Top FBI Lawyer To Resign Following Criticism Over His Handling Of The Mike Flynn Case And The Signing Of FISA Warrants

Acting Deputy Attorney General Dana J. Boente looks on while Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks during a meeting with the Organized Crime Council and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Executive Committee

NBC: FBI's top lawyer, Dana Boente, ousted amid Fox News criticism for role in Flynn investigation

Boente was asked to resign on Friday and two sources familiar with the decision to dismiss him said it came from high levels of the Justice Department rather than directly from FBI Director Christopher Wray.

After a 38-year career with the Justice Department, the FBI's top lawyer Dana Boente was asked to resign on Friday. Two sources familiar with the decision to dismiss Boente said it came from high levels of the Justice Department rather than directly from FBI Director Christopher Wray.

His departure comes on the heels of recent criticism by Fox News for his role in the investigation of former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

A spokesman for the FBI confirmed to NBC News that Boente did in fact resign on Friday.

Fox News has recently criticized Boente's role in the investigation of Flynn, whose criminal charge for lying to the FBI was recently dropped by the Justice Department based in part on the argument that his lies were not material to an underlying investigation.

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WNU Editor: FOX Is not the reason why he is out of a job. Considering how the Flynn case was handled and all the abuses pertaining to FISA being disclosed. Yeah. His days were numbered.

More News On The FBI's Top Lawyer Resigning

Top FBI lawyer Dana Boente is asked to resign following criticism over his handling of the Mike Flynn case and the signing of FISA warrants -- Daily Mail
Trump justice department forces out top FBI lawyer in Flynn case – report -- The Guardian
FBI's top lawyer resigns as agency faces pressure from Trump -- Reuters
FBI General Counsel Dana Boente to retire from bureau, Wray says -- FOX News

What Happens If There Is A Major Terror Attack In The U.S. During The Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic?

Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard M. Burr says he hopes there are no attacks while the intelligence authorities are expired. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Roll Call: ‘I hope we don’t have an attack this weekend’ — FISA tools to expire before Senate takes up renewal

Senate gets ready to leave for the weekend without passing a re-authorization.

Three intelligence surveillance tools are set to expire on Sunday with the Senate leaving for the weekend without acting on a stopgap extension.

The House on Wednesday passed an overhaul measure that would reauthorize through Dec. 1, 2023, various surveillance authorities of the USA FREEDOM Act and the underlying Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

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WNU Editor: The above article is focused on the US Senate's push to re-authorize FISA, and remarks from the Senate Intelligence Chairman that he is afraid of a terror attack occurring if these tools are not passed by the US Senate. Politicians using fear to get their agenda passed is nothing new, but it does focus on a very important question. What happens if there is a major terror attack in the U.S. in the coming weeks/months? I shudder when I think of what the US reaction would be to such an event, because now is definitely not the time to pull such a stunt against the U.S..

U.S. FISA Court Wants Answers

The Hill: FISA court investigating FBI warrant applications

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court (FISA) that approved FBI surveillance of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page is now investigating other applications it’s received from one of the agency's attorneys accused of making an inappropriate change to the Page application.

The review, which was announced in an order released Friday, hints at a comprehensive effort by the secretive court to reevaluate surveillance after the Justice Department inspector general's report found errors in the Page application process.

In the order, written on Dec. 5 and declassified Friday, the court requested that the executive branch identify "all other matters currently or previously before this Court" that involved FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith. The court also requested explanations of how the Justice Department and FBI are ensuring that Clinesmith’s submissions were accurate.

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WNU Editor: The FISA judges look like fools, and they are now reacting because they know that if they do not, they may be eliminated by Congress.

More News On The US The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Court (FISA) Investigating Other FBI Warrant Applications

Court orders review of all FISA filings handled by FBI lawyer facing criminal investigation -- Washington Times
FISA court judge demands info about FBI lawyer linked to Carter Page warrant -- FOX News
Secret court demands to know whether ousted FBI lawyer tainted other cases -- The Washington Times
FBI violates procedures designed to prevent surveillance abuse of U.S. citizens -- Sharyl Attkisson

U.S. FISA Judge Blasts FBI On Its Handling Of Wiretap Applications Of Ex-Trump Campaign Adviser

Daily Mail: FISA court's chief judge issues unprecedented public rebuke to the FBI over serious 'misconduct' in warrants to wiretap Donald Trump ally Carter Page - to delight of president who calls case 'a SCAM!'

