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So what is the answer? For the moment, it's classified. (Just for the record: I don't know it.) There might be articles and commentary written on the assumption that the FBI did or did not use the dossier material with the FISA court, but right now it appears the information has not leaked, and those articles and commentary are based on assumptions rather than hard information.

The challenge for House and Senate investigators is to get the information to the public. One option is to ask the executive branch to declassify it. The problem is that simply getting the information out of the FBI and Justice Department has been like pulling teeth. Another option is to have the president himself declassify it. The problem is that it is probably a good idea for President Trump to stay out of a congressional investigative process that focuses on his campaign. Yet another option is for Congress to exercise its little-known authority to declassify. The problem is that it is a long and complicated process.

Maybe it would be better to just do an old-fashioned leak. The problem with that is that it would open the leaker to the legitimate charge of revealing classified information. Whether that happens could depend on how widely the information is disseminated inside Congress. The more members and staff who know, the more likely it will get out.

On June 27, 2017, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley and subcommittee Chairman Lindsey Graham wrote a letter to the FBI and Justice Department seeking "all proposed FISA applications that the FBI and Justice Department submitted to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC)" in the course of investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. The request included "the FISC's responses to such proposed FISA applications; all final, signed FISA applications that the FBI and the Justice Department submitted to the FISC; and the FISC's responses to the final, signed applications."

It's not clear whether Grassley and Graham got everything they wanted. But it is clear that congressional investigators know some very critical facts regarding the dossier's role in the Trump-Russia investigation, and it is time the public did, too. .....

1 posted on 01/16/2018 7:05:17 PM PST by bitt
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To: Whenifhow; null and void; aragorn; EnigmaticAnomaly; kalee; Kale; 2ndDivisionVet; Art in Idaho; ...

article actually dated 1/10/2018


2 posted on 01/16/2018 7:06:50 PM PST by bitt (We donÂ’t need an electric chair, we need electric bleachers.)
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To: bitt

They’ve delayed the Ohr interview and CTH suggests that Nunes and the rest are deliberately waiting until after they re-up FISA-702—albeit with fixes to stop abuse—before dropping more bombs. Hopefully the delay doesn’t take all the way to February.


3 posted on 01/16/2018 7:07:55 PM PST by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: bitt

If there were anything that made Trump look bad, the Democrats would have leaked it immediately.


4 posted on 01/16/2018 7:08:41 PM PST by ClearCase_guy (Benedict McCain is the worst traitor ever to wear the uniform of the US military.)
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To: bitt
The challenge for House and Senate investigators is to get the information to the public.


So, why should this information be classified? I can see why the authorities would like it to be classified, but what is the national security rationale? Either there was a criminal act committed against American citizens, or there wasn't. Simple as that, right?
5 posted on 01/16/2018 7:09:24 PM PST by The_Media_never_lie
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To: bitt

And no leaks so far. The lunatic Democrats must not like what they read.


6 posted on 01/16/2018 7:09:40 PM PST by Sasparilla ( I'm Not Tired of Winning.)
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To: bitt

Bull$hit to any “classification” designed to cover up the FBI sedition in the 2016 election. Time for a Congressman to grow some balls and just say it on the capitol steps.

DARE the DOJ to try to arrest him and say he will trust the nation to protect him.

The coup must hit a brick wall. It’s time.


7 posted on 01/16/2018 7:12:29 PM PST by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: bitt
One option is to ask the executive branch to declassify it. The problem is that simply getting the information out of the FBI and Justice Department has been like pulling teeth. Another option is to have the president himself declassify it. The problem is that it is probably a good idea for President Trump to stay out of a congressional investigative process that focuses on his campaign. Yet another option is for Congress to exercise its little-known authority to declassify. The problem is that it is a long and complicated process.

One thing is for sure.

With Jeff Sessions recused, and acting AG on these matters, Rod Rosenstein in charge, the DOJ doing something isn't an option.

8 posted on 01/16/2018 7:13:18 PM PST by FreeReign
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To: bitt
Now What?

These Congressional committees continue to press for the same special counsel to investigate it that they have been calling for since July 2017. The special counsel that should have been appointed in May 2107 when Rosenstein decided to appoint a special counsel to investigate Trump, instead, even though this information was already out.

If the DOJ refuses to ever appoint the special counsel, Congress should vote to change the special counsel law back to the one that allows Congress to appoint special counsels, whether the DOJ approves or not. That would be a drastic step, but so far the DOJ appears unwilling to do anything but sweep things under their rug. Unless it comes to the investigation against Trump, of course, for which they quickly appointed a special counsel.

11 posted on 01/16/2018 7:22:45 PM PST by Golden Eagle (Trump: "I'm disappointed in the Attorney General. He should not have recused himself immediately...")
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To: bitt

Block “702” at all costs, This was a rape of the Constitution. NEVER AGAIN!! Bring it down.


12 posted on 01/16/2018 7:26:06 PM PST by raiderboy ( "...if we have to close down our government, weÂ’re building that wall" DJT)
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To: bitt

Now what?

Some Kabuki Theatre.

No one will be indicted for any of the myriad crimes committed during the Kenyanesian Usurpation.

EVERYONE in the District of Corruption (except Trump) is complicit in violating the Constitution.

That’s been Obama’s invisible shield all along.


18 posted on 01/16/2018 8:04:42 PM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here of Citizen Parents-Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: bitt
And now.... crickets chirping.

What will happen now? A very large bucket of absolutely nothing.

23 posted on 01/16/2018 9:28:27 PM PST by TChris ("Hello", the politician lied.)
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To: bitt
"Now, they have seen them."

Yes. Haven't you heard all the "harrumphs" ???

26 posted on 01/17/2018 5:01:10 AM PST by DJ Frisat (Hey, what happened to my clever tag line?!)
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