Did Obama Wiretap The Donald?

[Joe Fan]

History shows that Obama is no stranger to wire tapping. His administration tapped phones and computers of friends and foe alike. Read below and then ask if it sounds crazy that he also tapped Trump? The better question might be -- "Who did Obama not tap?"

-- The NSA bugged a private climate change strategy meeting; between UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin https://wikileaks.org/nsa-un/intercepts/#intercept2

-- Obama bugged the Chief of Staff of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for long term interception targetting his Swiss phone https://wikileaks.org/nsa-un/

-- Obama singled out the Director of the Rules Division of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Johann Human, and targetted his Swiss phone for long term interception https://wikileaks.org/nsa-un/

-- Obama stole sensitive Italian diplomatic cables detailing how Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu implored Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to help patch up his relationship with US President Barack Obama, who was refusing to talk to Netanyahu https://wikileaks.org/nsa-italy/intercepts/#intercept1

-- Obama intercepted top EU and Japanese trade ministers discussing their secret strategy and red lines to stop the US “extort[ing]” them at the WTO Doha arounds (the talks subsequently collapsed) https://wikileaks.org/nsa-eu/intercepts/

-- Obama explicitly targeted five other top EU economic officials for long term interception, including their French, Austrian and Belgium phone numbers https://wikileaks.org/nsa-eu/

-- Obama explicitly targeted the phones of Italy’s ambassador to NATO and other top Italian officials for long term interception https://wikileaks.org/nsa-italy/

-- Obama intercepted details of a critical private meeting between then French president Nicolas Sarkozy, Merkel and Berlusconi, where the latter was told the Italian banking system was ready to “pop like a cork” https://wikileaks.org/nsa-italy/intercepts/#intercept2

----------------------------
In addition to the above list we also know now that Obama wire tapped various individuals in the media that were reporting information not flattering to Obama.

-- In 2013 the liberal Washington Post expressed outrage after the revelation that the Justice Department had investigated the newsgathering activities of a Fox News reporter as a potential crime in a probe of classified leaks. https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...1f9_story.html?hpid=z2&utm_term=.6d3549d44c49
The reporter, Fox News’ James Rosen and his family, were part of an investigation into government officials anonymously leaking information to journalists. Rosen was not charged but his movements and actions were tracked. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...ed-government-too-aggressive-in-tracking.html

-- Also in 2013, members of the Associated Press were also a target of the surveillance. The ultra liberal New Yorker even noted that “In moderate and liberal circles, at least, the phone-records scandal, partly because it involves the dear old A.P. and partly because it raises anew the specter of Big Brother, may well present the most serious threat to Obama’s reputation.” http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/a-p-scandal-raises-spectre-of-big-brother

* Reporter Sharyl Attkisson said in 2014 that her personal computer and CBS laptop were hacked after she began filing stories about Benghazi that were unflattering to the Obama administration. A source who checked her laptop said the hacker used spyware “proprietary to a government agency,” according to an article in the New York Post. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jan/5/sharyl-attkisson-seeks-35m-from-obama-administrati/

See generally https://wikileaks.org/nsa-201602/

 

[Joe Fan]

Here is former CIA analyst Larry C. Johnson saying, according to his sources, the Obama Admin worked with the NSA, the CIA and Britain’s GCHQ to disseminate information about Donald Trump that was illegally obtained via surveillance before the election.

He also brings up the firing (and the timing of the firing) of the head of the NSA -- Admiral Michael Rogers. Rogers visited Trump shortly after his victory. In response Clapper and others called for Rogers to be fired. Johnson says Rogers visited Trump Tower in order to “cover himself” because he knew the NSA had been used to spy on Trump.

 

[Joe Fan]

 

[Joe Fan]

 

[Joe Fan]

From 1979 through 2015, the FISA court received over 38,000 warrant requests. Only 12 were rejected (0.03%)

In 32 of those years, FISA didn't reject a single one.

https://www.epic.org/privacy/surveillance/fisa/stats/

 

[Joe Fan]

Former Obama spokesman Josh Ernst refused to deny the surveillance of Trump

 

[Joe Fan]

 

[Seattle Husker]

Trump's two possible outcomes --

(1) either the wiretaps exist, which Trump can then use to attack both the Obama Admin and media for political overreach
or
(2) there were no wiretaps, which would suggest the previous administration had no reason to suspect any alleged collusion with "the Russians."

The rosy outcomes listed above are quite the spin.

Reality:
(1) if the wiretaps exist, the question becomes what was the probable cause used to justify a FISA warrant?

(2) if the wiretaps don't exist, the lack thereof does not translate to the absence of evidence or an active investigation but it does mean that DJT appears to be the idiot for his Twitter accusations.