  * FBI filed four requests with the secret court established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
  * The requests were for surveillance warrants to spy on Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign
  * A report from the Justice Department's inspector general found 17 omissions or misleading statements in the FISA court warrant applications
  * Now the court's chief judge is demanding answers from the FBI
  * Court wants a briefing on how the bureau will avoid misleading the court, and reasons why agents should be considered trustworthy in the interim
  * Donald Trump tweeted Wow!' and added: 'Means my case was a SCAM!'
  * SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL COURT ORDER

A federal judge blasted the FBI on Tuesday for repeatedly submitting applications to wiretap former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page that were riddled with errors and omissions, and ordered the government to inform the court on how it plans to reform the process.

The scathing four-page order from Rosemary Collyer, the presiding judge over the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA), marks the first time the court has responded to the controversy, which became public last week with the release of a report by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz.

Donald Trump seized on the order, saying: 'Wow!'

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WNU Editor: So much for the media narrative that there was no bias. This FISA judge clearly believes that he and the court were deceived by the FBI.

More News On A U.S. FISA Judge Blasting The FBI Over Its Handling Of Wiretap Applications

Secretive FISA court rebukes FBI over errors in Russia probe -- AP
U.S. judge blasts FBI over handling of wiretap applications of ex-Trump campaign adviser -- Reuters
FISA court slams FBI over surveillance applications, in rare public order -- FOX News
Secret FISA court issues highly unusual public rebuke of FBI for mistakes -- NBC
Judge says the FBI misled FISA court when seeking permission to wiretap a former Trump campaign aide -- USA Today
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court Rebukes FBI for Trump Affiliate Warrant Applications -- Sputnik
In Stunning Public Rebuke, FISA Court Slams FBI, Says Worried About 'Other Warrants -- Zero Hedge

U.S. House Intelligence Committee Votes To Release Controversial Surveillance Memo

The U.S. Capitol Building is pictured in Washington, February 27, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Reed

FOX News: House Intel votes to release controversial surveillance memo to the public

The House Intelligence Committee on Monday evening voted to release a classified memo circulating in Congress that purportedly reveals government surveillance abuses.

The vote was announced to reporters by California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the committee, who called it a “very sad day, I think, in the history of this committee.” The motion passed on a party-line basis, he said.

President Trump now has five days to decide whether he has any objections before the memo can be publicly released.

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More News On The U.S. House Intelligence Committee Voting To Release Controversial Surveillance Memo

House intel committee votes to release classified memo -- AP
House Panel Votes to Release Republican Memo Alleging Anti-Trump Bias -- Reuters
US House panel votes to release memo on Russia inquiry -- BBC
House Intel Committee votes to release Nunes memo on FBI -- CNN
House Intelligence Committee votes to release Nunes memo on FBI, DOJ -- CBS
Republicans vote to release memo alleging FBI missteps in surveillance of Trump campaign operative -- Washington Post

Here Are Four Easy Ways To #ReleaseTheMemo

Glen Greenwald and Jon Schwarz, The Intercept: Republicans Have Four Easy Ways to #ReleaseTheMemo — and the Evidence for It. Not Doing So Will Prove Them to Be Shameless Frauds.

One of the gravest and most damaging abuses of state power is to misuse surveillance authorities for political purposes. For that reason, The Intercept, from its inception, has focused extensively on these issues.

We therefore regard as inherently serious strident warnings from public officials alleging that the FBI and Department of Justice have abused their spying power for political purposes. Social media last night and today have been flooded with inflammatory and quite dramatic claims now being made by congressional Republicans about a four-page memo alleging abuses of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act spying processes during the 2016 election. This memo, which remains secret, was reportedly written under the direction of the chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, GOP Rep. Devin Nunes, and has been read by dozens of members of Congress after the committee voted to make the memo available to all members of the House of Representatives to examine in a room specially designated for reviewing classified material.

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WNU Editor: I am surprised that the details of the memo have not been released already ....  or at least leaked. But the above article is correct .... if the memo is really that bad, then the public does have a right to know even if it may expose sources and methods.

Will The Secret FISA Memo That Allegedly Reveals Wrongdoing By Senior U.S. Government Officials Be Made Public?

Politico: House Republicans clash over secret memo

Republicans say the public needs to see a memo that allegedly shows shocking wrongdoing by senior U.S. law enforcement officials, but one senior Democrat calls it a misleading effort to protect the president.

House Republicans are sharply divided over how to handle a classified memo that President Donald Trump’s allies say contains explosive details of misconduct by senior FBI and Justice Department officials.

