#048 | CIA and Foreign Intelligence's Role in Spying on Trump's Campaign
All of the top stories 📰 of the week to keep you in the know
It’s FRIDAY, February 15th, YAY!
This week’s stories:
From Allies to Spies: Foreign Intelligence's Role in Spying on Trump's Campaign
Mayorkas Faces Impeachment Over Border Crisis Management, First Cabinet Official Since 1870
Senate Passes $95 Billion Aid Package, Ignores Urgent Border Security Needs
House Intelligence Chair Rep. Mike Turner Faces Backlash Over Call to Expose Russia's Space Plans
Biden Criticizes Report for Mentioning Beau, Despite Raising the Topic Himself
Fulton County DA Willis Faces Off Against Trump's Lawyers in Heated Exchanges
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From Allies to Spies: Foreign Intelligence's Role in Spying on Trump's Campaign
Independent journalists Michael Shellenberger and Matt Taibbi have reported that the CIA and foreign intelligence agencies have been involved in corrupt practices. According to the report published in Shellenberger's Substack Public, the CIA has exceeded its jurisdiction, which is similar to what happened during the Cold War. This time, the focus is on Donald Trump's close circle during his presidential campaign.
The long-accepted narrative has been that the FBI was informed by Australian agents that a Trump aide had bragged to an Australian diplomat about having dirt on Hilary Clinton, which had been received from Russian sources. The apparent Russian collusion intelligence was supposedly incidental, meaning US agents didn't look for it. They just organically came upon it during the course of their work, and then they acted on it.
However, this latest reporting indicated that during John Brennan's tenure as the CIA director under the Obama administration, intelligence agencies from the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand were asked to spy on Donald Trump's advisers starting in March 2016 before any concrete evidence of wrongdoing was found.
The report raises concerns about the motivations behind the intelligence community's actions. According to Taibbi, sources intimate with the investigation have described the spying effort as politically motivated, aimed at undermining an inexperienced and unprepared Trump campaign perceived as vulnerable by its adversaries.
The report suggests that the intelligence community monitored individuals without clear justifications tied to national security. This indicates a broader practice within the intelligence community.
In addition, a binder allegedly containing top-secret intelligence was ordered to be declassified by Trump in the waning hours of his presidency. The whereabouts of this document remain unknown.
Sources believe that the missing binder led the FBI to raid Trump's Mar-a-Lago home. This same raid led to his legal troubles with special prosecutor Jack Smith. A source involved with the House Intelligence investigation mentioned the FBI was looking for something specific at Mar-a-Lago, likely the binder.
A source close to Trump suggested the FBI wanted the binder because it was related to accusations of wrongdoing and surveillance issues from the past, including the controversial investigation into Trump's connections with Russia.
However, another source who has significant knowledge of the investigation into Trump and Russia doubted the raid was about finding documents related to Russia. They said the search was more about a disagreement over procedures, and what was actually being sought, according to legal documents, wasn't about Russia or collusion.
Interestingly, Trump hasn't publicly stated that the raid was to get the binder, which is unusual for him, especially considering a source close to his 2024 campaign highlighted how rare it is for him to remain silent on issues.
Critics argue that such actions, if true, represent a flagrant violation of the legal and ethical standards that govern intelligence operations. Engaging in political espionage against a major party presidential candidate, under the guise of foreign surveillance or otherwise, is not only highly improper but also illegal.
News of the Week
Mayorkas Faces Impeachment Over Border Crisis Management, First Cabinet Official Since 1870
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 214-213 to pass two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This makes Mayorkas the first Cabinet official to face impeachment since the 1870s.
Mayorkas is being criticized for his handling of the border crisis. Critics argue that his actions have compromised national security and have contributed to a systemic failure to uphold immigration laws. Illegal border crossings have reached unprecedented numbers, and Mayorkas is accused of enabling this crisis.
Cities like Chicago and New York are grappling with the practical realities of this surge, and the human cost is becoming increasingly apparent. The stark figures of fentanyl-related deaths highlight the intersection of immigration policy and public health.
On the other hand, DHS and its defenders claim that the impeachment is baseless and lacks both evidence and constitutional validity. However, despite these protests, the House narrowly passed the decision by one vote.