 

[UTChE96]

It has been amusing to see the outrage by CNN that Trump would accuse Obama of wire tapping with "no evidence". Yet they seem to have no issues with the Democrats accusing the Trump administration of collusion with the Russians with no real evidence.

I have to admit that Trump has played this one pretty well. He is really good at manipulating the media in order to change the subject.

 

[I35]

It appears one party plays by a completely different set of rules than the other. No problem because the MSM will protect and not expose them even after out of office. This is just craziness that the level of "we don't give a damn about rules" that have occurred the last 8 years.

 

[I35]

(1) if the wiretaps exist, the question becomes what was the probable cause used to justify a FISA warrant?

The probable cause is they are investigating "Russia" not the Trump campaign.

(2) if the wiretaps don't exist, the lack thereof does not translate to the absence of evidence or an active investigation but it does mean that DJT appears to be the idiot for his Twitter accusations.

I think we already know it exist. The question is can they get more for a solid case.

 

[Clean]

Rush says that the same columnist, Michael Schmidt, who wrote this article, has a column today that says "there is no evidence of wiretapping"! Make up your mind Michael. You can't have it both ways.

 

[Seattle Husker]

Here is the actual article in case anyone cares to read it. It simply says "intercepted communications" and does not reference how they were intercepted.

Here is a snapshot of what changed in the 4 different versions of the article. That headline wasn't original but was added after the fact.

 

[Seattle Husker]

The probable cause is they are investigating "Russia" not the Trump campaign.



I think we already know it exist. The question is can they get more for a solid case.

We don't know they exist. Clapper has denied their existence and Comey has reportedly asked the Justice Department to deny their existence.

 

[I35]

We don't know they exist. Clapper has denied their existence and Comey has reportedly asked the Justice Department to deny their existence.

And we don't know OJ committed a double murder.

 

[Seattle Husker]

Rush says that the same columnist, Michael Schmidt, who wrote this article, has a column today that says "there is no evidence of wiretapping"! Make up your mind Michael. You can't have it both ways.

Did Michael write the headline or an editor? I don't know much about the newspaper industry but based on most movies I've seen it's generally the editor, especially the front page that controls that.

 

[Seattle Husker]

And we don't know OJ committed a double murder.

 

[I35]

com·mon sense:
good sense and sound judgment in practical matters:
"use your common sense"

 

[Joe Fan]

Rush says that the same columnist, Michael Schmidt, who wrote this article, has a column today that says "there is no evidence of wiretapping"! Make up your mind Michael. You can't have it both ways.

They have a problem dont they?
Because they are the ones who have been telling us about wiretaps/surveillance of Trump & Co for the last 6 months

The pattern seems to be
Only when NYT reports on wiretaps to feed Russia conspiracy theories is it true.
When those wiretaps sound bad, "there's no evidence"

 

[Seattle Husker]

com·mon sense:
good sense and sound judgment in practical matters:
"use your common sense"

What you think is "common" may not be so common based on it reliance on conspiracy theories.

 

[Seattle Husker]

The pattern seems to be
Only when NYT reports on wiretaps to feed Russia conspiracy theories is it true.
When those wiretaps sound bad, "there's no evidence"

Put another way, the pattern seems to be:
The NYT is considered "fake news" unless the alt-right wants to believe them to support their current narrative.

 

[Joe Fan]

Mark Levin penned an 'open letter' to CNN’s Brian Stelter

From: Mark Levin
To: Brian Stelter
Sent: 3/6/2017 11:31:11 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: You are so thoroughly dishonest

Did you listen to my show on Thursday, before President Trump tweeted? Did you watch my appearance on Fox and Friends Sunday morning? I know you are ticked I did not appear on your show, despite your numerous requests. Your ad hominem attacks about "right wing" radio host and conspiracy theory stuff … incredible.

I simply put together the stories that YOUR profession reported, on the public record. Do you deny there were two FISA applications? Do you deny the first was turned down? Do you deny the second was approved? It's called the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. It is about surveillance. The fact that we cannot discern all the details because of the secrecy, except for what the media have revealed and selective leaks by the government, should cause you to want to know more, not to trash those who point it out.

And yes, we can make several logical implications based on events and experience. A FISA application is a big deal. One, or two in this case, that involve campaign surrogates, or a server or computer related to a candidate or campaign, etc., is a big deal. President Obama's statement is not a definitive statement of anything, other than he, personally, did not order a wiretap, which I never claimed. But that does not mean he was unaware of surveillance activity by several of his departments, even through routine reports to the president, such as the Daily Intel Briefing or information conveyed to him or his staff via the Justice Department re the FBI counter-intelligence activities. As for Clapper, despite his past dissembling before Congress, he may not have been aware of what was taking place since the FBI counter-intel operation reportedly sought the warrant. The Daily Intel Briefing might provide useful information in that regard as well.

