeting, Sussmann allegedly told Baker he was not bringing the allegations on behalf of any specific client, but rather as a citizen concerned with national security. Durham’s team alleges they have evidence that Sussmann later billed Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign for his FBI meeting.

Baker passed the thumb drives and white papers along to the head of the bureau’s counterintelligence division, Bill Priestap. An investigation was formally opened at first in the FBI’s cyber division.

Messages submitted as evidence in the trial this week between a supervisory agent for the FBI’s Trump-Russia probe, also known as "Crossfire Hurricane," Joe Pientka, and FBI Special Agent Curtis Heide revealed that the top brass of the FBI called for an investigation into the data.

"People on the 7th floor to include Director are fired up about this server," Pientka messaged Heide. "Did you guys open a case? Reach out and put tools on?"

Multiple current and former FBI officials during the Sussmann trial testified that "the 7th floor" was a reference to FBI leadership, as that is where the offices of the director and deputy director are located at FBI headquarters.

Pientka added: "If not I will call Dan as Priestap says its not an option—we must do it."

Officials said the investigation into the data "must" take place in the counterintelligence division, following a review by the FBI’s cyber division, which determined there was no cyber "equity" and that the conclusions that were drawn in the white papers were erroneous.

"Roger," Heide replied. "We are opening a CI [counterintelligence] case today."

Baker, in testimony last week, said he immediately notified Priestap, and later, briefed then-FBI Director James Comey and then-FBI Deputy Director Andy McCabe following his meeting with Sussmann.

"The FBI was already conducting an investigation into alleged connections between the Trump campaign and Russians at this point in time, so that was a matter of great concern to all of us," Baker said.

"Here was another type of information between Trump and Russia that had come to me," Baker said, describing it as "concerning" and "time sensitive."

"It seemed to me of great urgency and great seriousness that I would want to make my bosses aware of this information," Baker said. "I think they were quite concerned about it."

"Trump, at the time, was a candidate for office of the president of the United States, so, the FBI is investigating allegations related to his potential interactions, and those people on his campaign, with the government of the Russian Federation," Baker said.

He added: "And that was of high, high importance to the FBI at this point in time."

But on Tuesday, Heide testified that after weeks of investigating, the FBI was "unable to substantiate any of the allegations in the white paper."

FBI Special Agent Scott Hellman, last week, testified that the data revealing the alleged covert communications channel between Trump and Russia that Sussmann brought to the FBI turned out to be untrue, and said he did not agree with the narrative.

Hellman testified that whoever drafted the narrative describing the DNS data was "5150," and clarified on the stand that meant he believed the individual who came to the conclusions was "was suffering from some mental disability."

And Baker testified last week that the FBI's investigation "did not reveal there was some kind of surreptitious communications channel."

"We concluded there was no substance. We couldn’t confirm it. We could not confirm there was a surreptitious communications channel," Baker said, noting the investigation was "several weeks, maybe a month, maybe a month and a half."

"There was nothing there," he said

What do you call Snoop Dogg in a hot air balloon?
Higher than usual

We were all excited, now though we don’t like prison, and f*** America.

*ZRX1200 translator app*

Between the judge and the jury, I'm afraid the fix is already in on this one.

What do you call an awful thief named Tom who goes around scaring kids and the elderly?
Tom.

Sussmann may testify in trial charging that he lied to FBI, pending judge's ruling

By Brooke Singman, Jake Gibson, David Spunt, May 25, 2022-Fox News

Sussmann's attorneys claimed the FBI knew he was working for a client when he delivered the Trump-Alfa Bank allegations

Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann could testify in his own defense beginning Thursday, his attorneys said, should the judge rule to bar government prosecutors from questioning him about pre-indictment negotiations between his counsel and Special Counsel John Durham’s office.

The defense filed a motion under seal Tuesday night, which requests that if Sussmann were to testify, the judge would rule to block the government from asking him questions during cross-examination about materials submitted to the government before charges against him were filed.

The materials in question were likely submitted to persuade the government not to move forward with its case, and its indictment of Sussmann.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper is set to decide on that motion by Thursday morning.

Sussmann defense attorney Sean Berkowitz said Sussmann’s decision on whether to testify depends on Cooper’s ruling.