The core of the impeachment rests on accusations of Mayorkas' "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law." Mayorkas is also accused of lying under oath about the security of the border.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has already named 11 GOP impeachment managers to make the case for conviction during a Senate trial: House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (Tenn.) and Reps. Michael Guest (Miss.), Michael McCaul (Texas), August Pfluger (Texas), Clay Higgins (La.), Ben Cline (Va.), Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Andrew Garbarino (NY), Harriet Hageman (Wyo.), Laurel Lee (Fla.), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), who authored the resolution.
Although a Senate conviction is unlikely, the House's decision to impeach sends a strong message about accountability and the rule of law. It challenges the administration's handling of the border crisis and underscores a commitment to addressing what many see as a pivotal issue for the country's future.
Senate Passes $95 Billion Aid Package, Ignores Urgent Border Security Needs
The Senate passed a $95 billion aid package to support Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The decision has sparked a debate, reflecting a division in priorities within the U.S. political landscape. The bill represents an important commitment to international security and the support of allies facing aggression. However, critics are concerned that the bill does not include a robust plan for securing the U.S. borders.
The House is led by the GOP and is demanding a comprehensive border security package. This is a reflection of a broader concern among many Americans about the prioritization of foreign aid over domestic security issues. Critics have pointed out that lawmakers are eager to show support for Ukraine abroad but neglecting pressing issues at home, such as the fentanyl crisis and the porous southern border.
The Senate's decision to pass this bill without addressing the urgent need for border security underscores a troubling trend in American politics. This tendency to prioritize international issues over pressing domestic concerns is a problem. While supporting global allies is important, it should not come at the expense of our national security and the well-being of American citizens.
House Republican leader Johnson has signaled a refusal to advance the Senate's bill to the House floor due to its lack of the stringent border security measures initially demanded by House Republicans.
“[In] the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters,” Johnson said Monday night in a statement. “America deserves better than the Senate’s status quo.”
While this move doesn't entirely eliminate the possibility of passing Ukraine funding legislation, it significantly narrows the pathways available for Congress to do so.
House Intelligence Chair Rep. Mike Turner Faces Backlash Over Call to Expose Russia's Space Plans
The United States is facing a new potential conflict in space that could have serious national and global security implications. Russia is reportedly trying to deploy a nuclear weapon in space, which could undermine key satellite-based communications and military targeting systems that the United States and its allies rely heavily on.
Representative Mike Turner (R-OH), the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, has raised concerns about this "serious national security threat" and requested the Biden administration to declassify related information.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has responded cautiously by engaging with congressional leaders to manage the situation through established channels of intelligence sharing and strategy formulation.
Rep. Turner spoke after leading a bipartisan congressional delegation to Kyiv, his third visit to the embattled nation since Russia's invasion. There, he tried to assure President Volodymyr Zelensky that reinforcements were on the way.
This has led some to suggest that Turner's public disclosure of the threat is a political move to create pressure and urgency about Russia as a threat in order to justify continued funding to Ukraine.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN.) has called for an investigation into House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner (R-OH) over what he deems a "reckless disregard" in urging President Biden to declassify intelligence regarding a "serious national security threat." Ogles accuses Turner of leveraging this request to manipulate outcomes favoring additional funding for Ukraine and the passage of the unreformed Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) rather than prioritizing the safety of the U.S. and its citizens.
Turner's call, which alludes to concerns about Russian nuclear capabilities in space, has been met with mixed reactions from Congress, with some leaders downplaying the immediacy of the threat and others, like Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), seeking to calm the public alarm.
During a press conference, John Kirby of the National Security Council recently confirmed that Turner’s call was related to an antisatellite capability Russia is developing; however, it has no capability to deploy, and “there’s no immediate threat to anyone’s safety.”
Despite the controversy, Turner's office asserts that the decision to inform Congress was made in consultation with the Biden Administration and the Intelligence Committee, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter.
Biden Criticizes Report for Mentioning Beau, Despite Raising the Topic Himself
In a recent evening address, President Joe Biden sharply criticized Special Counsel Robert Herr for a contentious point in Herr's report concerning Biden's recollection of his son Beau's death date, related to the investigation of the president's handling of classified documents. Biden expressed outrage over the mention, questioning the relevance of such a personal detail to the investigation and declaring it none of their business.
