By Casey Harper | The Center Square Feb 14, 2022
A new report from a Department of Justice investigation has sparked widespread controversy surrounding the Hillary Clinton campaign’s role in the investigation into Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 election.
In a court filing, John Durham, special counsel for the Department of Justice, alleged that a tech firm paid by the Clinton campaign’s legal team was “mining” White House servers to dig up dirt on former president Donald Trump.
“Tech Executive-1’s employer, Internet Company-1, had come to access and maintain dedicated servers for the EOP as part of a sensitive arrangement whereby it provided DNS resolution services to the [Executive Office of the President],” the filing reads. “Tech Executive-1 and his associates exploited this arrangement by mining the EOP’s DNS traffic and other data for the purpose of gathering derogatory information about Donald Trump.”
Michael Sussmann, one of the Clinton campaign’s lawyers, has already been charged with lying to the FBI. He was indicted by a grand jury in September and has pleaded not guilty.
The FBI said Sussmann gave the FBI “data files allegedly containing evidence” of a backchannel between the Trump campaign and Russia.
“Sussmann lied about the capacity in which he was providing the allegations to the FBI,” the indictment says. “Specifically, Sussmann stated falsely that he was not doing his work on the aforementioned allegations ‘for any client,’ which led the FBI General Counsel to understand that Sussmann was acting as a good citizen merely passing along information, not as a paid advocate or political operative. In fact, and as alleged in further detail below, this statement was intentionally false and misleading because, in assembling and conveying these allegations, Sussmann acted on behalf of specific clients, namely, (i) a U.S. technology industry executive (“Tech Executive-I”) at a U.S. Internet company (“Internet Company-I”), and (ii) the Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign (the “Clinton Campaign”).
“Sussmann’s lie was material because, among other reasons, Sussmann’s false statement misled the FBI General Counsel and other FBI personnel concerning the political nature of his work and deprived the FBI of information that might have permitted it more fully to assess and uncover the origins of the relevant data and technical analysis, including the identities and motivations of SUSSMANN’s clients,” the indictment adds.
Sussman’s September indictment had already hinted at what was learned in the latest court filing, especially around the Clinton campaign’s role in the Russia investigation.
“Had the FBI uncovered the origins of the relevant data and analysis, and as alleged below, it might have learned, among other things, that (i) in compiling and analyzing the Russian Bank-I allegations, Tech Executive-I had exploited his access to non-public data at multiple Internet companies to conduct opposition research concerning Trump; (ii) in furtherance of these efforts, Tech Executive-I had enlisted, and was continuing to enlist, the assistance of researchers at a U.S.-based university who were receiving and analyzing Internet data in connection with a pending federal government cybersecurity research contract; and (iii) Sussmann, Tech Executive- I, and Law Firm-1 had coordinated, and were continuing to coordinate, with representatives and agents of the Clinton Campaign with regard to the data and written materials that Sussmann gave to the FBI and the media.”
Former Attorney General William Barr appointed Durham to investigate the origins of the federal inquiry into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, won by Trump over Clinton.
Trump responded to the news, calling it “greater in scope and magnitude than Watergate.”
“The latest pleading from Special Counsel Robert Durham provides indisputable evidence that my campaign and presidency were spied on by operatives paid by the Hillary Clinton Campaign in an effort to develop a completely fabricated connection to Russia,” Trump said. “This is a scandal far greater in scope and magnitude than Watergate and those who were involved in and knew about this spying operation should be subject to criminal prosecution. In a stronger period of time in our country, this crime would have been punishable by death. In addition, reparations should be paid to those in our country who have been damaged by this.”
Categories: National News
This investigation is so painfully slow, that it makes me fear that the longer it takes, the more likely it is to be shut down by those involved. (the Democrat DOJ, DCCC, and Billary)
I remember the first article I read about the Watergate break in. It was a short blurb in “U.S. News and World Report”, maybe 3-4 sentences long. It took a while for the story expand out to widespread news. The Trump attack was a pre-planned comprehensive, well-coordinated, frontal assault on every facet of candidate Trump. Too fast moving to be accidental. I followed it for many years. I’m so glad it’s being investigated.