Should Sussmann testify, the government and defense will likely begin delivering their closing arguments next Tuesday. If Sussman does not testify, closings could be delivered this week.

Sussmann’s attorneys on Wednesday attempted to poke holes in Durham’s charge by bringing witnesses to the stand to testify in his defense.

Tashina Gauhar, a former official in the deputy attorney general’s office in 2016 and 2017, was the first defense witness called to the stand Wednesday.

Gauhar was asked about a meeting with several senior FBI and DOJ officials on March 6, 2017, which served as a briefing for then-Acting Attorney General Dana Boente about the Trump-Russia investigation.

Gauhar testified that then-FBI Deputy Director Andy McCabe was present for the meeting, as well as then-Assistant Director for the FBI’s counterintelligence division Bill Priestap, and his deputy, Peter Strzok. From the Justice Department, Boente, Gauhar and a senior official from the Justice Department’s national security division Mary McCord, as well as a number of other top staffers attended the meeting.

Defense attorneys showed the jury notes they say Gauhar took during that March 2017 meeting.

Gauhar testified that she did not remember the meeting, but said the notes appeared to be her own.

The notes showed that an "attorney" brought the "Alfa" matter to the FBI on "behalf of his client."

Durham has charged Sussmann with making a false statement to the FBI when he met with then-FBI General Counsel James Baker on Sept. 19, 2016. During that meeting, Sussmann brought two thumb drives and white papers which alleged a covert communications channel between the Trump Organization and Russia’s Alfa Bank. Sussmann allegedly told Baker that he was not bringing the information on behalf of any client, but rather as a citizen concerned with national security.

Sussmann has pleaded not guilty.

The defense also called Mary McCord, a former career prosecutor at the Justice Department. She served as the assistant attorney general for national security in 2017.

McCord testified Wednesday that she remembered being at the March 6, 2017 meeting, and recalled that McCabe briefed Boente on the Trump-Alfa Bank allegations.

McCord also took notes during that meeting, which state that the allegations came to the FBI from an "attorney" who "brought to Jim Baker and did not say who client was."

Sussmann’s defense stressed to the jury that these notes show that the FBI knew, and was telling their DOJ counterparts, that Sussmann came to Baker on behalf of a client, and that he did not lie to Baker, and that he did not say he was not there on behalf of any client.

The claims are in direct conflict with the testimony of James Baker who took the stand as a government witness last week. Baker testified that Sussmann told him during the Sept. 19, 2016, meeting that he was not there on behalf of any client.

The government also brought into evidence notes from Priestap, who met with Baker after the Sussmann meeting, and took notes that Sussmann was not bringing the allegations to the FBI on behalf of any client.

One key piece of evidence for the government’s case against Sussmann is a text message from Sussmann to Baker on the eve of their meeting, in which Durham’s team alleges Sussmann put his "lie in writing."

The text message stated: "Jim — it’s Michael Sussmann. I have something time-sensitive (and sensitive) I need to discuss," the text message stated, according to Durham. "Do you have availability for a short meeting tomorrow? I’m coming on my own — not on behalf of a client or company — want to help the Bureau. Thanks."

Baker replied, "OK. I will find a time. What might work for you?"

Sussmann replied: "Any time but lunchtime you name it."

"2:00pm in my office? Do you have a badge or do you need help getting into the building?" Baker responded.

"I have a badge. Please remind me of your room #," Sussmann said.

The government, before resting Wednesday morning, showed the jury billing records that they say prove Sussmann billed the Clinton campaign for his FBI meeting.

On one of Sussmann’s bills, dated Sept. 19, 2016, the Clinton campaign is listed as the client, the time is listed as 3.3 hours, and the memo states: "work and communications regarding confidential project." Other testimony revealed Sussmann charged approximately $800 per hour.

Durham’s team also produced a receipt from a Staples near Perkins Coie in Washington, D.C., from Sept. 13, 2016. On the receipt was a two pack of flash drives.

The prosecution alleged the receipt was included in an expense report from Sussmann, and the billing code on the report connects the expense to the Clinton campaign as the client.

But during cross-examination of the government’s summary witness Kori Arsenault, a paralegal with Durham’s office, defense attorney Michael Bosworth noted that during meetings Sussmann had at the FBI in years prior, he would specifically make reference to the FBI in the bill's "memo" section.

