Well, there goes the weekend news cycle:
EXCLUSIVE: Trump’s actions so alarmed FBI after Comey firing that it began investigating if he was working for Russia @adamgoldmanNYT @npfandos https://t.co/uP52f8m2qf
— Michael S. Schmidt (@nytmike) January 12, 2019
The opener:
F.B.I. Opened Inquiry Into Whether Trump Was Secretly Working on Behalf of Russia
WASHINGTON — In the days after President Trump fired James B. Comey as F.B.I. director, law enforcement officials became so concerned by the president’s behavior that they began investigating whether he had been working on behalf of Russia against American interests, according to former law enforcement officials and others familiar with the investigation.
The inquiry carried explosive implications. Counterintelligence investigators had to consider whether the president’s own actions constituted a possible threat to national security. Agents also sought to determine whether Mr. Trump was knowingly working for Russia or had unwittingly fallen under Moscow’s influence.
The investigation the F.B.I. opened into Mr. Trump also had a criminal aspect, which has long been publicly known: whether his firing of Mr. Comey constituted obstruction of justice.
The blue-check left is all over the story, but is it really that unexpected? From the Daily Caller’s Chuck Ross:
The headline of the story is big and scary, but is it much of a surprise that FBI would open a CI file on Trump himself after 4 had been opened on Trump associates and FISAs had been obtained? https://t.co/VyWMg0SeSQ
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) January 12, 2019
The article doesn’t say what, if anything, was found. Just that it’s now in the hands of Robert Mueller:
Recommended
Everything the story cites as a motivation for the FBI inquiry is already a publicly known cause of Trump-Russia concern, some of which (e.g., GOP platform on Ukraine) can be quibbled with (see https://t.co/RosP4IVrA3). 1/2 https://t.co/eq3bakUb5N
— Jim Antle (@jimantle) January 12, 2019
All significant, and significant that some in the FBI found it worth such unusual steps. But what the investigation found, and which things were borne out, is what would really add to public's understanding. 2/2
— Jim Antle (@jimantle) January 12, 2019
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders fired back, calling the article “absurd”:
.@PressSec responds to @nytimes report that the FBI opened an inquiry into whether Trump was secretly working on behalf of Russia: pic.twitter.com/sAzRn7TIMJ
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) January 12, 2019
And despite what libs and anti-Trump Republicans think of it, there’s a chance it’s the FBI that comes out looking badly here:
It is the FBI that should be embarrassed by this https://t.co/DTWNBf6Nil
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) January 12, 2019
Either way, the opening of an investigation of this nature by the FBI of a sitting president is a very big deal and this report can’t be dismissed:
Very much enjoying the "hey, it's no big deal if the FBI opens up a politically motivated investigation of a sitting President" takes.
You are all very serious people.
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) January 12, 2019
The idea the FBI should feel free to open an investigation criminal, counter-intel, hybrid, whatever you call it because as an institution its leadership thinks the constitutionally elected President's policy choices may constitute a national security threat is scary as hell.
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) January 12, 2019
put me down as "this is kind of a big deal"
J. Edgar kind of big deal, cept he kept it under the radar
— DaveinTexas (@DaveinTexas) January 12, 2019
One way or another, right?
If this report is correct, that it was counter-intel based on those predicates, there's no in between. Either the FBI went fishing because they didn't like his policy choices or they found something and Trump's a traitor.
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) January 12, 2019
To be continued.
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