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There are so many ways to interpret McCabe's statement. One of them is that the FBI would not have even approached the FISC without the dossier attached. This has nothing to do with the dossier adding heft to the application, just a simple statement of FBI intention to burnish the dossier with help from FISC. Has nothing to do with Page, and everything to do with the dossier.

No way to prove it, but that is perfectly in line with the gist of McCabe's testimony. If the FBI doesn't apply for a FISA warrant, none will issue.

Based on the way the issue is presented, we leap to the conclusion that the "issue/no issue" decision is for the judge, and depends on the contents of the dossier. But maybe the "issue/no issue" decision is earlier in the process, at the FBI/DOJ.