Bosworth noted that the Sept. 19, 2016, bill only specifies "work and communication regarding confidential project."

"There’s no reference to the FBI in that entry is there?" Bosworth asked Arsenault.

"There is not," Arsenault answered.

The defense also brought two character witnesses to testify in defense of Sussmann Wednesday afternoon.

Change in plans, Sussmann will not testify.

Michael Sussmann Trial Goes To Jury After Former Clinton Attorney Declines To Testify

By Tim Pearce, May 27, 2022-DailyWire

Testimony in the case of former Hillary Clinton campaign attorney Michael Sussmann wrapped up Friday after the defendant decided against taking the stand.

Special counsel John Durham’s team of prosecutors and Sussmann’s defense team made closing arguments on Friday morning before Judge Christopher Cooper handed the case over to the jury for deliberation. Sussmann is charged with one count of lying to the FBI during a September 2016 meeting with then-FBI general counsel James Baker.

Prosecutors told the jury that the evidence of Sussmann’s guilt is “overwhelming,” according to Politico.

“The defendant knew that he had to hide his clients if there was any chance of getting his allegations into the FBI,” assistant special counsel Jonathan Algor said. “It wasn’t about national security. It was about promoting opposition research against the opposition candidate Donald Trump.”

“There are sometimes close cases,” prosecutor Andrew DeFilippis added. “This is not even close to a close case.”

Defense attorneys portrayed Sussmann as a victim and said prosecutors were manipulating facts to make Sussmann appear guilty of a crime he never committed.

“The special counsel’s office bought a snow-making machine and blew that over the lawn, and they want you to think it snowed,” defense attorney Sean Berkowitz said, according to Fox News. The attorney described the prosecution’s case as “misdirection” and “smoke and mirrors.”

Berkowitz said Sussmann is a “serious national security lawyer who received what he believed to be credible data from a world-leading DNS expert,” referring to tech executive Rodney Joffe, who was one of Sussmann’s clients at the time of the 2016 meeting.

Sussmann is alleged to have lied to Baker in 2016 about representing the Clinton campaign and Joffe during their meeting over later-debunked claims that the Trump Organization was keeping a backchannel with Russia’s Alfa-Bank.

The charge itself is over the narrow question of whether Sussmann lied in the meeting itself. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence from before and after the meeting showing and suggesting that Sussmann presented himself to Baker as a concerned citizen, not as operating on behalf of Clinton’s 2016 campaign for president.

The day before the meeting, Sussmann sent Baker a text requesting a meeting with him over “sensitive” material he wished to show the bureau.

“Jim — it’s Michael Sussmann. I have something time-sensitive (and sensitive) I need to discuss. Do you have availability for a short meeting tomorrow? I’m coming on my own — not on behalf of a client or company — want to help the Bureau. Thanks,” Sussmann’s text says, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Baker responded: “Ok. I will find a time. What might work for you?”

Baker did not take contemporaneous notes during the meeting, though he testified that he is “100%” positive Sussmann continued to characterize himself as a concerned citizen. Baker met with two FBI officials after the meeting with Sussmann, and notes from each say that, in Baker’s recollection, Sussmann presented the Alfa-Bank data on behalf of himself only.

Sussman will fry

Clinton's will not

Is this JAMES BAKER
THE INFAMOUS REAGAN JAMES BAKER?
THE BOHEMIAN GROVE FESTIVAL BUTT BOYEEE WorSHIPPER OF THE GREAT OWL?
And people believe him?

All's I know, is when this James Baker kicks the bucket...
Party Reagan better go into major global hiding because he hates her guys and put a contract out on her...

alledgedly

Patty Reagan

Hates her guts

Not guilty...

Geez, the guy puts it in writing that he is not working on behalf of a client (text message) and then bills the campaign, but the jury acquitted him.

What od facts have anything to do with this. The trial was in D.C. and the jury was virtually all Democrat and some Hillary supporters. Now we all know for a fact that many Democrats love murder, crime, racism and lying. You did not really believe that Democrats have any sort of integrity.

This was a "Not Guilty" verdict before the trial even started.

There are so many vile Democrats it is getting very hard to identify the few reasonable ones.

It's fair to say that there is a lot of correction in government - but let's not suggest the it is only one side of the house.

What, did you think Donald J Trump was an alter boy?