Upon reading about the Durham investigation, I am reminded of Gertrude Stein’s comment, “There is no there there.” If there are grounds for prosecution, call for a grand jury and move on.
I find it interesting that the far-Right’s media blitz on this topic is nothing more than a diversion from Donald Trump getting caught with fifteen boxes of presidential records, including secret and top-secret material”, a direct violation of the Presidential Records Act. In other words, Donald Trump has broken the law. No rightwing media to my knowledge has raised any concern.
Oh, I forgot, Donald Trump is above the law.
After watching Bill and Hilary Clinton skate past the judicial system for 30 plus years and now the criminal in chief in the White house and senate for 50 years as he enriched himself and his family, including his drug addicted criminal son, John here thinks Trump is above the law after four years as president. Not only that but John has been watching or reading the liberal news with their never ending endeavor to crush Tramp, one of the most investigated politicians of modern time. As it turns out, the so-called records are within an ex-presidents power to have and many others have done the same. Presidents also have the power to declassify documents if they so please. More Trump derangement syndrome from John who must be happy with the disaster America is witnessing with Joe! Of course nothing about how Trumps campaign and presidency were illegally spied on in an attempt to smear him and ruin his presidency. A modern day coup and treason seems okay with democrats.
I find it incomprehensible that no matter how much evidence it put forward, there will still be a certain percentage of the public that is so brainwashed by misinformation and propaganda they will not accept the truth.
Already past the statues of limitation of law. Keep focused and remember, remember the 8th of November!
Remember … remember the 8th of November.
Oddly, the lamestream media is not reporting on the Durham report updates. Interesting. They were crowing from the top of their lungs – in the same exact words – “there was no spying!” Can’t wait for what they will do when the conspiracy theory of the stolen election is proven correct. A flood of liberal tears incoming – reeeee!. We are witnessing the end of lamestream media. The corrupted bureaucrats and elected officials are cutting deals and squealing – others will be receiving a one way ticket to Gitmo. The Democrats have not closed Gitmo and it is actually expanded to include a court house. Hold the line!
Melissa,
I’m not sure what “lamestream media”, you are referring to. (Why can’t you just state your case without the adjectives?) I have heard the Durham report on MSNBC, a network which I doubt you listen to very much.
Speaking of “not reporting”: How much coverage has Fox News given to Donald Trump’s violation of the Presidential Records Act?
See my comment above. John just proved how uninformed he is by admitting to watching MSNBC for his news. The comedy channel and reruns of the Brady Bunch have more viewers than MSNBC and CNN combined. You can hear the angst in his voice through his words written here.
For us “elders” who remember Watergate, just imagine IF the “media” was SO much in the tank for Nixon they NEVER bothered to investigate the break-in & ties to the White House? I can hear it now, “we asked Nixon & he said there’s no “there” there”..OK then! It NEVER happened! THIS is the depth on the NO depth of “reporting” these days, salting w/CENSORING Hunter “Cracky” Biden’s Biz Dealings w/bribes, ahem..”consulting fees”, & payoffs to “the Big Guy” just WEEKS before the election & up to THIS, now..THEY may have “Social Media” carrying their water for now but WE still have the ‘Net…& fortunately..Guy Page! PLEASE donate to this site/Guy as you can afford, our FREE FLOW of info DEPENDS on it..THIS site is WORK & he should not work for free..SM.
Hey “John”…The inducements ARE coming, slowly but coming..These oriole left a trail thanks to their arrogance..It’s still a CRIME to give the “authorities” FAKE info as FACT, still a crime to tap into White House servers, & feed all this to the eager “press” as facts to try & bring down a totally innocent person, let alone the President..Like MLK said “the moral arc is long but it DOES bend towards justice”..Try adding more top your “info diet” besides MSNBC maybe..
I probably listen to more conservative talk radio than most of you. I have yet to hear ANYONE on those broadcasts even mention Donald Trump illegally bringing 15 boxes of presidential material to his Mar-a-Lago nor of his habit, as reported by former White House aides, of routinely shredding messages. Oh, I forgot, Donald Trump is above the law.