Federal prosecutors had gathered substantial evidence from James Comey’s senior team suggesting he authorized the leak of classified information to the press just before the 2016 election. However, they decided not to press criminal charges. This decision comes into question as recently declassified memos challenge the former FBI director’s testimony to Congress.
These explosive revelations involve former FBI general counsel James Baker and ex-Comey chief of staff James Rybicki. The documents were uncovered by FBI Director Kash Patel earlier this year. Initially, crucial parts were redacted by the Justice Department in versions sent to Congress, but Attorney General Pam Bondi removed these redactions.
The memos provide details about evidence and interviews collected by U.S. Postal Inspection Service agents. This evidence concerns classified information leaked to The New York Times in October 2016. The leak occurred just before the election where Republican Donald Trump triumphed over Democrat Hillary Clinton.
One summary memo states, “The USPIS Investigation also revealed Baker disclosed USG [U.S. government] classified information to the NYT under the belief he was ultimately instructed and authorized to do so by then FBI Director James Comey.” Baker mentioned that Rybicki instructed him to share the information, and he believed Rybicki was conveying Comey’s orders. The specific pieces of leaked information remain unidentified.
The memos reveal that several prosecutors, including those from the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, D.C., and future-special prosecutor John Durham, investigated the leaks. Despite this, no criminal charges were brought forward. Bondi expressed her commitment to accountability, stating, “This document produced at my direction confirms what many Americans have long suspected: former FBI Director James Comey and his chief of staff engaged in abhorrent conduct.”
James Comey has previously denied any involvement in leaking during his congressional testimony. He insisted he never authorized anyone at the FBI to be a source for news articles related to the investigations into Trump and Clinton. Comey maintains his innocence, claiming the accusations are politically motivated due to his opposition to Trump.
Kash Patel, speaking to Just the News, highlighted the significance of these newly declassified memos. “These memos show how former FBI leadership authorized classified leaks and withheld the truth from Congress and the American people,” he remarked. Thanks to President Trump’s push for transparency, the cover-up is now being brought to light.
The issue of potentially extending the statute of limitations for prosecution has also been raised. Legal experts suggest that if the leak was knowing, willful, and harmed national security, the statute could be extended to 10 years. Mike Davis, a former top Senate Judiciary Committee lawyer, explained, “The Trump DOJ can open up a criminal probe that investigates this malicious disclosure of classified information.”
Patel has initiated a criminal investigation into the decade-long misuse of U.S. intelligence and political weaponization. This investigation examines a range of incidents, from the Russia investigation to the raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. Pam Bondi has established a strike force to delve into these allegations, with grand juries authorized to probe further.
The question of whether Congress was obstructed through false statements and withheld documents is also under scrutiny. In May 2017, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley questioned Comey on his involvement as an anonymous source or if he authorized others to act as such. Comey denied any such actions.
When asked if any classified information regarding Trump or his associates had been declassified and shared with the media, Comey responded, “Not to my knowledge.” He also acknowledged the issue of leaks, saying, “Leaks are always a problem, but especially in the past three to six months.” Requests for comments from Comey, Rybicki, and Baker went unanswered.
The FBI memos indicate that the Justice Department’s “Tropic Vortex” investigation initially targeted an October 2016 New York Times article and a March 2017 piece by Michael Schmidt and Michael Shear. It’s probable the referenced October article was titled, “Investigating Donald Trump, FBI Sees No Clear Link to Russia,” penned by Eric Lichtblau and Steven Lee Myers.
In late March 2017, then-acting Deputy Attorney General Dana Boente tasked then-Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham with leading an investigation. This was based on a criminal referral from a source whose identity remains redacted. The memo further elaborated on the unauthorized public disclosure of classified U.S. government information.
3 Comments
Screw that Communist Democrat Judge, do what the Communist Democrats in Washington DC always do by ignoring Judges, trash every Subpoena, ignore the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Remember, they keep saying “Nobody’s above the Law” but they’ve shown every American that they are, and got close to destroy the Constitution.
This is so very true Brother Michael!!!
Sad it’s like America is a train wreak!
.you point exactly Brother.