The memo, compiled by House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes and fellow Republicans on the panel, claims that senior federal officials abused a secret surveillance program, commonly known as FISA, to target the Trump campaign. It also alleges other federal law enforcement wrongdoing that some Republicans insist should lead to the firings of senior officials.

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WNU Editor: Some Republicans are expressing concerns that making public this FISA memo may expose methods and sources that were used to produce this memo. The Democrats are calling this document “a misleading set of talking points attacking the FBI” and drawn from “highly classified” documents. I am not buying anyone of theseexcuses. The political damage that has been done in the past year over spying, Russia-gate, Mueller investigation, etc., .... if this is not enough of a reason to make this type of information public .... then we might as well resign ourselves to live in a society where nothing of consequence can then be made to the public.

Update: According to the following Reuters report, their sources (primarily retired intelligence officials who now work for think-tanks) are saying that the driving force behind this push to make public this FISA memo are Russian Twitter trolls .... In fight over Russia memo, Republicans have unusual ally (Reuters). More here .... Russia-linked Twitter accounts are working overtime to help Devin Nunes and WikiLeaks (Business Insider).

U.S. GOP Lawmakers Want 'Alarming' Memo On FISA Abuses Be Made Public

FOX News: GOP lawmakers demand that 'alarming' memo on FISA abuses be made public

A four-page memo circulating in Congress that reveals alleged United States government surveillance abuses is being described by lawmakers as “shocking,” “troubling” and “alarming,” with one congressman likening the details to KGB activity in Russia.

Speaking with Fox News, the lawmakers said they could not yet discuss the contents of the memo they reviewed on Thursday after it was released to members by the House Intelligence Committee. But they say the memo should be immediately made public.

“It is so alarming the American people have to see this,” Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan said.

“It's troubling. It is shocking,” North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows said. “Part of me wishes that I didn't read it because I don’t want to believe that those kinds of things could be happening in this country that I call home and love so much.”

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WNU Editor: That must be one incredible memo. Since all the lawmakers have received a copy of this memo, I do expect it to be leaked soon.

Update: I am surprised that this 4-page memo has still not been leaked. But if 50% of the speculation behind this classified memo is correct .... especially if the involvement of the Obama White House is true .... wow .... it should be made public ASAP.

More News On U.S. GOP Lawmakers Wanting An 'Alarming' Memo On FISA Abuses Be Made Public

Republicans call for release of memo on alleged surveillance abuses -- CBS
GOP reps demand release of 'shocking' surveillance memo -- The Hill
House Republicans demand release of classified FISA abuses memo -- Axios
Republicans Take Aim at Russia Probe with “Dangerous” Memo on F.B.I. Conduct -- Vanity Fair
A Bombshell House Intelligence report exposing extensive FISA abuse could lead to the removal of senior government officials -- Sara Carter

The U.S. Congress Renews The National Security Agency’s Warrantless Internet Surveillance Program

With that being said, I have personally directed the fix to the unmasking process since taking office and today’s vote is about foreign surveillance of foreign bad guys on foreign land. We need it! Get smart!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018

Reuters: House passes NSA spying bill after Trump tweets cause confusion

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to renew the National Security Agency’s warrantless internet surveillance program, overcoming objections from privacy advocates and confusion prompted by morning tweets from President Donald Trump that initially questioned the spying tool.

The legislation, which passed 256-164 and split party lines, is the culmination of a yearslong debate in Congress on the proper scope of U.S. intelligence collection - one fueled by the 2013 disclosures of classified surveillance secrets by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Senior Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives had urged cancellation of the vote after Trump appeared to cast doubt on the merits of the program, but Republicans forged ahead.

Trump initially said on Twitter that the surveillance program, first created in secret after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and later legally authorized by Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, had been used against him but later said it was needed.

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WNU Editor: The media is saying that his morning tweets on FISA caused confusion (see his tweets above). I disagree. His tweets are very clear. He is voicing his belief that the law was used to spy on him, but for reasons of national security he will still support the bill.

More News On The U.S. Congress Renewing The National Security Agency’s Warrantless Internet Surveillance Program

House Votes to Renew Surveillance Law, Rejecting New Privacy Protections -- New York Times
House passes legislation to renew key NSA surveillance program after Trump's contradictory tweets -- Washington Post
Trump FISA tweet puts Capitol Hill in a tizzy -- The Hill
Trump bucked his own White House on a controversial surveillance law after watching Fox News -- Business Insider
House passes FISA reauthorization despite Trump tweet criticizing the program -- CNN
Trump slams FISA reauthorization on Twitter, then reverses himself -- CBS News
House passes FISA extension bill despite privacy concerns and mixed messages from White House -- Los Angeles Times
Trump tweet throws today's House surveillance votes into chaos [Updated] -- Ars Technica
What is FISA? Here are 4 things to know about the controversial spy law -- Fast Company

Google Wants The Secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court To Lift It's Gag order On Government Surveillance

The Google logo is seen on the top of its China headquarters building behind a road surveillance camera in Beijing January 26, 2010. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Google Asks Secret Court for Permission to Publish National Security Request Data -- New York Times

Google on Tuesday filed a motion with the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, asking permission to publish data on national security requests that were made to it and authorized by the court.