Of course, the release of the FISA applications would also shed a lot of light on events, assuming YOU believe reports that they were filed.

Furthermore, Clapper has said, as recently as yesterday, that no connections between the Russians and the Trump campaign have been found. I am extremely critical of Russia, Putin, and the efforts to influence our election, although I do not believe they succeeded. That said, how would Clapper know of no connections if he, as former Director of National Intelligence, didn't look? On what is that based?

Your lack of curiosity and dishonesty about such matters and in dealing with me demean you and your profession. You are free to circulate this communication to whomever you wish, as I am making it public.​

update on this feud.....

 

[Seattle Husker]

LOL! Can someone ask JoeFan why Comey has reportedly asked the Justice Department to "knock down" the wire tap story? Is Comey part of the conspiracy theory this time?

 

[Clean]

Did Michael write the headline or an editor? I don't know much about the newspaper industry but based on most movies I've seen it's generally the editor, especially the front page that controls that.

I was pissed at an Express-News sports reporter for the heading on an article about a UT football loss a couple of years ago. I emailed him and he said, "I have no control over the headlines". So, I assume the headlines are written by editors to sell newspapers.

 

[Joe Fan]

Senator Grassley is turning up the heat on Comey
He seeks to probe the FBI's ties to the purported British spy who put together the discredited dossier on Trump

https://social.newsinc.com/media/json/69017/32082399/singleVideoOG.html?type=VideoPlayer/Single&widgetId=2&trackingGroup=69017&videoId=32082399#.WL3XVR4D25U.twitter

 

[Joe Fan]

 

[Joe Fan]

Cathy Areu from March 4 -- writer for WAPO Magazine
(Guilfoyle does not state the law correctly (go figure) but that's not the point)

 

[Joe Fan]

Senator Grassley is turning up the heat on Comey. He seeks to probe the FBI's ties to the purported British spy who put together the discredited dossier on Trump....

Grassley wants to know why the FBI contracted to pay dossier writer Steel while he was doing campaign opposition for Hillary.

“The idea that the FBI and associates of the Clinton campaign would pay Mr. Steele to investigate the Republican nominee for President in the run-up to the election raises further questions about the FBI’s independence from politics...” ​

The FBI eventually cut ties with Steele and he went into hiding after his "dossier" was published. The firm Steele worked for, Fusion GPS, is a DC area "opposition research firm." They refuse to disclose the identity of the pro-Clinton donor who funded the project and who paid Steele to shop it around DC.

His letter is here. Grassley wants to know if the FBI used unsubstantiated claims in that garbage dossier to obtain FISA warrants. But it also has a number of strong allegations in it -- such as Clapper lied (again). Lastly, Grassley's investigative team is generally accepted to be the best operation in Congress. http://www.grassley.senate.gov/sites/default/files/judiciary/upload/2017-03-06 CEG to FBI (Arrangement to Pay Steele).pdf?platform=hootsuite

 

[Clean]

Sean Hannity had a former NSA Technical Director on today named Bill Binney. He had no doubt Trump was surveiled and he said they didn't need a FISA order to do it. Apparently every American phone call is "mined"under Ex. Order 12333 passed in the Reagan years. Big Brother is listening.

EO 12333 may be responsible for the publication of Trump's conversations with the Mex. President, the Australian P.M.and Flynn's talk with the Russian Ambassador.

These "mined" conversations, obtained without a warrant, were highly restricted until Obama signed an Ex. Order with a couple of weeks to go in his Presidency that allowed the data to be shared with 16 gov. Agencies! Now why do you think Obama would do that just in time for Trump?

 

[texas_ex2000]

Sean Hannity had a former NSA Technical Director on today named Bill Binney. He had no doubt Trump was surveiled and he said they didn't need a FISA order to do it. Apparently every American phone call is "mined"under Ex. Order 12333 passed in the Reagan years. Big Brother is listening.

EO 12333 may be responsible for the publication of Trump's conversations with the Mex. President, the Australian P.M.and Flynn's talk with the Russian Ambassador.

These "mined" conversations, obtained without a warrant, were highly restricted until Obama signed an Ex. Order with a couple of weeks to go in his Presidency that allowed the data to be shared with 16 gov. Agencies! Now why do you think Obama would do that just in time for Trump?

I remember this story on the Evening News on a quick 30 second segment of all the EOs Obama signed in his last few days.

I also distinctly remember the quick mention of the Intelligence Community EO. I distinctly remember that because I thought it was so random.

By the way, when I was in the IC, if in the course of foreign collection operations, US citizen's information/data/communications are collaterally collected, and you don't have a FISA warrant we are supposed to destroy that data.