I agree that there is corruption on both sides and also whoever is in charge at the time takes care of their own. I also agree that President Trump was not anything close to an altar boy but I did like his policies for the most part.

My point is that I was hoping (.0001% chance) that the jury would show some integrity but alas that was not to be.

If I were to commit a crime as a Republican and go before a jury of Republican members, they would acquit, or convict based on the facts. If I go before a jury of Democrat members, they will convict me solely because I am Republican regardless of the facts.

Jury Clears Former Clinton Attorney Michael Sussmann Of Lying To FBI

By Tim Pearce, May 31, 2022-DailyWire

A Washington, D.C., jury acquitted former Clinton campaign attorney Michael Sussmann of lying to the FBI on Tuesday in the first legal test of special counsel John Durham’s investigation into the origins of the Trump/Russia collusion conspiracy theory.

Sussmann was charged with lying to the FBI during a September 2016 meeting with former FBI general counsel James Baker. Sussmann pleaded not guilty to the charges, arguing that he never lied to the FBI, and even if he did, the lie did not impact the FBI’s operations at all. Sussmann decided last week against testifying in his own defense.

Durham released a statement after the verdict, saying, “While we are disappointed in the outcome, we respect the jury’s decision and thank them for their service. I also want to recognize and thank the investigators and the prosecution team for their dedicated efforts in seeking truth and justice in this case.”

Durham alleged in Sussmann’s charging documents that the cybersecurity attorney intentionally misrepresented himself to gain an audience with Baker. Sussmann told the then-FBI lawyer that he was coming to the bureau as a good citizen, when in reality Sussmann was passing shaky opposition research on behalf of his clients: the Clinton campaign and tech executive Rodney Joffe.

Sussmann gave Baker later debunked evidence of a secret backchannel between the Trump Organization and Russia’s Alfa Bank. The FBI agents tasked with looking into the matter dismissed the data and Sussmann’s claims within a matter of days of investigating the probe.

As many as three donors to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sat on the jury, including one who also donated to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Judge Christopher Cooper overruled objections from prosecutors to sit one of the Clinton donors after the man said he would “strive for impartiality as best I can.” It was not immediately clear whether the jurors in question took part in deciding the case or sat as alternates.

Prosecutors pushed Cooper to remove another juror from the panel after she revealed that her high school daughter participates on the same crew team as Sussmann’s daughter. The juror said she was unaware of the connection during jury selection, and Cooper said her willingness to cooperate evidenced how serious she took her responsibilities as a juror.

Baker said during testimony that he is “100% confident” that Sussmann hid his clients during their September 19, 2016 meeting. Sussmann’s defense attorneys pointed out that Baker has made several conflicting statements about his recollection of the meeting before, however.

The charge in the indictment focuses narrowly on whether or not Sussmann lied to the FBI during the meeting with Baker, not whether Sussmann lied to Baker at all. A text Sussmann sent Baker the night before the meeting that Durham obtained after charging Sussmann shows the Clinton campaign attorney telling Baker that: “I’m coming on my own — not on behalf of a client or company — want to help the Bureau.”

After the meeting with Sussmann, Baker passed Sussmann’s information along to other FBI officials. Those officials wrote in contemporaneous notes in their meetings with Baker that Sussmann had represented himself to Baker as a concerned citizen, according to the FBI attorney.

Durham’s team of prosecutors presented billing statements that Sussmann had sent to the 2016 Clinton campaign for work he did the day of his meeting with Baker on a campaign “confidential project.” Sussmann was involved in a campaign effort to get the Alfa-Bank allegations into the press. Around the same time he was organizing the meeting with Baker, Sussmann was also shopping the Alfa-Bank evidence to a reporter at The New York Times.

Sussmann’s defense attorneys attempted to undercut prosecutors’ claims aboout the billing statement by pointing out that it does not detail exactly what Sussmann was doing or reference the FBI.

One of the FBI agents who investigated Sussmann’s purported evidence of an Alfa-Bank backchannel told jurors last week that the FBI’s top brass had claimed that the Sussmann’s data came from the Department of Justice, not the Clinton campaign lawyer. Heide and FBI agent Allison Sands initiated the investigation into the Alfa-Bank claims citing a “referral” from the Justice Department, according to electronic communications viewed by the jury.