Ever since news broke of the FBI raiding former President Donald Trump’s home in Mar-a-Lago, people have been talking about the rule of law, and how no one is above the law (except Hunter Biden, who’s clearly above the law). Coincidentally, this news broke right around the same time. Former senior FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith pleaded guilty to forgery in getting that FISA warrant against Carter Page so the FBI could spy on the Trump organization. Clinesmith faced a harsh penalty — his law license was suspended.
But that was then, and this is now. Clinesmith has been restored to “good standing” and has his license to practice law back. Plus he had to pay a fine.
“A former senior FBI lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, who was found guilty of forgery in the Trump-Russia probe has been restored to “good standing” status by the District of Columbia Bar Association despite not fully completing his probation sentence.” https://t.co/b4amKOQwVh
— James A. Gagliano (@JamesAGagliano) August 9, 2022
Caroline Downey reports for National Review:
The bar had a record of repeatedly accommodating Kevin Clinesmith, a now convicted felon who pleaded guilty in August 2020 to falsifying a document that was the basis for a surveillance warrant against former Trump campaign official Carter Page.
After receiving a 12-months probation sentence, which he first agreed to, Clinesmith was expected to have his attorney designation stripped. However, the D.C. Bar did not pursue that course of action, despite long-standing precedent surrounding lawyers committing crimes in legal matters.
The bar did not proactively pursue disciplinary action against him either, until five months had passed since he pleaded guilty and RealClearInvestigations had raised media awareness of the scandal. Following the public attention, the bar then conducted a review of Clinesmith’s case, temporarily suspending him in the meantime.
The Michigan Bar, where Clinesmith is also licensed, suspended him for two years and imposed a $1,037 fine the day he pleaded guilty.
Absolutely amazing.
An FBI ATTORNEY committed forgery — FORGERY! — and he’s still allowed to practice law.
Un f’in believable. Just wow. Smh.
— The73rd (@The73rdOne) August 10, 2022
DC isn’t a swamp it’s a sewer
— Julie H Wright✝️⭐️⭐️⭐️🥋 (@juliew38138) August 10, 2022
Just keeps getting better! Unbelievable. That's the standards the American people are supposed to look up to and trust? I don't think so.
— Kathy (@KatthyYork) August 9, 2022
Exactly 💯. When a service is successfully sold whatbis actually being sold is trust! Without our trust in the government they are nothing.
— JennyJeanLove (@JennyJeanLove) August 10, 2022
But there's no double standard…
— Yaffee (@Yaffee) August 10, 2022
Medal of honor for being a good soldier in the politization of the FBI
— Brian Skinner (@Rushlimbang) August 10, 2022
The deep state has their own definition of “good standing”.
— AnnaZ (@AnnaZ) August 10, 2022
Laws, and the breaking of those laws, no longer matter apparently.
— Julie R. (@thevaliumsofa) August 10, 2022
It’s a big club and you’re not in it.
— Barnabas (@BarnabasDull) August 10, 2022
They take care of their own.
— Anchorman30 (@robertanchor) August 10, 2022
I thought no one was above the law?
— 🍊UltraMaga-PissedOffPatriot🍊 (@Niecee1970) August 10, 2022
Here’s a flashback to our coverage when Clinesmith pleaded guilty:
Kevin Clinesmith was not a bit player in Crossfire Hurricane.
*He worked with Strzok to arrange sending an FBI agent into Trump-Flynn briefing.
*He was on the Mueller team
*He took part in Papadopoulos interviews
*He was part of FISA process. https://t.co/hJynsJ5jhs— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) August 14, 2020
It was just a little forgery to keep the Russian collusion investigation on track. With that ugliness behind him, Clinesmith can get back to work.
Related:
SHOCKA! Obama-appointed judge sentences FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith who forged email in Carter Page FISA process to PROBATION https://t.co/xu9R52rizn
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) January 29, 2021
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