Contrary to Biden's assertion, sources close to the investigation informed NBC News that Herr and his team never directly questioned Biden about the date of his son's death. It was revealed that President Biden himself introduced the topic of Beau Biden's passing during discussions about his time working from a Virginia rental home between 2016 and 2018. During this period, Biden was collaborating with a ghostwriter on a memoir about his late son, who succumbed to brain cancer.
The report highlighted a particular instance from 2017 when Biden mentioned discovering classified materials at his home in conversation with his ghostwriter. It was in this context, while trying to recount that timeframe, that Biden inadvertently brought up his son's death, showing confusion over the exact year Beau died, though he correctly mentioned the date as May 30th.
The precise comments Biden made concerning his son's death and other matters could eventually become public. The interview lasted two days, was audio-captured, and later transcribed, and congressional committees are expected to push for its release.
Fulton County DA Willis Faces Off Against Trump's Lawyers in Heated Exchanges
In a recent courtroom confrontation in Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis found herself embroiled in a heated dispute amidst allegations of an improper relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. The legal and personal drama unfolded against the backdrop of the case against former President Donald Trump, with Willis and Wade accused of starting their romantic involvement before Wade was officially hired for the Trump case.
The controversy took center stage during a contentious hearing, where financial transactions and the timeline of Willis and Wade's relationship were scrutinized. A friend of Willis testified, suggesting that the relationship began as early as 2019, prior to Wade's professional involvement in the Trump case, contradicting earlier statements by Willis.
One focal point of the hearing was Willis's discussion around vacations paid for in cash, which led to a fiery exchange between Willis and Trump's attorney, Ashley Merchant. Merchant pressed Willis for proof of reimbursement for these vacations, highlighting the lack of bank statements to substantiate the cash payments. Willis defended her actions vigorously, asserting, "The proof is what I just told you," in response to questions about the existence of any physical evidence for the reimbursements.
Trump's legal team also delved into the specifics of the financial arrangements between Willis and Wade, with a particular focus on the sums involved. Wade testified that his law firm received approximately $300,000 from Fulton County in 2022, a portion of which, around $100,000, was attributed to him directly. This testimony was aimed at clarifying the nature of the payments amidst allegations of financial impropriety stemming from their personal relationship.
The courtroom exchanges grew increasingly hostile, with Willis challenging the premise of Merchant's questioning and defending her integrity and that of the legal proceedings. At one point, the tension escalated to the point where Judge Scott McAfee had to intervene, cautioning Willis to adhere to the questions asked and warning of potential consequences for the testimony.
"He never came there, OK. So, if you don't come someplace, you can't live there as well," Willis said, prompting a response from Judge Scott McAfee.
"I'm gonna have to caution this," McAfee said. "Listen to the questions as asked. If this happens again and again, I'm gonna have no choice but to strike your testimony."
The court adjourned around 5 p.m. Thursday, and Willis is expected back to continue testimony Friday.
Worth a Mention
A New York judge has decided that the trial against former President Donald Trump concerning hush-money payments will go ahead in March. Led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the trial is scheduled to start on March 25 and is expected to last around six weeks. Trump, facing charges related to concealing payments to Stormy Daniels, among others, to influence the 2016 election, has pleaded not guilty and criticized the trial's timing as a politically motivated attack. This trial is one of several legal challenges Trump is navigating while campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination and other criminal and civil legal challenges while asserting that these prosecutions are a "witch hunt" against him.
The Democrats have won the New York House seat that was previously held by the ousted GOP Rep. George Santos. The ousted congressman was expelled from the House due to criminal charges filed against him, as well as false claims he made about his background. The victory of former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi means that the already slim GOP majority in the House has been further narrowed.
On Tuesday, Tony Bobulinski, Hunter Biden's former business partner, testified for eight hours before the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees. According to a source familiar with his testimony, Bobulinski claimed that he personally met with Joe Biden in May 2017 while he was in Los Angeles for the Milken Conference. The meeting lasted somewhere between 45 minutes to an hour. Additionally, Bobulinski showed an email during an October 2020 press conference that mentioned a 10% equity allocation for "the big guy." He testified on Tuesday that "the big guy" referred to Joe Biden.