The motion is the company’s latest move to control the public relations crisis that has resulted from revelations of government Internet surveillance. It is an escalation of Google’s efforts to publish the data. Last week, it sent a letter to the director of the F.B.I. and the director of national intelligence, asking for the same thing.

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More News On Google Wanting The Secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court To Lift It's Gag order On Government Surveillance

Google challenges U.S. gag order, citing First Amendment -- Washington Post
Google challenges Fisa court's gag orders on reporting user surveillance -- The Guardian
Google asks US surveillance court permission to publish request data -- The Telegraph
Google challenges U.S. gag order in NSA flap -- USA Today
Google files First Amendment court case against NSA surveillance secrecy -- CNN
Google challenges surveillance court on First Amendment grounds -- Reuters
Google asks secret court to lift gag order on govt surveillance, cites First Amendment rights -- Washington post/AP
Google Asks Intelligence Court to Let It Release Data -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Will Google's Request to Publish Secret Court Orders Do Anything? -- The Atlantic

Obama Sides With Bush in Spy Case

From Wired News:

The Obama administration fell in line with the Bush administration Thursday when it urged a federal judge to set aside a ruling in a closely watched spy case weighing whether a U.S. president may bypass Congress and establish a program of eavesdropping on Americans without warrants.

In a filing in San Francisco federal court, President Barack Obama adopted the same position as his predecessor. With just hours left in office, President George W. Bush late Monday asked U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker to stay enforcement of an important Jan. 5 ruling admitting key evidence into the case.

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My Comment: Goodbye to the old boss, hello to the new boss.

Intelligence Court Rules Wiretapping Power Legal

From The New York Times:

A federal intelligence court, in a rare public opinion, is expected to issue a major ruling validating the power of the president and Congress to wiretap international phone calls and intercept e-mail messages without a court order, even when Americans’ private communications may be involved, according to a person with knowledge of the opinion.

The court decision, made in December by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review, is expected to be disclosed as early as Thursday in an unclassified, redacted form, the person said. The review court has issued only two other rulings in its 30-year history.

The decision marks the first time since the disclosure of the National Security Agency’s warrantless eavesdropping program three years ago that an appellate court has addressed the constitutionality of the federal government’s wiretapping powers. In validating the government’s wide authority to collect foreign intelligence, it may offer legal credence to the Bush administration’s repeated assertions that the president has constitutional authority to act without specific court approval in ordering national security eavesdropping.

The appeals court is expected to uphold a secret ruling issued last year by the intelligence court that it oversees, known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance, or FISA, court. In that initial opinion, the secret court found that Congress had acted within its authority in August of 2007 when it passed a hotly debated law known as the Protect America Act, which gave the executive branch broad power to eavesdrop on international communications, according to the person familiar with the ruling.

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My Comment: The Liberal and Democrat opposition to wiretaps of international phone calls has just been thrown out the window. This is big news in the intelligence community, and puts to bed claims that President Bush broke the law when it came to FISA wiretaps.

I do not expect President Obama to change anything because of this ruling.

Senate Passes Telecom Immunity, Eavesdropping Regs

President Bush makes a statement about the passage of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act by Congress after arriving back at the White House from Japan, July 9, 2008

From Yahoo News:

WASHINGTON - The Senate approved and sent to the White House a bill overhauling controversial rules on secret government eavesdropping Wednesday, bowing to President Bush's demand to protect telecommunications companies from lawsuits complaining they helped the U.S. spy on Americans.

The relatively one-sided vote, 69-28, came only after a lengthy and bitter debate that pitted privacy and civil liberties concerns against the desire to prevent terrorist attacks. It ended almost a year of wrangling over surveillance rules and the president's warrantless wiretapping program that was initiated after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

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From Strata-Sphere -- Live Blogging FISA Senate Votes

My Comment: After all the politics, delays, and posturing, the people who defend us are now protected. You have to wonder why the Democrats voted in favor for a bill that they strongly opposed. What do they know that we do not.